The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-06-07
THE LIQUOR BUSINESS.
THE STATE has A PERFECT RIGHT ETH
Err TO CONTROL IT, OR SUPPRESS IT.
The Mistake of Allowing Our Spite
Against Governor Tlllman to In
duce Us to Assail the Good Name
Of the State

IL is q maGCer OF surprise 10 QS LQaG some o
our weekly contemporaries copy SO great
number OF paragraphs credited to newspaper,
outside of the State, which reflect on ou
Government in the matter OF the dispensary
law.
OF course the newspapers at distance ge
their ideas Of this State from the daily news
papers with which they exchange. and as II
may be inferred that some OF our daily news
papers have one chief idea in view, namely
That OF bringing Governor Tillman into pub
lie contempt, while forgetting or overlooking
the effect that such course may have upon
the good name OF the State. Due and pro
per weight should be given to the surround
We presume it will hardly be denied thai
In the hearts Of an exceeding small faction o.
the people OF this State there Is deep-seated
hatred OF Governor Tillman-a hatred which
Is so intense as TO blind the individual even
to his virtues or good intentions, and which
may lead them to blaming him for the acts
of others.
Take for instance, the dIspensary law. As
far as we recollect, comparatively no crlt
cism has been made OF the Legislature which
enacted The law. The abuse, or effort at rid
icule, seems to be directed solely at the Gov
ernor. who. is only trying TO carry out the
law OF the State.
The reading public should never loss sight
newspapers are exceedingly sensitive as to
any Interference with the liquor traffic
While we think the people Of the cities and
the newspapers OF the cities are just as con-
|
they are surrounded by different money in.
terests. The whisky traffic means large
revenue to the cities, In which profit the
country people have no interest, and conse
the bars, or TO otherwise interfere with
the sale OF liquor In the towns and cities.
AS far as the editor Of the Press and Banner
knows himself he Is I q Prohibitiiopist, and
except for mechanical and medicinal pur-
poses.
But, on the other hand. we think We are
| not stone blind. q.
With the determination of the town and
city people to bring prohibition into public
| contempt, we do not see how the couatry peo-
pie can enforce q prohibitory law in the
towns and cities. and the pr0hibitIonists, up
to this time, have never, by legal enactment.
made sufficient provision for the enforcement
OF prohibitory law. They have been salts
fled with putting the law on the books.
II 1t Is properly enforced 1T Will certainly re.
duce the evils resulting from the drink habit.
The talk OF the disgrace OF the State enter
mistake when 1t is remembered that the
State has been legslating on the traffic for
generations and, by its system OF licenses
has been practically in the business for time
Any talk OF the unconstitutionality Of the
, establishment OF dispensaries must come
from those who fail to do their own thinking.
1t Is true that IL Is possible for the Legislature
in enacting the law. but the idea that such a
law, properly enacted, Is unconstitutional,
must come from a brain that is swayed by
prejudice against the law, or is Influenced by
dislike for Governor Tillman.
Whether the State Is disgraced or not, the
dispensary law has come to stay.
1t win prove to be a good law In restraining
It will be good law for putting money into
the treasures OF the State, the counties and
When the country people learn that they
will receive an immense revenue from 1t, and
the town people find out that they have not
been hurt by the law, the opposition TO the
law. as pronounced iu the newspapers, will
disappear.
and there man who prefers the license sys.
| tenn to the dispensary, yet, II vote were
taken on the subject, 1t Is quite probable that
the newspapers which vocferate 80 loudly
vinced that they had no following at all.
worth speaking Of.
The State OF South Carolina has not been
in a great movement which is bound 10 ex-
! tend TO other States, and II the prohibitionists
| failed In their efforts and desires they have
certainly put an end to the license system.
We believe that no one now living will ever
see the citizen licensed to deal in liquor as
heretofore.
or course in an entire new system, detects
in the original law are often found, and 1t
|
found In this law.
The prohibitionsts must hereafter seek to
amend the law so as to reduce, as far as possi-
BILE, the evils resulting from the dispensary.
we can further reduce Its evils. as the public
mind becomes convinced of the necessity for
such further reduction.
At present, the bars are open from early in
the morning until ten O'Clock at night II
the dispensary Is kept open daily for four
hours less time, the shortening OF the time
alone Is q great advantage, even admitting
that the dispensary is as objectionable as the
bars.
BY the dspensary law about one hundred
persons will find employment, and about fifty
houses will he used
I AS set off to this. 1t is computed that one
! thousand houses will be vacated, and subject
| to better uses and five thousand men will be
the many useful pursuits, and an immense
sum OF money will be free to be invested in
factories, or other improvements for the re.
lief and up-building OF the State.
But, II some should contend that large
per cent. OF the men so released will go to 9th
er States we would still have q large number
OF men remaining with us who would be use
full citizens In contributing their share to the
public welfare.
., If half should 60 away, and lend their fu
ture lives and labors TO the up-building o.
other States by the erection of bars, we would
still gain twenty-five hundred men TO the
useful pursuits.
The houses would remain, and be subject u
use in more profitable business.
A large per cent OF the capital would re-
main.
look, that the dispensary law promises more
practical good to the State than any Law
which has been put upon the books since the
passage OF the stock law.
the dispensary law should be found TO be
mistake. Would that result warrant th(