The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-08-21

Was Too Much for st. John.
The jury appointed 10 decide the
merits of the debate which Senator
Ben Tillman and Prof. Samuel Dickie,
national Chairman of the Prohibition
party, held on Thursday night at Pro,
hibition Park, L. l., endorsed the
opinion of the audience, which favor
ed the Southern Senator throughout.
There were seven Prohibitionists on
the jury and fourteen anti-Prohibl-
tionists, and thew decided eleven tc
eight in Senator Tillmau's favor, two
not voting.
He carried the audience with him
last night as thoroughly as he did on
the preceding evening He was in the
midst of the prohibition stronghold,
contending against their theories, but
the audience applauded him asthoush
he were struggling in their behalf.
Most of the audience were Prohlbi-
tionists, but their delight when Till
man made a point against his oppo-
nent was enthusiastic He is a speak,
er of considerable magnitude, free
from most of the platform tricks, and
natural in manner.
The methods of eX-Gov. st. John, of
Kansas, who was his opponent, be-
long to the old school. So the audi
ence listened to Tillman with delight,
and applauded him in such way that
their favor must have been intended
not so much for what he said as the
way in which he said it. But, he
made great impression on his hear
ers, and their delight was unbounded
when they learned that the jury was
with them in giving him the honors
of.the debate on Thursday.
The question last night was, us
Prohibition the Best Method of Tenn
perance Reform?" The debate was
slow in starting, and after the audi
ence had sung a hymn, Come Thou
Almighty King" Mr.. II. H. Carr,
who was introduced as the founder Of
the women's Republican clubs OF New
York, sang Rowing Home with Mol
1y." Then the superintendent OF the
building announced that no interrup'
tons would be allowed from the audi
ence. On Thursday the interruptions
took up too much time and interfered
with the speakers. So it was an
nounced that the audience would have
no share ia the debate.
DR.. Leonard, who is the secretary
of the Methodist Episcopal Mission,
was made chairman, and he was told
to keep his eye on his watch, and see
that the speakers did not 60 over their
time. The suppression Of the audi
ence deprived the debate of some of its
Eveliness, but there was nothing to
prevent them from applauding, and
they did this when Senator Tillman
gave them a chance.
Ex-Gov. st. John opened the dis
cussion. he said:
II don't know when lhave enjoyed
more speaking on prohibition than be-
fore you good people here, and under
these circumstances. Thirty years ago
Senator Tillman and I represented ex-
tremes of political opinion, and am
proud to have the honor of meeting
here one of this country's most distin-
guished citizens, who is known to ev-
erybody that makes any attempt to
keep up with the political questions
of the day. The question that parted
us thirty years ago is settled now, and
settled forever. We are not here to-
night as politicians in any sense Of
the word, but as citizens of our COM
mon country to discuss acomparative.
" new question that has forced itself
to the front during the past twenty
FIVE wears. claim for Senator Till
man that he is as sincere and conscl-
entious in what he is doing as what
claim for myself. We are both doing
what we can in an humble way for
our fellow men. [ am glad that the
other side of this debate is upheld by
such a courageous man as Senator I'LL
man. We know that he has courage,
as well as a great deal of gray mat
ter in addition, and I would rather
be whipped by him than vanquish a
little Western scrub like myself.
st stand here tonight for prohibi
ton first, last and all the time, be-
cause my experience of the last twen-
ty-fve years has taught me that it is
not only the best way to promote tenn
perance reform, but because my con-
science tells me that in the sight OF
God and man it is right. I know that
all the States of the Union are with
me, and I know that prohibition is
the rule of the Bible. 1t says always,
Thou shalt not and there is not
word in it in favor of licensing any
wrong, nor will my friend find there
a word about dispensaries. The law
is prohibitory all through the statutes
OF the States, and the United States
Supreme Court has said that the rights
and liberties Of nobody are interfered
with when the permission to sellllquor
is denied.
1.-THE Constitution says that the fun
damental object of the government IS
to promote the welfare of the people.
Last night Senator Tillman read the
statement Of Gov. Larrabee of Iowa,
in which he denounced the saloon and
the LIQUOR traffic as the breeder Of pau
perism, crime and degradation. The
Legislature of Iowa endorsed that, and
so do I, and I claim that anything
which breeds crime, pauperisnl and
degradation should be prohibited, not
licensed or dickered with, I found
today that the statutes of South Caro-
lima are in perfect harmony with my
opinion. The whole criminal code is
prohibitory, and a man can't kick his
dog without violating the law, and he
cannot get license to do it, nor deal
with it according to the dispensary
system. South Carolina laws strictly
prohibit the adulteration of food, and
do not allow the terrapin to be taken
under certain size. You cannot get
license to take them.
'sNo living pictures nor impure lit
erature are allowed, and you can get
license for living picture, or treat