Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1892-09-22
Prohibition.

The recent primary election has again
brought prohibition prominently before
the people of South Carolina. We are to
be confronted with more agitation upon
the subject, and in all probability law,
covering the whole State with prohibi-
ton. will be enacted by the General
Assembly at its next session.
We have always favored prohibition
coming to us in the way of local option,
because in this form, where majority
of the locality, municipal or county, has
pronounced in favor of Il, there is some
thing behind the law to enforce it. The
reader nec3 not be told that a prohibi-
tory ,aw. enacted against the will of the
reople, cannot be even reasonably
enforced. This being true, we are opposed
to State prohibition at the present time.
The people arc familiar with all the
various representations made by the
politicians, if the white voters o. the
State divide on political issues. There
is probably more political dynamite in
the oues-. than ali other
issues put togetner. therefore, unless
very much good is to be accomplished in
this form, we ought to be slow in adopt
ing it. Why antagonize the people upon
this question in the shape Of State law,
when prohibition in Charleston, and
probably in Greenville, Columbia and
other large towns, would be farce
And who believes that such law could
be enforced in these places AS mat
ter of fact, Anderson. Spartanburg and
perhaps other towns have tried prohibi-
ton, and by their votes subsequently
have said that prohibition failed to pro-
hibit." The example of Atlanta ought
to be lesson to us also in this respect.
No. Let us adhere to the principle OF
local option. 1t must be remembered
that prohibition already prevails il tie
State outside of the towns and cities.
Much was gained by the passage Of TINS
law, and it has worked remarkably well.
a number of counties have prohibition
in their limits, notably the Counties OF
oconee. Pickens. Marlboro and perhaps
others. These counties have attained
this enviable position by the votes OF
their people. Even with such majorities
spirituous liquors are illicitly made and
sold in their limits, and in some locali-
ties. where the people are opposed to
prohibition, the law has not been en-
forced
Prohibition has grown wonderfully
here and has made much progress
throughout the country generally since
the war, and that, too, almost without
any organization. The people of the
State have declared against intemperance
in tones that cannot be mistaken.
Prohibition is great moral question,
and we want to see it gather strength
and grow in number of its advocates by
to the people through the
principle of local option, rather than re-
ceive backsct by enacting law that
cannot now be enforced in many portions
of the State. The question with all tenn
perance reformers ought to be: What
law, license or prohibition, is best for the
locality in which the question is made?
Progress in this direction is one of edu-
cation, although it may be safely stated
that no law, however iron-clad' y it
may be. can absolutely prevent the
and sale of spirituous
liquors: but both evils may be greatly
lessened where the people have carried
towns OF counties for prohibition by deci-
sive majoritieS. In Oconee we are for pro-
hibition. If we lived in Charleston we
should favor aigh license, with all the
measures forrepreSsing the abuse
of the law.
The proposition to prevent the manu-
factre of spirituous liquors and beer in
the State is wanting in wisdom. Let US
that not a drop is manufactured
here: can that tend to prevent the use of
these beverages? Certainly not. They
arc made and sold in all the States OF the
Union. and cannot be kept out OF South
Carolina Hence the Introduction of
Their manufacture does not prevent
then sale here, but gives all the profit of
the operation to our neighbors. II the
general government could abate the
of these articles there might
be something in it, but this is impossible.
But one thing should be kept constantly
in view: Intcmperance is an untold evil. {
and the people OF the State are deter
mined to stamp it out as much as posi-
bic, and fair notice Of this has been given
to al by the result OF the recent vote in
the primary in favor of prohibition.