The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-18
LETTER FROM HON. E. G. GRAYDoN.


An Able Presentation OF His Views on
the Temperance Question, which
will be Read with Interest by Every
body.
ABBEvILLE, s. G., August 10, 1885,
Editor Press AMI BauRer:
My views arc so we'll known upon the qneS-
ton which is sought to be injected into the
politics OF Abbeville County, that would not
ha\ deemed it necessary 10 say u word II JUS
tice 10 mysclfdid not require that l should
correct some errors into which one OF Your
correspondents has fallen. The Abberille Bill
was rccolnmitted TO The judiciary Committee
by a vote of u 10 81, and when IL came up Tor
final action was Indefinitely postponed by
vote of SO to 81 The petitions for the passage
of the Bill were signed by u little over 1900
persons, and q careful examination OF thcm
made by myself showed that not more than
600 or 100 OF the signcrS were Utite roterS.
opposed the Bin to submit 10 the qualehcd
voters Of Abbevillc county the question OF
"IIiccnSe" or "NO License in the Incorporated
towns Of the county, for the following rea-
sons:
j. Tnc petitions for the bill were circulated
in every section Of the county, and the signing
OF them by only 300 out of over 40,0gU rest
dents Of the coInty and by only GOO or 10Y
,thiie rioters out of 1900 did not furnish evil
dence sufficient To satisfy me that the passage
of the bill was desired either by the people at
large OF by majority OF the white voters,
whose representative was: i iclt iree, tnere
my own Judgment do not claim 10 6e the
master Of the people. / ain an uncompromls.
ing enemy to bossism Of every kind. But
do claim that the people in clccting me their
Representative gave me the right to act at
cording to my own Judgement until d majori-
ty of them signify their wishes.
2. Prohibition does not prohibit The state,
of Maine has had u strict prohibilory law for
over thirty years Statistics show that II has
over II thousand liquor saloons: In Iowa
pr0hibitory law went Into effect July j, 1881:
In twelve months afterwards the saloons had
increased about twenty-five per cent In twcn-
ty-eight of its principal cities and towns.
State Senator Sutton, who was the father OIL
The bill and mainly instrumental IN securing
its passage, made Il careful examination OF
its work ilgs IL few months ago. lie says the
law has been Il dismal failure.
The county of Barnwcll llns had prohihlti0n
for three years Ii the testimony of hOnora-
bic and truthful men Is 10 be believed, more
liquor is sold in that county now than there
was before the law was passed. Take the So
called dry towns Of the State. With u few
honorable exceptions. where public sentiment
keeps pace with the law, Or should rather
say, was ahead of the law, whiskcy, brandy,
wine, beer, anything to drink, can be bought
in them by the gtllon, pint, or drink, win or
without doctors certificate almost as easily
as In places where license are granted. IN
short, no law can be enforced which Is Ill al
vance of public sentiment.
8. thought and still think that this ques'
tion ought to be settled by the white people
and by them alone. / am not an nlarmst l
believe the white people OF the South are able
to preserve their institutions and their civlli-
Zation, but In order 10 do 1t they must settle
their own differences amongst themsel YES,
and then present solid and un6roken 'front.'
TO the enemy. Our experience from lSbS 10
1876 warns us that it vii! not do to make any
opening through which the negro may enter
and again become Il factor in pollllcs. III tne
whites were divided upon any question nc
would hold the balance Of power and would
be sure under his leaders to Use 1t where 1t
would do most harm to the Deinocratic party.
4. Each town has under its charter the right
to regulate Its own affairs.
/ do not think that the people living in 9TH
CIR towns or not in any town desire To inter
fcrc with that right. Take the town OF Due
West for instance. 1t is the scat OF two noble
work in the cause of Christian education not
second to any in the United States. l have
no doubt that every white man in Due West
thinks IL would be IL great death blow to those
Institutions To allow q liquur saloon tu be
opened there. In that opinion heartily con-
cur. believe every one does who has the
interest Of the county at heart. Suppose The
question OF "liccnsc' or ''uo license" in the
Incorporated towns of the county had been
submitted. suppose every white man IN
the county who voted had voted mo Ii
ccnSc,' but enough negroes had rotOu Tor
"licrllsc" TO carry the question that way.
! Would it not have been an Outrage to put the
town Of Due West in such position against
the wishes of her citizens that her authorities
would nave been compelled TO grant license to
| an applicant on his complying with the law:
! And yet, according to my construction OF the
| bill that would have been its effect. 1T was
| two edged sword. II cut both ways. 1t was
| 10 authorize Il vote upon the question OF al
| ccusc'' Or mo license not in amy one or any
number Of tho tOwiiS but Ill the incorporated
do not want liquor sold ought to have their
| wishes respected. The bill was in my Cpin-
ion unconstitutional, inasmuch as it inter
fercs with those vested rights OF the towns
! F,,.,.a I, ftrip, f.t,.,rf
S. The morals and religion Of people can
not be controlled by legislation. Every at
tempt to do it has fnIleJ. This is purely
moral question, and If it can not be settled by
the Christian church and the moral sentiment
of the county, legislation is powcrlcss to rem
edy the evil.
q. The perfection of temperance legislation
in my opinion IS local option and high H.
ccnsc. ! believe that any further legislation
OH tue subject will result In Il reaction which
! will do the cause OF temperance Infinite
prominent Methodist minister Of this State
who is Il lcctOtaler I'm theory and In practice,
and WHO has devoted and is still dCvoling Il
large part Of his useful life 10 the cause Of
! temperance.
| | have given you my views thus ut length
on the temperance question because you ask
cd for them and because l do not wish TO 6c
liable 10 Misrepresentation. Nothing can he
said about the evils Of intcmpcrHncc too
strong for mc to indOrSc heartily. All honor
to the noble men and women OF the country
who arc working i'll tho cause. lacKnOWlnugC
and respect tic purity OF the motives OF those
who are earnestly and without any selfish
end in view working to get prohibition lcgis-
Iation enacted. But on all public questions
l which come before the Legislature. and upon
which have not been Instructed by my con-
Stitucnts, must claim the right TO exercise
! my own Judgment and vote in accordance
, with what conceive to be the best Interests
of the people Of my State and county. 1t is
sometimes easier TO stand out OF the way and
let the whirlwind pass, but that is not my
idea OF Il representatives. duty.
! think the question of prohibition was dt-
, rcctly and necessarily involved in the cOnSid-
Grafton OF the Abbevillc Bill.
! These were my views after q deliberate and
careful consideration Of the whole matter, ai-
ter earnestly and honestly striving to reach n
! conclusion which would most likely promote
! the best interests OF the county. have not
seen amy reason to change them or to doubt
that my position Is correct.
| In conclusion, let me say: / have served
! in the legislature earnestly and faithfully, to
the best Of my ability. Whether ! lave done
/ it, efficiently or not, some one else must say.
+, No one ever shall say That am afraid to do
! in that body what my Judgment tells ne Is
right. No one ever shall say that AIN seek
Ing reelection by taking all sides Of every
question that is before the people. l thaIlk
sou for the space to rciicrtte my views on
this question. ELLIS Il. GI'A1DuN
A REPRESENTATIVE IS THE SERVANT
AND NOT A MASTER OF THE PEOPLE.