The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-04-26

struction upon the telegram which
passed In regard to my course at Flor
ence. The matter was very easily ex-
planned and settled between us, and 1t
ought to be clear from my report that
there was misrepresentation on his
part as to the course l was pursuing.
This is evident, too, from the marked
contrast of his last telegram to me with
those which proceeded, In which he
cautions me to snothe rather than ag-
grayate the situation, act with vigOr
where l thought 1t was safe, and en-
trusted everything to my own discre-
tion in accordance with his general Or
ders"
"Genoral, would you mind saying
what you think as to the riot being
accidental or did 1t have q political
bearing?"
"yhe personal fight or beginning
which followed 1t arose out Of the OK.
citement produced by the enforcement
OF the dispensary law. The public
mind was evidently In an inhammable
state, or the thing would have been
impossible"
us there anything Of political sig
nilicance in the response made by the
people and part Of the militia after
Columbia and Charleston had refused
to Obeyl"
"Of course, there are always some
partisans on such occasions, but a
large majority of those who responded
and of those who were ready to re.
spond were Influenced by q patriotic
purpose to restore good order, support
the existing laws Of the State, and to
prevent the overthrow OF the constt.
stituted authorities of the State. 1t
would not do to ascrlbe their conduct
to desire for the promotion of the po-
litical ends Of any faction or to the
endorsement OF any special law. They
mad higher aims and purposes In their
support of the State government"
us the danger over, and Will there
the execution Of the dispensary law?
Or what is the real cause of the present
agitation In south Carollna?"
IL 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 H.
quor, liquor, liquor. 1t Is the profit
feature of the law which will eventu-
ally have TO 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. Legaliz.
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 tht
State can have. The remedy would
seem to be- modification and simpliii
cation of the law, by the abolishmen
of the State dispensary, the substitu
tlon or q simple purchasing and audit
Ing agent, relegating control Of the 10
cal dlapensartes to the counties and
holding the right Of local option in.
| ViOlaDIe."
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-
ilections of last year, when | appealed
to all parties for greater moderation In
political action and discussion. That
warning has since been repeated by
me, and | must confess that | look
with great anxiety to the immediate
future. l see no real cause for conflict
If tho right spirit prevailed in the
State, because all Of the reforms we
have advocated arc accomplished facts
and dead issues. The disprnsary law
is not q reform measure Of itself, nor
has been adopted by the Reform party
1t must be made one before they feel
bound by it. Outside of the desire for
Office, the 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,
Ii this is the beginning Of the cam
palgn, what Will be the end of it?
Surely we can come down to the dis
IEuSSlOn 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
armed camp Of doubling, hating, dis
trustful factions which at any moment
may be brought into bloody ,riotous con-
illct. The result would be doubtful, and
no one would be benefited, while the
masses of our people would have only
ruin and des0lation staring them In
the face, and the United States govern.
ment alone could restore peace and
good order. Much will depend upon
inc courage ana 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, and their highest interest
and patriotism demand that they con.
troll the situation"
| Waterspouts.
SAN ANTONIA, Texas, April H.
Three Waterspouts, which dld consider.
able damage to property, occurred In
this section last night. The most dam.
aging one occurred in Ken County. at
Kensville, whore several houses were
washed away and a large number of
cattle on the adjoining ranches were
drowned in the Guadalupe River,
which rose twelve feet in a few min.
utes About an hour later, another
Waterspout occurred near Hunter. a
inIM ilea North oG =