St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-27
SOUTH OARO.INA's GRoG.

South Carolina has governor of re- =
niarkabIe character and mental endow-
meutS-a man of Ideas and eXpedfentS.
and man of decided originality. At.
his solicitation the legislature passed
what is known as the state dispenSary
law, an act under the provisions of
which the state assumed absolute con-
troll of the liquor traffic. 1t was made a
penal offense for any man to bring
liquors into the state for his own Or
others use, or TO be found with any
LIQUOR in his possession which did not
bear the sign manual of all officer Of the,
state, together with pictorial repro
ductioh of palmetto tree upon the
label of the bottle. This law was
eombatted in the courts and was de-
clared unconstitutional by the state and
United States courts. Its enforcement
was resisted by the people, and troops
were called out by the governor. These
were driven from the cities into the
forests and swamps by All indignant pop
ulace, and hunted TO death like wild
beasts. Finally, owing to judicial de-
crees and popular opposition,the attempt
to enforce tiIe law was abandoned.
1t now proves that the governor had
declared truce merely; he had not sur
rendered. He now gives forth the ILL.,
formation that the dispensary law still
lives; that neither courts. nor mobs,
nor public protests have Impaired its
usefulness. aud that he will insist that
!. its provisions be observed, ana will use
all the power of the state to compel ODE
dience. 1t apparently makes no differ
ence to him that the law has been de-
clared worthless by the highest judicial
authority in the land. He thinks it Is a
good and valid law, and that is suffi-
cienr, at least for him-and what is
good enough for him ought to be good
enough for the people OF South Caro-
lima, ihdiyi daally and collectively. He
gives forth the ediet that no more
whisky must be brought into the state
unless by the express authority OF the
officials of the commonwealth, and
that none be sold or exposed for
sale which is not made sacred by the
brand of the palmetto. All DRINKS
superinduced by indulgence i'll liquors
that do not bear the proofs Of having
passed inspection are declared to be
| illegal drunks, contrary to public policy
and calculated to infringe the peace
! and good order of the state, and are
| punishable by the EXTREMIST penalties.
| Moreover, it is declared illegal to have
| in ones poss ession bottle, barrel, keg
or phial of ardent spirits which has been
purchased outside Of the state limits, or
within these limits from any person not
| duly authorized to dispense such liquids.
Gov. Tillman does not stand upon
| technicalities, as some over-cauti0us
| executives do. A trifle such as an ad-
verse decision of the United States SUI
| preme court does not phase him in the
| least. For is not the right of state to
| control its domestic affairs inviolate?
| Did not South Carolina nuliify the laws
| of the United States nnce upon time.
| and get thoroughly trounced for the al
| Tempt Has it not been the opinion of
all South Carolina statesmen. TOR two
generations, that the United States goy.
| ernment has no rights which the states
| are bound to respect? And why should
| the executive of the Palmetto stale, at
| this day, surrender to a decree of q
| court constituted and sitting at Wash
ington? AS we'll might it surrender to
the authority of Queen Victoria or
| Queen LIliuokaiani. Perish the thought!
| No one outside Of the limits Of South
Carolina cares rush low or where the
| people of the state get their grog-s
| whether They steal it or buy it; whether
| 1t pays tax to the state or the United
| States, Or to neither. But there is a
| general wish for a settlement of the
controversy, which is becoming some-
what monotonous and wearisome. Will
not Gov. Tillman give US a rest2