The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-06-22
For the TIMES.
Far Better than License.

MIR. EDiTOR:-l read your comments in
last weeks TINES on Gov. Tllman's speech
before the great prohibition meeting recent
ly held at Staten Island, N. Y You say
you are satisfied that Gov. Tillman is mis-
taken when he aiiirm5 that the majority of
the good people of South Carolina are in
favor of the dispensary law.
| have before me now SO letters from
representative clergymen of South Cnroliua,
replying to the following questions from the
great prohibition advocate "The Voice, pub
liJhcd at \. Y:
|. Is it your impression that the best
moral sentiment of your community sustains
the diSpensary law as an improvement over
the old saloon license system, aud that it
favors the enforcement CT such law ?
,. What has been the effect of the dis
pcnsary law, 50 far as you can judge, III
decreasing drunkenness and other evils
growing out Of the liquor traffic?
3. Additional remarks.
REV. W. Nj. MCPuEETEus, Professor in
Columbia Theological Seminary, (Prcsbytc-
riar) answers the above questions thus:
il) "Such is the heat of blood caused by
poliric'l partsanshp that it is hard to get
an unbiased Judgment upon the question.
Many who arc anti-TIllmanites believe the
dispcnsary law has done good and would do
great good if given fair trial.
REV G. T.. CuIcuE,TER, pastor Mariners
church, Charleston
MY impression is, the law is decided
improvement over the old law. for it has
closed every barroom in the city. The cf-
feet has been to cause great decrease in
drunkenness. know this rs regards sailors,
who can now reach the Bethel without being
enticcd into barrooms by the way"
REV. }. &. KILGo, l.. f.. Of Spartnnburg
District NJ. f. church:
"As far as know, and | have the best
Of opportunities to hear and observe, the
dispensary law, in comparison with the bar
room system, is greatly superior. While it
is not what the trohibitionists want, yet
they accept it rs great Improvement.
REV W. ii. DowLING, pastor of six Bap
list churches in Hampton
'rhc best moral sentiment Of this entire
section Of the State sustains the diSpensary
| law rs a great Improvement over the liccnsc
system. 1t has decreased drunkenness IOper
cent We accept the law rs the best com
promise that can be made, and believe that
II full prohibtory law would breed "blnd
tigers all over the State. The dispepsiry
law with some amendments and discreet con-
stables, is the best conception Of any mini.
REV. II. NJ. Moon, pastor Of NJ. +. church;
M.uuing: n great Temperance advocate and
former L. +. Of this District:
The dispcnsary law has swept away all
saloons, liquor shops, club houses and jug
vending from the State: broken up the
gambling dens connected with the liquor
traffic destroyed the strongholds of lewd-
ness, profanity and rlbaldry, and been the
means of reforming many.
REV. c. {. BRowN, Editor, Sumter, s. c.:
The diSpensary law is n good and wise
one. 1t has reduced drunkenness fully one
half 1t has torn down tbs gambling hclls
which were run in connection with every
bar
REV. W. $. BrIrroN. pastor Baptist
church, Blrnwcl
(D Yes t2) Drunkenness decreased. Boys
now get no whiskcy. Less street rowiyism.
Better municipal authorities elected, rs bar
rooms cannot exert their baueful influence.
REV. J. IL. DIXON, pastor Presbyterian
church, florence
Yes but whiskey men fight the law with
their energy. 1t has decreased drunkenness,
its enemies admit it. Railroad men say they
see less drunkenness. 1t is ten times better
than the saloon system.
REV. J. 5. WATKINS, pastor Presbyterian
church, Spartanburg:
(l) Majority OF hest citizens must see
that the dispeuslry is an Improvement over
open saloons. ~ Drunkenness decreased.
MEN. j. lHoNNS lNIE, pastor MclHoilS'
church, Grceuvilc:
o. Cool people sustain it. ~ Drunken
ness decreased fully 80 per cent. We had
II barrooms. nov hut one dispensiry. We
want prohibition, but if we cannot get that
we much prefer the disrensnry to the old
barro1m system.
These, Mr.. Editor are extracts from not
onc-tcnth Of the letters now before me from
prominent ministers in our State, who vastly
prefer the li.penSary law to the saloon.
And in conclusion, Mr.. Elitor, | want to
say you are mistaken in rcg,rl to the wishes
of the ma iorty Of gaod men in this section
if you think we want to see the dispcnSary
again supPlantct by the licensed barroom
Give u the di.pcnSary, with its laws amend
cd and its business conducted by hoRca
mor0I men thousand times sooner than
those vie dcns where the liquor business
conducted by the scum Of society IS drag
ged down to the level of the bawdy houses
ana hells Of inlimy from which We offer no
remedy.
n G. IiTTLEJOuN