The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-08-16
The Amende.

It's possible that We owe the Columbia
Evening Journal an apology for what we said
OF 1t last week. We meant 10 do our contem'
porary no wrong, when We inferred from lts
issue Of previous date that 1t aligned ltsell
with the lawless element Of this State.
We note with pleasure that that paper II
sauarely and fairly on the side Of law and or
der, and we hope that 1t may always use 1ts
great influence for the purpose OF bringing
peace to this disturbed State. We have had
caterwauling until the intelligent public Is
to q large extent, tired of SO much fault-find
ing and irritation.
From the Journal OF Thursday we take the
following editorial which has the true ring 4,
peace and principal:
Governor Tiilman Ia right. In earnestly
law we think that the Governor is right. we
qualify this expression only In so far rs M
instructions TO his Constables authorize thell
entering the private residence and even tn.
bed-chu Der Of citizens. IA In Charleston, anu
also as to his orders TO these officers sanction'
ing their shooting persons for verbal 1nsult
That Governor Tillman lacks Judicial
equipoise, no one doubts for moment, anu
issuing such orders or countenancing such
conduct, he Is acting entirely under ine IN
pulse OF very high temper. guided oy nls
bitter and prejudiced mind.
In the main, however, the Governor is right
in doing everything in his power TO force q
law, which matters not how odious, Is now
the statute law OF this State. An inactive
law is worse than no law at all, because the
effect OF it's being disregarded and overridden
is always demoralizing upon any law loving
people. A.,
advanced against the Constable system ina
the officers are not known where they work
zen actually declared recently in our hearing
that their work WAS perfect outrage mas
much as the Constables encouraged the very
thing they were employed TO stop, by asklne M
Tor q drink when they entered bar. Ihls
effort is chsractered az low, mean deception
and the Constables are criticised and more OF
less prosecuted for II. We hold that such con
duct, IL done openly and without breaking
any special or personal faith with the bal
man, is legitimate detective work and direct
ly in line with the efforts Of our metropolitan
detectives. who even enter the Lowest Owe Owe
tionable characters in ferreting out crime
One thing IL certain, "the application" Tor
drink will be refused the Constables 6y The
law abiding and genuine "soft drink oal
man.
1t is hardly necessary for this paper 10 re-
affirm It's opposition 10 the Dispensary sys
tenn, as 1t is now In force and operation; lts
record is emphatic on that score ana aates
back several months, and as such should OF
enforced In every honorable and Legitimate
way.
As further evidence OF the Journals zea
and interest for the peace and public welfart
OF the people Of South Carolina, the follow
ing paragraph from Fridays paper is moi
without significance. II is TO be sincerely
hoped that the peaceable and law-abidipe
people muy somewhere find an exponent.
The Journal says:
Study the Dispensary rules carefully, say.
the Greenvill News, and "youwill see that
they are formed TO supply only the deliberate
'premeditated drunkards who buy liquor ioi
the purpose OF getting drunk and 10 take II
of and RuzZle It out OF bottles. II is just this
class OF people who rob their families 10 buy
LIQUOR and give the police trouble"
This declaration Is entirely too stroug, such
sweeping statements never convert people oI
change law. For the sake OF argument
however admit all that is said, and even then
there Is no reason why the law should not be
enforced. 1t IL regularly enacted law and
should be obeyed, It's evil consequences to tn,
contrary notwithstanding. The more harn''
full and shocking u law, the sooner strict en-
iorcement will bring It's repeal.