The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-01
TIE DISPENSAEY LAW.

THE DIsPENsAEY Law.
We heartily agree with an editorial
in the last issue of our contemporary,
the Observer. 1t is brought forth we
presume by the refusal of Mr.. Hill to
accept the position of State Dispenser
rendered him by Gov. Tillman. Our
cotemporary then quotes the following
from the Baptist Courier:
I'VE are sorry that our State has
created an Office which can not con-
sistently be filled by Christian"
It then continues as follows:
"There is much in that to think
about. And the more we think the
more we become convinced that min
listers of the Gospel have made a
serious mistake in being drawn into an
endorsement of the law. They say it
is better than licensed barrooms, and
we agree with them in believing so;
but that remains to be seen. One may
say that petty larceny is not so bad as
grand larceny; but he ought not to en-
dorse petty larceny, or give it even
quasi endorsement.
''This fact stands out conspicuously:
Ministers and other Christian people
who have been denouncing liquor-sell-
ing as a sin against God and crime
against humanity are endorsing the
law that makes the State sell liquor
and that creates thirty-six Offices that,
according to high authority, cannot
consistently be filled by Christian
But, say they, they only endorse it as
against licensed barrooms. AS mora.
question there isn't a particle of differ
ence. Would anybody endorse petty
larceny as against grand larceny?
Both are alike wrong"
That is all very true, and The Herald
and News has wondered all along how
those who were conscientiously op-
posed to the traffic in liquor, and who
looked upon it as moral wrong, and
who. were prohibitionists from prin-
ciple, could endorse the dispensary
law, which not only does not do away
with the business, but makes the State
the chief dealer. Some enthusiastic
supporters of the present Administra-
ton no doubt would have endorsed
anything that Gov. Tillman recon-
mended, but we have been a little sur
prised at the attitude of some who give
this measure endorsement.
And even the Observer, not two
weeks before the above was written,
gave the bill its endorsement; at least,
The Herald and News so considered it.
The Observer said, January y, speak
ing of the dispensary law
"Our observation is that, with the
exception Of the barkeepers, there is
no Kicking of any consequence, and
that the large majority of the business
men and leading citizens are heartily
in favor of the dispensary law as
against the saloon."
No doubt it was moved to this en-
dorsement of the law by the approval
it received from such men as DR.. Grier
of Erskine aud DR.. Carlisle of Woford,
for in that same issue it says:
SIT is strong defense Of the dis
pensary law that it has the approval of
such men as President Carlisle of Wof-
ford College and President Grier of
Erskine-both eminent advocates of
temperance and prohibition.
''They would prefer prohibition to
the dispensary, but prefer the dispensa-
ry to saloons.
"We sincerely hope the Dispensary
Act will stand the test of the courts
and that all good citizens will unite in
seeing that it has full and fair eX-
pertinent"
The Herald and News is GLAD to see
that a change has come over the
dreams of our cotemporary and thatit
now sees the full force of the dispensa-
ry law: that under this new law, while
the editor of the Observer is prohibi-
tionist on principle, yet he will be
made partner in the liquor business
and will share in the profits of its sale.
The Herald and News adopts the
closing words of the editorial in the
Observer of January 26, and commends
them to the editor of that paper and
all other prohibitionists who are now
endorsing the dispensary law:
"We seriously fear the public mind
is in fair way to be debauched on the
subject of liquor-selling.
1--WE think many good people, in
publicly endorsing the measure, have
allowed themselves to be used, and in
so doing have been betrayed into a
mistake that will cause them profound
regret"
No doubt the Observer already re-
grets its. former endorsement of this
law, and, as it now sees it's error and
acknowledges it, we can but commend
its course to other prohibitionists, who
are endorsing the new law.
There is no use trying to be consist
ent when you find that you have been
wrong. Remember that as great
man as Mr. emerson IN one. or MS
essays says:
"a foolish consistency is the hob
goblin of little minds, adored by little
statesmen and philosophers and
divines. With consistency a great
soul has simply nothing to do. He
NAV as we'll concern himself with his
shadow on the wall. -. If you would
be man, speak what you think to-
day in words as hard as cannon balls,
and tomorrow speak what tomorrow
thinks in hard words again, though it
contradict everything you said to-
day."
1t is, perhaps, prophetic that the
Evans dispensary law has struck a
Hill at the very beginning of its career.