The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-08
THE WHISKEY QUESTION.
Turned and Viewed from Every Pos
SfSlc Standpoint.

sible Standpoint.
In This issue of the Press and Banner we
| nresent considerable literature on the SUD
| iect OF the dispensury act and kindred mat
ters.
senied in various lights, good men regard the
dIspensary with more or less favor or dislaYor
Mr.. Mood. who Is so well known mere, oe.
Iieves the dspensary law a most eNceiienl
one. and gives In forcetnl Styie anu amsang
MIR. Richardson. Is an ardent prohioition
ist and can see no good, but mucn eVii, IN Tue
dispensary act. He wants no "legailzed IN
iQuity," and wou Id mol toucn Tue pronls a'is'
'pT Tbe eo answers to the questions propounded
by MIR. Galloway, take n different view OF the
question from either mr.. MGoa @ neri,s OF re- ~ de
merits Of the dlspensary act, ltseli. except II,
an Incidental way. The sole point oroushl
out by Mr. Galloway's questions is opinion at
10 whether Christian should apply Tor the
nosition of dispenser, and what should be
done with church member VINO taRes tne
The editorial which We copy from the Broad
Axe considers the duty ofa church member n
con nection with the obligation Of Good Tenn
plar who takes a vow not to handle spirltuous
LIQUORS at ali as beverage.
Gov. Tillman has q Significant talk Whlcn Is
sand wiched In between the other articles lie
strikes out from the standpoint or Governor
and politlcian, and intimates very clearly
that he proposes to take hand In forcing the
dispensary upon the people, whether they
want II or not.
Having briefly presented the views Of each,
we may be pardoned If the Press and Banner
should offer a word.
AS prohlbitlonst we are In favor OF pro-
hibition, especially since the Governor has
Threatened In the most positive manner To
en- force prohI bition in counties where the dis
pensaries are not established. Let us have
absolute prohibition we can gel saS sI9ng very ng
must have 1t, there Is always way TO get II.
The "blind tigers will give as much as the
country really needs. They can be depended
on TOR little Tor snaaH s,oWaSs Ss questions re-
fer especially TO the duty of church members
In signing the applications for dispensaries
and the accepting or taking the office OF dis
Speaking for the Press and Banner. we are
at q loss to know why the question or the dis
pensary act was switched on from 1ts broader
and proper sphere TO the more narrow Held ol
The ehucrh None ,h OF tnH oS tbs a a.
all-they give only the dictum or their au.
thors, without a reason TO sustain thelr de-
clarations, and 1t would be difficult for some
governed by different rule from that which
governs other good citizens or the cominun'
The question should be is the dispensary
i ",
man In the community seek or accept the
position Of dispenser? The question Is one
OF right and wrong, and not whether one class
Of men should or should not take the place.
Speaking for Abbeville, II seems 70 us that
the citizen OF the town who takes the respon-
sibiiity Of signing petition for the establish
ment of dispensary at this place, assumes
to put the will OF the people at defiance, (hnd
this without reference to church mem bership,)
while taking upon himself very grave re-
sponsipility. At least four-fifths Of the peo-
pie OF Abbeville County favor prohibition.
Unless 1t can be established that the dis
pensary is prohibition, the citizen OF Able
VILE who signs such petition does that which
defeats the will OF the people.
VIII sixty men IN the town or A6beVilie
take the responsibility Of overruling the will
II, however, these sixty men In Abbeville
elect 10 establish dispensary, then we agree
with Mr.. Mood that II Is best for the welfare
Of the community that man OF character,
honesty and hxedness OF purpose. should get
the place, regardless OF any question OF
church membership. We also agree with Mr..
Mood In saying that IL Is the abuse OF the
liquor business that brings on the evils. II
place Of business TO be converted into a place
10 encourage the sale OF liquor, but who Will
refuse to sell II under Improper circumstances,
then is 1t not much better for the community
to have such an one In the place, than 10 have
one who will abuse the the trust imposed IN
him? ...
The Office Of dispenser will be perhaps the
most Important one In the county, and he
should be The best man We can get 1t Is idle
TO try TO MAKE the dispensary less Injurious by
abusing or outlawing the man In charge.
None Of the evils of the dispensary Will be
mitigated by any such course. The dispen-
saries will be about what the dispensers make
1t. II we have suitable man for the office,
the community Will suffer less than II we
have one who is not suited for the position,
Irliquors are TO be sold as beverage we do
not see how Good Templar could take the
place, but II the liquors are TO be sold only for
medicinal, scientific or sacramental purposes,
we see no objection TO his taking the place,
Under such circumstances, where Is the sin Of
q church member taking the placer
For our own part, Il we are forced o 70 ,ns nave
Good TemplaY may get it, and that he may
conduct the business 50 as not TO violate ms .s
oath. But at presentit seems that sufficient
number of our citizens will not sign peti.
tlon for the establishment OF dlspensary al
Abbeville. In that view Of the case Governor
Tiilman's g promise TO enforce the prohibltory
Is very gratifying to US, and for which
promise we return him our sincere thanks.