The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-04-25
accidental or did it have a political

"The personal fght or beginning
was purely accidental, but the riot
which followed it arose out of the ex-
citement produced by 5he enforcement
OF the dispensary law. The public
mind was evidently in an inhammehle
state, or the thing would have been
impossible
"Is there anything of political sig
nificance in the response made by the
people and part of the militia after
Columbia and Charleston had refused
to obeyw
"Of course, there are always some
partisans OF such occasions, but a
large majority of those who responded
and of those wto were ready to re-.
spord were influenced by a patriotic
purpose to restore good order, support
the existing laws of the State, and to
prevent the overthrow OF the consti.
stituted authorities of the State. 1t
would not do to escribe their conduct
to desire for the promotion of the po-
litical ends of any faction or to the
endorsement of any special law. Ihsy
had higher aims and purposes in their
support Of the State government"
"1s the danger over, and Will there
be any further trouble arising from
the execution of the dispensary law?
Or what is the real cause of the present
agitation in south Carcllra?'
II have said as much as | Intended,
but since you ask the question will add
that fear 1t is not, unless the methods
of enforcing the dispensary law are
very carefully handled. AS to the real
cause of the trouble, would say 1t IS
money, money, money, instead OF II
quor. liquor, liquor. 1t is the prohe
feature of the law which will eventu-
ally have 20 60. One hundred per cent.
is too great temptation for the aver
age blind tiger to resist, even though
he may risk his life IN yielding to 1t.
Besides, the tiger is blind to any NOR
al wrong on his part in selling liquor
for profit when he sees the State en-
gagged In the same business. Legallz-
ing it in his mind does not change the
moral aspect. Kill the profit feature
and you kill the blind tiger. Let the
profits remain in the pockets OF the
people, which is the best treasury the
State can have. The remedy would
seem to be modification and simplih-
catio2 of the law, by the abolishment
of the State dispensary, the substitu-
ton of q simple purchasing and audit
ing agent, relegating control ef the To-
cal dispensaries to the counties and
holding the right of local option In
violable."
General, Is there any thing to be
specially dreaded in the coming cam
paign?"
"Well, you know that sounded a
note of warning in my Christmas Re.
fectlons of last year, when | appealed
to all parties for greater moderation in
political action and discussion. That
warning has since been repeated by
ne, and I must confess that l look
with great anxiety to the immediate
future. see no real cause for conflict
if the right spirit prevailed IN the
State, because all of the reforms We
have advocated are pllshed facts
and dead issues. The dlspensary law
is not a reform measure of itself, nor
has been adopted by the Reform party
It must be made one before they feel
bound By it. Outside Of the desire Tor
Office, tse dispensary seems to be the
sole cause OF dlssension. know our
people, that they are brave and fearless,
and they are not even afraid Of each
other. We may we'll ask the question,
If this is the beginning Of the cam
paign, what Will be the end of 1t?
Surely we can come down to the dis
cussion of so small matter in dis
passionate way, and it behooves every
right thinking citizen of either faction
to consider well the abyss that lies be-
fore US. If this excitement is allowed
to increase, there is great danger that
South Carolina will soon become an
armed camp of doubling, hating, dis
trustful factions which at any moment
may be brought into bloody,riotous con-
fict. The result would be doubtful, and
no one would be benefited, while the
masses of our people would have only
ruin and desolation staring them in
the face, and the United States govern
ment alone could restore peace and
good order. Much will depend upon
the courage and self. control of the
moderate men in both factions. They
are the only hope of the State In such
an emergency. They are largely IN the
majority, aad their highest interest
and patriotism demand that they con-
troll the situation.