The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-02-27
Senator Buffers Arrangement OF tho
T~cmpcrance People.

We have been requested to rc-publish
the following extract rom an interview
with Senator Butler. which we published
some time ago, in which the Senator
gives expression to some sentiments on
tho temperance and prohibition questions
that NAV be of interest ut this time:
1.-THE social. moral and religious forces
Hf communities should be organized
against the evil of intemperance, of eat
Ing rs well as drinking, but you may ~
we'll attempt to legislate against the II
~ the other. Constitutional and statu-
tory prohibitions are fallacics and fail
ures. They 10 not prohibit. They in
culcate doctrines and habits of evasion,
hyprocisy and perjury, that demoralize
and undermine society more etfertuaiiv
than the use of strong drink. Prohlbl-
tion by the force Of an enlightened pub
lie opinion is a much surer safeguard
than legislative prohibition. ard IS always
rs strong and efficient as the sentiment
which creates it.'-Edgcfetd Chronicle.
The above remarks Of Senator Butte.
have been widely circulated, and the op-
ponents of Prohibition seem to have been
greatly comforted. The only striking
thing at all about the matter is the allit-
eraticn in tho words, "Does Prohibition
Prohibit?" and the only astonishing
thing to us is, that Senator Butler should
ut this time array himself not only
against tho temperance movement which
is going on all over the country, but that
he should use his powerful influence to
Hood the country with free whiskey and
tobacco. while our clothing, our coffee
and our rice are taxed beyond endurance.
Does Prohibition Prohibit ?" We an
swer, most positively, that it does pro-
hiblt, and we assert that there can be no
denying the fact, no matter what falla-
cious figures may be brought to prove
the contrary. Docs the law against
der encourage the killing Of our neigh
bor? Does the Law against theft encour-
age dishonesty Does tho law against
forgery promote the crime? Does the
law against duelling encourage the COM
mission Of a crime SO offensive as that Of
shooting a neighbor? Does the law
against any immoral act promote the
evil? Until Senator Butler can answer
these questions in the affirmative his rea-
soning against the %Prohibitory law will
20 for naught. If these laws encourage
the evils which they are intended to sup
press, then all our theories Of govern
ment are at error, and the sooner We re-
peal all laws, the better for our people.
We would then certainly need ian en-
frightened public OPINION" which would
need be strong enough to restrain tie
evil doer.
Why should the law against the sale OF
%hiskey have such al evil effect as to sin
culcate the doctrine and habits of evasion,
hyprocisy and perjury, that demoralize
and undermine society more effectually
than the use of strong drink - Words
were v uttered which bear upon their
face more strongly the impress of error
and false reasoning. Does his experience
and observation Of the working of the To-
cal Prohibitory law, satisfy General But
Ter, that the people Of the "dry' towns
have become a crowd of liars and hypo-
critics? Is all the truth and virtue to be
found assembled around the whiskey
shops at the different crossroads, while
the places which have no whiskey are
crowded with all manner of liars and
hypocrites? No; Senator Buffers rea-
sonIng is as unjust and insulting to the
Temperance people, as 1t is erroneous.
Why docs not some of the other laws,
which are on our statute books, demor-
alize our peoplef 1t seems that General
Butler believes that a Prohi%it0ry law is
the only one which would produce liars
and hypocrites. A large per cent. of the
progressive towns in this State have local
prohibitory laws. We should like to
know the ratio of the incease of liars and
hypocrites in those towns, which have
done 80 foolish a thing as to shut up the
whiskey shops which encouraged morali-
ty, and promoted truth and honest deal
ing? According to Senator Buffers rea-
soning the towns which have been dry"
from the beginning. would by this time
have produced a most prodigious crop Of
"ell-ucHuSQ IidIS alu ~ poSAiSCS. y u"
indeed strange that the temperance work.
,ers have not discovered that dry" towns
are full of these offenders while the
'wet" towns are composed of people who
are the ideal of honor, of virtue, of truth
and of sincerity. Will Senator Butler
give the exact facts and figures to show
wherein the "dry" towns have more liars
and hypocrites than the towns which are
full of whiskey? Will he say that the
people of Barnwell county will develop
a race Of liars and hypocrites because Of
their lack or barrooms, while Edgeheld
county, under the benign influence of
.moral barrooms will produce a people
who shall be the veg pink Of perfection
in the christian graces?
The town Of Due West, in Abbeville
county has never had a bar-room. Will
Senator Butler say that the government
of that town "inculcates doctrines and
habits of evasion, hypocrisy and PERU
ry?"