The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-12-23
Better Let Bad Enough Alone.

might, with profit to the cause which
they represent, reflect upon the danger OF
carrying their zeal too far. -.
As the law stands in South Carolina,
the sale of intoxicating liquor outside OF
cities and towns and incorporated villages
is absolutely prohibited; and the prohi-
bition can be extended to any city, town
Or incorporated village at the pleasure OF
its residents.
This covers the whole ground as etec-
tually as it can be covered by legislation.
What is needed now is the enforcement
of the existing law, rather than any
additional legislation on the subject.
The prohibitionists are playing with
edged tools. If they insist on ramming
their extreme measures, as the expression
of intoJerant opinions, down the throats
of the public, they vii! g i've birth to a
reactionary sentiment that will not stop
short of repeal of the law as it stands,
even if the Democratic party be shattered
in the effort.
We clip the above threatening advice
from the Nees and Courier, paper,
which, few years ago, was in the van OF
the antiliquor or prohibition movement.
Our contemporary evidently thinks the
prohibition of the sale OF liquor outside
of incorporated towns is good thing,
whether the people favor such law or
not, and whether or not they have ever
been permitted to express their will at
the ballot box on the question. The
country people have no rights in the
opinion of that journal, but touch the
right of town to sell liquor unless q
majority of the citizens of the town vote
dry and it becomes great wrong. 1t
matters not how much suffering flows
from town grogshop, the country people
must endure it, because few town indi-
viduals want to make mouey from the
sale of liquor. 1t matters not how much
crime may originate from town bar.rooms,
nor how much taxes are wrung from the
country people for the arrest and trial OF
criminals, who get their whiskey in towns.
In the opinion Of our contemporary this is
OF no consequence, and itwarns ourlegis,
lators that in striving to remedy this
great evil they may bring on the people
greater evils. Away with such bosh.
If prohibition restricts drunkenness and
its baleful consequences in the country,
and is a good thing for the country, why
would it not restrict drunkenness and
crime in towns, and therefore be a good
thing for towns? The licensing of bar
rooms is q matter of police regulation,
and if the tendency of such places is to
Increase crime and at the same time i'm.
poverish and demoralize the people, the
State, which conferred the right to grant
license to towns, has the power and it
becomes duty to withdraw the rig ght.
Who can doubt but the tendency of
bar rooms is evil and evil only. 1t cor.
rupts the youth, debases and destroys the
manhood of The country, and entails
untold miseries on women and children.
Why then does the News and Courier
take up the cudgel in behalf of the most
potent agent Of the devil, an agent which
spares neither high nor low, rich nor
poor, sex nor race? Why does it sound
a warning in the nature of threat, that
if the people try to further bind this
monster of iniquity that it will break
loose absolutely?
Some speciously cover their opposition
TO prohibition under the plea that it will
not prohibit. Hanging does not prevent
murder, or rape, or arson, &C., but who
xill deny but it operates largely to that
end. So will prohibition from the pas.
sage OF the law, and finally as new
generation grows up, not habituated to
liquor, it will prove absolutely preven-
tive.
Others contend that we must first get
public sentiment in favor Of such q law,
as otherwise it would prove dead
letter. The passing Of such a law
would prove the greatest stimulus to the
formation of such a sentiment. Rail.
roads are nearly always built before they
are greatly needed and before they will
pay, but once built they create their own
need in stimulating industry and drawing
population to unsettled sections.
In our opinion the sale Of liquor can
only be prevented by the combined in.
fuence of legal restraint and moral sua'
sion. They would act and react on each
other, both contributing to healthy
public sentiment. This is the end de.
sired, for we admit public opinion has
much to do with the enforcement of all
laws.