The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-02-26

into her lap, is languishing under the
effects of cheaper foreign and domes'
tic markets. The sea island cotton in
terest is suffering in almost exactly
the same way and the phosphate in
terest is at its darkest hour. The fac
forage business has almost come to a
close and nothing but the frugal hab-
its of her people and the savings from
the hard.earned money OF former
years saves her now from disaster.
Loaded down with debt contracted be-
fore the late war for railroads which
went down with disaster with that
struggle and more stripped OF her re-
sources by. that war than any other
city in America she has only by dlnt
of hard labor been able to meet her
creditors without reputation and to
hold up her head above the waves.
Where is the industry in South Car
DINA today that is not more or less
aided by her means, her skill and her
money! I have faith in the city. I
have faith in her brave men and fair
women and believe that she will re-
cover from the present period of ap.
parent depression; that she will either
make or find way again to fortune
and am not, I think, asking too much
of the representatives from other coun-
ties whose fame as Carolinians do
not mean to cast doubt upon, because
I stand up in defense of Charleston
that they will not add one other bur-
den to her misfortune.
Mr.. Mayfeld said that he concurred
in what the senator had said about
Charleston-the State loved Charles
ton and she was not dealing with enc.
mics. But South Carolina was bigger
than Charleston and had passed
laws for the whole people. Charleston
alone had refused to pass an ordinance
making it unlawful to sell liquors ex'
cept under the dispensary. When
the people of the State heard that
Charleston had been destroyed by an
earthquake, there had been sympathy
for her in every heart in the State.
They sympathized with her in the loss
of the phosphate industry, but the dis.
pensary system did not bring on these
things. They had refused to pass an
ordinance of the city to prohibit the
sale of liquors after they had agreed
to do so.
Mr.. Barnwell stated that the coun-
Gil had held a meeting and decided to
pass an ordnance to that effect, but up
on the advice of the city attorney that
1t would be illegal, did not do so.
Mr.. Mayfeld, continuing, said that
he had been informed that the city at
torney had prepared the ordinance.
He was surprised that so learned a
man should draw such a bill and then
give it as his opinion that it could not
be enacted.
Mr.. Barnwell said that he thought
Mayor Ficken drew the bill, and GER
tainly not the city attorney.
Mr.. Mayfeld said that while they
would promise to enforce the law, the
officers could say, 1--WE are not requir.
ed to enforce it." The law had not
been enforced, and a board consisting
of gentlemen of high standing had
been appointed and the law put into
effect. The best people of Charleston
favored this law.
Mr.. Barnwell-The most uncompro-
missing opponents of the law were on
the other side from Mr.. Smythe in the
last election.
Mr.. Mayfeld said that the law would
pour gold into the co6ers of Charles
ton. She had had hcr trial and it was
too late now for her to ask for new
one.
Mr.. Barnwell said that they had re-
fused to take his pledge that the law
would be enforced (made last Year, If
the law was not passed.
Mr.. Mayfeld said that the governor
had been compelled to put the law in
force after seeing that it would not be
carried out.
Mr.. Watson said that while he had
not changed the position he had taken
last year, and believed there were 20
towns in the State that needed the
board if Charleston did, he would
move to table the motion o. the gen.
tleman from Charleston to put an end
to the debate.
Mr.. Buist said that the position taken
by his colleague was eminently cor.
rect. The position taken at the last
session involved vital principles. He
then spoke at some length about the
need of reformers in party primaries,
which he held would be brought about
by the adoption of a system OF registra-
ton, for which purpose, it will be re-
membered he had introduced two bills,
which were killed in the house.
He endeavored to impress. upon the
senate the fact that the faction of the
Charleston Democracy with which he
was identified did not endorse to police
board or the dispensary law. There
was no local politics in that, he said,
and he wished it heralded abroad that
no one had said that this law was put
into force by the reason of the success
of one or the other of the factions.
The law was simply the effect of one
sided politics in South Carolina. he
would vote for the repeal of this law
as he would for the repeal Of the dis
pensary law if it came up again.
Mr.. Eird spoke in opposition to
repeal. He desired to say that those
men who constituted the majority in
South Carolina would always submit
to the will of the majority. If the
day ever came when he and his party
would be in minority, he would not
be found kicking against the will OF
the majority. :,
Mr., Archer said that if no one would
throw any light on the subject under