The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-05-13
"Prohibition."
Editor MtelLidencer:

Editor hteNgencsr:
All thinking men here long since
reached the conclusion that the whiskey
traffic is monster evil. People now'a-
days do not discuss whether or not it is
an evil, but the public mind is centred
on the remedy for the evil. There are q
great many good men in the city of
Anderson to-day who wouldn't hesitate
to vote "no license" ticket if they were
convinced of the fact that the sale of
whiskey would he strictly prohibited.
The question is not, can the law be en-
forced, but vM it be enforced? for no
reasonable man doubts that it can be
done. Right along this line comes the
trouble. Of course every one is bound
to admit that the mere law in itself is
worth nothing. All other laws are in
the same fix. Some Anti-Prohibitionists
argue that the laws that we have now
regulating the sale lof whiskey are not
enforced, and we cannot be expected to
enforce any other laws that we may OBJ
tain. 1t is true that some of the laws
that we have now are not enforced, and
this very fact has been the means of
weakening the cause. But do not our
people expect too much of "wbiskey
laws?" These laws are not the only
laws that we have in South Carolina that
are not enforced; careful examination
will show that there are a great many
laws upon our Statute books that are
either not enforced at all or only partially
so. When a law is not enforced it is
the fault of the people and not of the
law. No law is worth anything unless it
is enforced. A law prohibiting the sale
of whiskey can be enforced as we'll as
any other law, and will be enforced if
the people were made to see their duty.
Some people contend that public senti-
ment should always be in advance of
legislation. This is generally true, for
the people enact the laws, and the laws
would not be enacted if public sentiment
didn't realize that the law was needed.
A majority Of the people rule, and we
say that if it takes majority to enact o
law, there is certainly sufficient public
sentiment to enforce it.
However, we have one instance in
Anderson County where legislation went
ahead of public sentiment. We refer to
the stock law. If the stock law had
been left to a vote of the people, it never
would have carried. The Legislature,
however, in its wisdom, saw proper to
enact the law over the heads of the peo-
Pile. What has been the result? The
people of the County to-day wouldn't go
back to the old way for any consideration.
See what great difference there is
between public sentiment in the stock
law and public sentiment on Prohibition ?
A majority of the good citizens and
property holders of the City of Ander-
son favor Prohibition. The majority
that will vote the law is amply sufficient
to enforce it, and if it is not enforced it
will not be for the want of sufficient
public sentiment on the subject. 1t is
true that we have in our ranks some
weakened men, men who are wanting
il backbone, but the cause is not to
blame for that. On the other hand, we
have some men who have the courage to
do their duty when it is pointed out to
them.
We fear that some of our people en-
tertsin wrong ideas in regard to what
their duty is towards enforcing the laws
of our land. Some of them are afraid
to act as public informers, and they
stand by aud see the law openly violated
in the broad light of day and never open
their mouths. This is wrong, and we
believe they can be made to see the
error of their way. Every law that we
have is enacted for the good of the peo.
pie, and it is the duty of the people to
enforce it. We don't mean that every
citizen should become detective and
sneak around corners and eavesdrop.
Not at.all. But when they, in the ordi-
nary discharge of their duty, see the
law openly violated, then it becomes
their duty to prosecute the offender.
Not through malice or spite, but through
sense of their duty as citizens whose
duty it is to keep down crime by punish
ing the men who violate the law. 1t is
the duty of the Temperance people to
recognize this fact and to stand up for
peace and good order. If we carry pro-
hibition next December we must vote it
with the strong determination and fixed
purpose of enforcing the law to the very
letter. If we do this, Prohibition will be
safe for years to come. If not, we must
take the consequences, for it will be our
own fault.
Let me then say to those who keep out
of our ranls because we have some weak
kneed followers, come into our ranks and
bring strength with you, and help us to
carry Anderson for Prohibition and en-
force it after VIC get it. Try us one time,
lend us your strength and support, and if
we make failure in enforcing it you can
leave us. TEMPERANCE.
A Touching War Event.
A pathetic incident of the war has
been recalled that battles fiction. This is