The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-06-07
PROHIBITION ADDRESS.
ISSUED BY THE STATE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE TO DEMOCRATS.

COMMITTEE TO DEMOCRATS.
Gett,nR Ready for tho Bsg Convention,
Which WIN Soon DO Reld iu Oolumbis.-
Want tho Question Submitted 10 tie
People.
COLUMBIA, 8. g., May 28.-The
Prohibitlonists of tho State are now up
anG doing, though IL can hardly be said
that thoY are doing much 80 far. It has
been thought for some weeks, since the
accidentrl prohibition law has been of
effect, that tho Prohibitionists would
take stops to have tho law applied TO ,he
mon dealing in liquor. But thew have
not made mOVe 80 80 lar as tho general
public is aware.
The committee now comes to the frqnt
however, and shows it's hand. The
committee manlfestly wishes to consult
with the PrOliibitionists of tho State and
get them all to join in demand upon
city authorities that the prohibition law
be enforced. Friday tho committee pre-.
paved an address to tho people Of ihe
State along this line and urging big at.
tendance at tho State Prohibition con-
vention to be held IN this city on June 7.
This address Was given to the press Fri.
day but withdrawn and held over till yes-
terday, when it was made public. The
address reads as tolloWe:
To the Democratic voters Of South
Carolina:
We are at this time confronted with
situation which threatens greater perils
to all the interest Of our people than uny
which we havo had to face since the dark
day OF reconstruction aud negro domina
ton. II .i6, therefore, the part of true
manhood and loyal citizenship, 10 meet
the emergency with determined EUR.
pose TO do fsarlessly and urcompromis.
ingly that which is right IN the signt of
God and, trusting to him for safe deli-
Verance from the impending evils.
The State Prohibition Executive Com
mlttee, voicing the sentiments of the
large class Of our people who balinve
that the liquor traffic in an owl agency
from which flows most OF the pauperisn,
crime and suffering which curso our S.ete
and who arc confident in belief that
prohibition of the traffic is the only ada.
quato remedy for these evils within our
reach, bave issued a call for couvon-
ton to meet in Columbia on the 7Ih day
Of June to consider the means tor apply
ing this remedy. We feel that we are
but fulfilling q duty which we owe 10
our follow citizons in urging upon them,
with ell the earncstness of which we arc
capable, tho supreme Importance ofre.
spending to this call and giving the most
thoughtful consideration to the occasion
which demands it. An experiment au.
thorized by the Legislature, in direct
violation OF the will of tho people as
clearly expressed at tho last election,
has, after nine months trial, just been
| closed By tho interpretation OF the Su-
| preme Court, ut cost of bitter pu!ri.
Cal animcs!ly, bloodshed, and conli-
ton of unchecked lawlessness GU Tho
part Of tho representatives. of tho liquor
traffic, unparalleled in the history Of the
State. Tue fret decislon of tho Supreme
Court has been interpreted by some as
IN effect, removing all restraints from
the liquor traffic, aud the whskey seller
has been thus advertised that they might
reopen their saloons anywhere in The
State without molestatiou from tho au
thorities. AS direct result OF this an
nouncement, the sluice gates of thif
abomlnation have been opcued, aud q
| stream OF intoxicants is now rolling in
upon She State, which, if unchecked, by
the prompt and determined action vt a
united people, will carry death aud de-
structlon to every portion Of our doVo.ed
commonwealth.
| If we did not believe that there is sLJ.
ficient power in the law, if promptly u.'-
llzed, to protect us IN u measure from
tho threatened evils, the situation would
indeed be appalling, but we confidently
assure you follow citizens, that you are
not left hopelessly to battle with this
merciless foe, thus invited to invade thc
sanctltY of your homes. Tho meout
of protection are within your reach
Municipal laws exist in most of the
towns and cities of the State torbiddiue
the sale of Intoxicating liquors without q
license and there are penaltlcs to enforce
such ordinances. It therefore becomes
the duty of all good citizens to demand
of their municipal authorities that this
prohibition DO applied to anyone who
would attempt, under the ill.adv;ee6 as
surance of any one, to violate the law OF
the community as thus expressed.
The statute law, which the supreme
Court has decided to be of force, pro
vides for the punishment of offenders
when convicted, fine OF 5000 or ak
months imprisonment, or both, in the
discretion OF the court. While 1t is true
that these statutes, both in their penal.
ties and method Of procedure, are not
such as arc needed to guarantee the
most effective enforcement of prOh,bi.
ton, and only show the necessity for
| oar present movement TO secure the pas
sage Of law framed IN all its parts to
ineure it's own summary enforcement, i,
still, tho law as it stands isa muana Of
defGnse against the illegal whlskey
traffic, and should be used for all that it
will do, until more perfect law can be
obtained.
1t ls therefore especially the duty of
prohibitionists to make this the occa.
sion when they shall give emphasis to
their taith, and assurance of their con
sistoncy, by aiding in every propsr way
to bring such violators under the oper-
alton OF tho law. In this way can we
most effectually show that our denunciss-
tion of the liquor traffic and our demand