The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-02-21
In. Problem in the Palmetto State
Atlanta Consultation.

When the South Carolina Supreme
Court takes up the dispensary question
in April it is quite probable that it will
decide the act to be unconstitution-
al, and in that event it is safe to say
that there will be few protests from a7y
quarter.
The Sonth Carolina liquor law is
hybrid affair. 1t is neither prohibition
nor high license measure, and there is
nothing in it that promises the proper
regulation of the liquor traffic. The mo-
rality of the question is ignored entirely
and its purely sumptuary features are
unreasonable. 1t is now announced that
after the 22d instant persons in South
Carolina who have more than five gallons
of liquor must have the State certificates
or dispensary tags. Steps will be taken
to thoroughly search all suspected hou-
ses, and the untagged liquor will be con-
fiscated.
It is difficult to see any remedial or re-
formatory tendency in such legislation.
There is nothing in it that will regulate an
evil, and nothing that will suppress it. The
dispensary law simply gives the State the
monopoly of the liquor trafic-makes 1t
the sole barkeeper, and prohibits good
citizens from engaging in the same traffic
which the State has sanctioned by going
into the business
This false reform will not stand. If
the courts fail to condemn it, the people
will smash it, and after the public ver-
dict 1t is unnecessary to hear from Courts
and Legislatures. The people rule
What is the vital principle of the South
Carolina dispensary law ? If 1t is prohi-
bition, then, 60 ahead and make it pro-
hibition. If it is regulation, then, why
not try our Georgia system of high IL
cense, and regulate the traffic? We can
see nothing in the new system that is not
unjust and oppressive. The moral side OF
the matter is. not regarded. People are
left free to purchase gallon upon gallon
and drink it, and store it away, provided
they have the State tags on their demi-
iohnAsA The State of South Carolina vir-
tnally ysays TO her citizens: "You may
spend ali your substance for liquor and
drink yourselves to death, but you must
buy from the State, and let the State reap
all the profit"
It is natural that the people should re-
volt against such law. 1t has already
caused more bitterness and strife, and
resulted in more deaths in South Carroll
ma than have been caused by any other
one measure of recent years.
If our sister State is in favor Of prohl-
bition, let the experiment be tried. II
high license regulation is preferred, give
that a fair test. But let us see the last OF
this nondescript device which recognizes
neither morality nor regulation. The
suggestion is made by some that under
the dispensary law public morals are
served, because drinking men lose the
temptations to which they would be SUBJ
iected if they congregated in .barrooms.
Admitting this, would it not accomplish
the same thing more satisfactorily to
wipe out the retail houses and contine
the sale of liquor to the wholesale men
Or; if morality is the supreme question,
why not try prohibition in its most iron
clad form. If public order is the main
thing, why not try the Atlanta system OF
high license and strict regulation?
These are pertinent questions, IN view
of the troubles over the border. South
Carolina is liberty. loving State. and her
people will not long submiG to system
which vexes the citizens, costs the tax
payers an enormous amount of money
and makes it necessary to employ an
army Of special constables whose un-
reasonable attempts to search private
houses must necessarily cause strife and
bloodshed.
It is to be hoped that the Supreme
Court of the Palmetto State will declare
this law unconstitutional. That wilt be
the first step towards genuine reform
Get rid of the dispensary and its consta
bles, and it will be an easy matter to reg
ulate the liquor traffic.
Under no preteXt can it be said tha
the State has the right to monopolize any
traffic or any business, To admit this IL
to surrender everything appertaining tc
the liberty of the citizen.
But, despite the forthcoming decision
of the Supreme Court, the problem will
eventually be settled by public sent
Union would long submit to the oppres
sion of pretended reform which
causes nothing but bitterness, strife and
disorder.