The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-07-11
SOUTH CAROLINA poLrr1cs.
The New Liquor Law Problem-Fac-
lions aud the Administration.

SOUTH CAROLINA POLITICS.
The New Liquor Law Problem-Fac-
tiOns aud the Administration.
SIT is impossible to say what will be
practical result OF the experiment
about to be made in South Carolina
with the new liquor law said Con-
gresham William III. Brawley of that
State to q New York Times reporter.
SIN the City of Charleston the evil
consequences OF this new departure are
already felt, and they are very serious.
The Act was passed without that DELHI
GRAFTON and consideration which should
attend any material changes In the
laws, and that 1t may have a fair trial,
there will of necessity have to be
several amendments. No changes in
the law can repair some of the damage
already done.
"Old-established firms which have in
herited q reputation as dealers in good
liquors will be driven out of business
and will leave the State, 1 fear.
Whether the State will derive u
a large revenue from 1t remains to be
seen. Gov. Tillman seems to be very
confident that it will be o great
success financially, and 1 do not doubt
that he will do everything in his power
to make it q success. He is a master
fulman and will obtain from the Legis-
lature such additional Legislation rs
he may think needed to promote the
business.
"There is a strong prohibition senti-
ment in the State, oand it was in defer
ence to this the law was passed.
ut Is q curious episode in the his
tory OF morals and shows how COM
pletely one strong will can dominate a
party, that the Prohibitionists, who
aim at the destruction of all trading in
liquors, who sincerely and sometimes
fanatically believe that any drinking OF
liquor Is sinful, should be supporting q
measure which gives the sanction of
the States name to the traffic and
rather tends to encourage drinking by
the promise of an unauthorized
article at moderate cost.
Prohibition rests upon q princi-
pie which is we'll defined, and, how
ever erroneous you may conceive 1t to
be, you cannot forbear respecting the
motives of those who cOnsicentiOusly
believe the drinking of liquor to be a
sin when they make efforts to prevent
the sale.aof it. 1t seems to be an
illogical and grotesque perversion OF
of half-pint drinks in TASKS bearing
the seal and coat of arms of the State
"Will the liquor agencies become q
part of the political machine %
"Unquestionably. The dispensers
and all the cOnstables and other agents
will naturally be in sympathy with the
administration which appoints them,
and 1t will be- a political factor of con:
siderable influence .V@
sis Gov. Tillman likely to stand for
reelection :"
81 think it highly probable, indeed
almost certain, that he will. He can
have the nomination if he wants it,
and 1t is not in human nature to abdi.
cate absolute power. He dominates
his party like q Colossus among pig
mics"
"Will the conservative party be
likely to nominate q State ticket at the
next election? ?"
" think not. All the machinery OF
elections is in the hands of the pres.
ent administration. The old political
leaders have lost their hold upon the
people, and no great changes can be
effected until new men come to the
front. Our people are tired of fac
tional strife, and when the fever for
change abates, as it probably will in
the course OF a year or two, and they
find out how %powerless for good many
of the present leaders are, they will
select better men, and J therefore ex-
pect q gradual change for the better
"Will not the administration here
help you out
"A party cannot be built up on pa
tronage alone, and nobody will ask or
expect Mr.. Cleveland to appoint to
public Office there men who will use
their positions for factional advantage.
All we ask of the administration is that
1T shall appoint good Democrats who
will stand up for Democratic princi-
Piles against the vagaries of the Peo-
pies party. There is in the State the
nucleus of a party thoroughly in ac-
cord with MI. Cleveland. We think
we are entitled to the moral support of
the administration and that the Fed
eral Offices should go to men of that
type. We do not expect to use them to
build up any individual or to put down
Gov. Tillman. Any attempt OF that
kind would be justly resented by the
people, and as a matter of fact Gov.
Tfllman himself has no sympathy with
many of the so-called demands of the
Ocala platform. Making a stand for
principles and not for men, we expect
that the Federal officials to be appoint
ed will not take part in any personal
or factional contests. They will stand
for Democratic principles and sound
finance, and represent the moral senti-
ment of the government and of the
country, which utterly condemns the
visionary schemes of those who are en-
deavOring to mislead the people for the
purpose of securing offices for them
selves"