The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-08
THE DISPENSARY LAW.
An Eminent Divine and Good Tenn
plar Endorses 1t.

An Eminent Divine and Good Tenn
plar Endorses 1t.
Editor Manning Times :--Permi
me, Mr.. Editor. through the Times, L
present few thoughts to the temper
nnce men of the country in relation t
the temperance movement In the Slate
based on the Dispen-ary law adopted
by the late session of our Leglsla
ture.
Let me say in the outset that am ,
Prohibitionist ami have been for many
wears, and it is from this standpoin
that view the questions involved.
Can a Prohibitionist consistently
favor this Dispensary law? 1 answer
without hesitation, he can, for while
the law does not abs olutely prohibit
it does modify and circumscribe the
whole liquor traffic, and is d long stel
in this direction, correcting many O
The evils connected with the license
law. My prohibition principles leao
Inc to favor any law that makes an
advance step towards prohibition
ameliorating the condition of society
30 far as this great evil Is concerned
with a probability of a further advance
in the future.
It is said, "The law is compromise
and a Prohibitionist comprises him.
self by favoring it," BY no means
The present law which prohibiis the
sale of liquor, except in the incorpora'
ted towns Of the State, is compromise
law, as much SO as this Dispensary
law, but d,d the prohibtionists com.
promise themselves by favoring 1t:
Certainly not. Prohib ton through
out the State is the final goal VIII ch
the temperance men are trying to
reach.
There is a possibility of running a
good principle to an extreme and
thwarting the good results whl"h
might otherwise be derived therefrOm.
AS temperance workers let us not lie
too hasty, but let us stand up to the
true men of our Legislature who have
done the best for the State that they
could, under the circumstances.
But the question occurs, Can as q
Prohibitionist, sign a Recommendations
as a freeholder for citizen to hold the
office of "County Dispenser" |
answer yes. 1 can see no forfeiture of
temperance principles in this act.
The law to accomplish good results
must have County Dispensers, and !
can see no reason why l as q Prohibi-
ZIONIST should not recommend and to
the utmost of my ability sustain q
good man in my county in this office.
The LIQUOR men will do all they can
against the law, and if the temperance
men of the State refuse their support.
they Join hands with the liquor men
To defeat the law.
But it is argued "Recommend no
Dispensers, and as a result you have
Prohibition" But your Prohibition
CONES then as the result of failure OF
the Dispensary law, and a law which
proves TO be a failure will US soon as
possible be repealed. and instead OF
getting the benefit Of this advanced
movement, the cause will be thrown
backward, and the enemies of temper
ance will be strengthened by the de.
feat. The Dispensary law is far bet
ter law than the present license law,
it is therefore proper for me as tenn
perance man to sustain it. or any law
that is a forward movement.
The strongholds of intemperance in
the State have been the bar-rooms
which under the license system not
only encouraged and sustained inttm-
perance, but was the h0,-bed Of the
grossest Vices which have cursed so.
ciety. The Dispensary law proposes to
sweep these pest-hou..es away: and
entirely transform this condition OF
things.
/ hail this Dispensary law as the
harbinger of good to the State. Tenl-
perance principles and habits can
never be advanced with any degree OF
success on the old License system.
Destroy the har-rooms. and the way is
opened for success. The bar-rooms OF
the State have run the politics of the
State i'm large measure. They have
had more control over political issues
than the best people of The State. In
fact they have pushed to large extent
the best citizens from the polls.
But it is argued that, "This Law
authorizes the Stale an.! incorporated
towns to do the dirty work that the
bar rooms have been doing" | an
swer, by no means. 1t is not the sale
of liquor that G. rrup,s and degrades
society, but the conditions under which
it is sold. There are proper and le
gitimate uses, to which alcoholic j.
quors may be put, such as. mechanlca
and scientific uses, purpose of art, in
compounding medicines, sacramento
and medicinal uses. There is certain
ly no degradation in the sale or pur'
chase for these and kindred purposes
Now the design of the Dispensary law
is 10 take the selling out of The hands
of those who cannot be governed, anC
place it in the hands of those who un
der certain restrictions will handle il
for the benefit of society. hold thai
where the required majority of an
incorporated town thus choose and
, recommend citizen they pass high
complime mt upon his moral worth
and honor him with position o
great responsibility and delicacy.
hoce therefore that the temperance
citizens of Clarendon county will in
the near future bring out man wEt
is entirely trustworthy, who will ht
duly recommended and appointed a:
County Dispenser.
Henry NJ. Mood.