New-York tribune., 1895-08-10
WY THE SOUTH IS POOR.
SENATOR TILLMAN AND EX-GOVERNOR
ST. JOHN IN DEBATE.

THE n,sc,ssIoN OF PROHIBITION BRINGS OUT A
STATEMENT FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA
! SENATOR THAT THE WAR Is THE CAUSE
Of SOUTH cARoLINAs POVERTY.
Two ex-C;overnors debated at Prohibition Park.
| Staten Island. last night one was benjamin H.
Tulman United States Senator from south Caro-
lina and the other was John r. 81. Johh. OF Nam
sas The subject discussed was: us Prohibition the
pes, WAY to Promote Temperance Reform"
Ex-Governor ST. John spoke In the affirmative
and Senator Tillman in the negative. AS the Sena-
tor on Thursday night debated with professor Sam
uel Dickie chairman Of the National committee OF
the Prohibition party. he has now deiended the
South Carolina dispensary system against two OF
the ablest orators the Prohibition party has pro-
duced
Ex-Governor st. John. who opened the discussion
before about five hundred people In the park audi
torum. began bv saying that he thanked God that
the cause which separated South Carolina and Kan
sas thirty years ago would separate them no more
forever He then continued In part: Il stand here
for prohibition not only because OF my experience in
the last quarter century. but because believe the
Bible Is with me- All the Ten Commandments are
prohibtory all the statutes OF all the states are
prohibtory The Supreme Court has declared that
all that degrades is contrary to the welfare OF the
people and that crime and degradation are increased
by drunkenness. All the statutes OF south carolina
are prohibtory / find that in that State they pro-
hibit the sale OF liquors near colleges. But the
worst evil has the laws sanction there. want 10
know why they discriminate In favor or the liquor
trannc when a great amount OF pauperism and
crime comes therefrom.
Senator Tman. whose stunp-speech stories
and retorts made the audience applaud, replied
saying among other things;
I'm glad to be able to speak here. because I've
been the worst slandered man In the country
| From newspaper reports OF Tillman Of South Caro-
x.fnh holt hat
was cross between Anarchist and an IDIOT
and In, glad TO show you that I'm not so black
devil as I've been painted
He then gave his definition OF Temperance and
reform" He said the main question was how to
persuade only use and not ABUSE liquor
He continues: Until you convince the majority
| of the people that they have no right to use
uouor vour prohibitionst is like man who tried
| to follow star and fell over precipice The
Mosaic law. which my opponent has quoted DOESN'T
say Thou shalt not drink When the majority
| OF men believe they have an inaienable right 10
drink uauor il is like trying TO catch moonshine
to enforce prohibitory law II prohibition were
universally believed in II would sweep over the
His experience as Governor he said. taught him
to believe that the enforcement OF Jaw must res. resi-
Governor 81. John had piled Peion on the Ossa OF
statistics prove how beautiuI tnlns ~as va sdb
Carolina and Kansas to the advantage OF the last-
| named State. Senator Tiliman answered him IN
NV opponent asks why We have 80 mucn dim-
Guilty in enforcing the Dispensary law. tel MN
II Is Simply because have a Federal judiciary
there that are the tools OF the liquor men be
cause Cleveland. who is supposed to be a Demo
cratic President sends so-ca,led Democratc oHlcers
into a Democratic State who are the friends or the
iiouor men even to the extent OF sneaking around
II am sorry the gentleman compared the wealth
Of Kansas and South Carolina FIRST COM
pare them as God made them. with all their
natural advantages and then remember me
ruin wrought in every State by the war We are
a conquered people. II Is the war that Keeps us
poor I'VE pay every year large proportion OF the
pensions Of Federal soldiers. There's constant
stream Of gold which goes north to sustain educate
and comfort the widows and orphans OF those who
| fought against it. 1t never flows back to south
Carolina that that keeps us poor.
Here Ex-Governor st. John began TO speak L
| know you have lost your slaves and all that0
Senator T1llman interrupted him by saying: I'm
| glad they're gone -
At this there was loud applause. The Senator
| then continued: The South has paid more tribute
! than any other conquered country know OF. but
| thank God. perhaps my children Will be able 10
| compare my State and Kansas to better advantage
TO South Carolina. II country was not so fer-
| tile we would not be able to bear our burdens
| we never gave up the idea that we were right
| II was Gods hand. my friends That's the only
| consolation we've got II you don't like the way
| we treat the negroes, take them from us ana sup.
! port and educate them. and we will thank you
| He ended by specifying the peculiar Dement'S OF the
| dispensary system.
| The Jury in the debate Thursday night an
nounced last night that they stood eleven for Sena-
| tor Tillman and eight for Professor Dickie.