The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
Tho PrOhibitOry Law.

There seems to be Il great diversity of Opin-
ion as to whether prohibition prohibits. We
presume as a matter Of fact, that. there is no
way Of proving to the satisfaction OF every
one the true result of such a law, bat we arc
inclined to the opinion that prohibition docs
to a greater or less extent prohibit. This
opinion is strengthened from the fact hat the
various small towns in the country arc OPP
DC Sed to license. Even after years OF expert
encc by other towns in the county, the town
of Hodges has been made dry upon the petit
ton of citizens. We cannot believe that the
people Of Hodges desired to see more whisky
drank in that town, and We cannot b"lievr
that the great army Of prohibitions iii every
part of the country have my doubt as to The
beneficial! effects of the prohibi;ory law.
We believe, however. that there is q cor
mon mistake as to the object of the rrohlli-
tory law. As we understand il, the object is
not so much to prevent the lovers Of whisky
from providing themselves with a supply OF
the article, rs it is TO close the places where
it is lawfully exposed to sale, and where the
Young, or others, may the more easily &C
uuire the love of it.
Another common mistake is 10 suppose be-
cause Inc DIolllDltOiS Id" hitS 10
that We are to have no more drunkenness.
We will have drunkenness for all time to
come. 40 matter what laws we may have,
we will find Instance of violation.
Again, it is said that prohibitory laws can
not be enforced. This we believe to be q
mistake. Under the system Of county prohi-
bition, as at present attempted, it is admitted
that it is difficult to enforce the law and its
violation is made easy from the fact that none
of our citizens like to assume the Office o1 IN
former, and from that other fact that n large
minority of them do not even oppose It's VIo-
lation. but it is presumed rather lena thclr
countenancc or encouragement to such acts
as will bring the law into disrcpute. This
conclusion is arrived at from the fact that any
drunkenness in a dry town is hcraldcd abroad
| with great gusto while drunkenness in IL wet
town is takc IN as Il matter Of course, and littlc
remark is made upon the violation OF the
laws OF temperance and sobrieiy. Butlt pro-
hibiti0n should become 4 State law, ana II inc
e%nactors OF that law should he in earnest
about enforcing it, they will create an Office
and appoint an officer with power to appoint
deputies. whose business it shall be to see that
the law is not violated, and if violated to
hun; down the violators thereof. Tn" United
States enforccs its law in every part of this
great Republic which prohibits the manuiac-
ture and sale Of whisky without license, ana
the state Of South Carolina can as cllrctualy
stop the sale of whisky With" its borders.
There need he no doubt on this point, if our
law-m makers arc only in earnest. Bnt 1t IS 1T
tie better than idio,ic CHATTER 10 talk of enact
ing the law, and then trusting to our people
to become intcrmcrs. They won't do IT.
1t may be that when Charleston again dI-
reefs her attention to ECONOMY as III the
matter Of the State census, there may be Il
clamor about the expense Of enforcing the
law. As it is, we are put to great expense in
distributing the school fund. We might re-
duce the salary of the state superintendent OF
Education from s, 1G0 to $500 or possibly 500.
In this single instance almost or quite enough
could be saved to employ an officer 10 sec that
the prohibitory law is enforced. But the
trife OF cost in dollars and cents is q matter
not to be put in the scales against the welfare
and morality of our people.