The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-05-02
Let Us Have Prohibition.

@~P Nv
setting aside the ~dispensary Law has
evoked a food of comment and criti-
cism in the State. The sentiment 10
towns and cities largely favors the
result of this decision, but there are
many d~issenters who agree that the
dispensary system was worthy Of a
fair trial as a solution of the liquor
question. In a number of communities
it. has not been accorded a fair aud
unbiased test, and political prejudice
has been rife to prevent a discriminate
ing judgment upon the system. 1t is
we'll to admit that the restrictions and
restraints of such a system do not
accord with the teachings of the past,
nor is the genius Of our people prone to
accept anything which savors Of es-
pionage aud forcible obedience to law.
So far as the administration Of the
law itself is concerned, many Of its
supporters have not agreed with the
chief executive in his ultra methods for
it's enforcement. He has unnecessarily
antagonized the opposition, and 10 many
instances has driven away its friends
who were willing to aid and assist 10
reasonable measures, but who would
not identify themselves with odious
means and belligerent actions eve to
sustain what they believed to be right.
The fierce instructions given to armed
c~onstables were not calculated to allay
the intense opposition Of brave men,
and the use Of weapons by these con-
stables upon slight provocation only in-
creased the fury against them.
This was the condition of affairs
when the Supreme Court rendered its
verdict that the law c%entraveues the
constitution of this State. and is null
and void except in one particular.
The court holds in substance that all
license laws were repealed by the dis
pensary act, and that the Legislature
has an undoubted right to prohibit the
trafic.in liquor, but it cannot create a
monopoly, nor car the State engage in
business of any sort. This leaves an
actual, positive prohibition of the
liquor traffic in South Carolina, but
there are no penalties for its violation
or provisions for its specific enforce
ment. The Legislature car remedy
these defects, and at this writing it is
asserted that an extra session will be
called for the purpose Of amending
what is left Of the dispensary law.
If the Legislature shall be convened
to conside these matters. it would ap-
pear that only two propositions are
likely to be entertained. Governor
Tillman. We take it for granted, will
not altogether forsake the line he has
been pursuing, and he will doubtless
urge the passage Of a law that is not
inimical to the decision Of the court,
and yet will maintain the control aud
regulation of the liquor traffic. He
will be compelled to yield the revenue
feature Of the law, as this is the very
essence Of it's unconstitutionality.
| Whether an act can be framed which
will avoid the objections already u s.
tanned by the courts is to say the least
very doubtful
What then? This Legislature. can
not do otherwise than to enact a CON.
plete prohibition measure, and provide
the machinery for its due enforcement.
Such a course, if taken at an early
date, would thrust this question into
the campaign, and all other issues
would then be dwarfed into insigni6-
canoe as a natural consequence. The
political elements would undergo a
change, and new %alignments would
take place. Old issues aud factional
prejudices would give way to this alb
sorhiug question. and the State would
witness a mighty struggle for the
mastery. The advocates Of the traffic
in liquor by individuals under the
license system would grid themselves
for the conflict. and every means would
be employed to restore the former con
dition Of things in this State, but We do
not believe they would be successful.
Prohibition has the best chance for
its enactment now than at aoy previous
time in the history of the State. A
majority of the Legislature was
chosen for this purpose. aud if they
were to abandon the system which did
not stand the test in the courts. they
must inevitably take a firm stand for
prohibition. The large majority of
voters will condemn a return to the
license system, as enough has been
seen and felt to show the beneficial
effect of its abandonment. The people
will not consent to the reopening Of
the saloons. This evil once restored
it would take generations to reach the
point where we stand to-day. The