The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-21
Reasons Why the Metropolitan Ponce
Must be Maintained-ls Charleston
n City OF Outlaws?

Reasons Why the Metropolitan Police
Must be Maintained-ls Charleston
u City Of Outlaws"
The Charleston Critic makes the following
statement putting the country on notice that
the public sentiment of Charleston is In SYM
nathv with the violators OF the law regulat-
ing the sale Of liquor.
With a knowledge Of the facts, and in the
face of such declarations of the Charleston
Critic, the people of thisS State could not pre-
serve their self.respect and yield 10 the de-
mand for the recall of the Metropolitan po-
lice.
Recently a mechanic in this town suggested
that the United States trade off Charleston 10
Spain, for Cuba. He seemed TO think that we
would lave less trouble with Cuba than with
Charleston.
II Charleston could be transferred TO sDme
other country, Georgia for instance, we
would nave peace in South Carolina. Our
chief disturbing factor would be removed,
and If the Charleston Critic is correct in its
estimate we are inclined to sympathise with
the suggestion to trade off Charleston. If
Charleston can't rule the State that city al
ways S6Su1b 10 nave tue SulhSJ u IL ! uoSoh '
secede from the State the dispensary will yet
be Ell forced In that city. If the rest Of the
people Of the State deserve a decent respect
from the public they will make Charleston's
liquor dealers obey the law. 1t Is indeed a
nice state of affairs If the saloons are above
the law.
But here is the Critics boast or threat or
notice.
TELL THE TRUTH AND SHAME THE DEVIL
In It's virtuous and indignant outburst this
morning against Governor Elleros, our es-
loses It's accustomed sell. control and foregoes
its usually calm and studied method OF stat.
ing things in one important point. 1t de-
clares that:
"The failure Of the grand jury to indict the
blind tiger keepers was due not to their oppo.
sition to the dispensary law but TO a lack OF
sufficient evidence to warrant their indict-
ment."
The Critic believes in looking facts and con-
ditions squarely In the face and dealing with
them as they are and as we know them to be.
We believe 1t better to stand upon the truth
than to compromise with it. 1t Is a self-evi-
dent truth IN this community which needs
only TO be stated to be accepted by every one
that Charleston is and has been opposed TO
the dispensary law. And when we say Char.
lesion, we mean that portion of the commun-
ity who, to all intents and purposes, voices
the accepted sentiment here; There are many
good people here who regard the dispensary
properly managed as a moral blessing
and who are sincerely grieved that the system
should be honeycombedw with corruption and
abuse and thus emasculated OF It's potency
for good. There are others who could approve
Of It If it was not for this inherent tendency
In the system to go to the bad.
But these two latter classes OF people do not
represent Charleston in the sense which if
quiet, contemplative and philosophical rath-
er than active and potential. Their very aoil-
ity TO look at public questions in the calm
light Of an undisturbed and superior judg-
ment is ~perhaps1due in large degree to the
fact that they continually Keep aloof from
the melee and, whatever their W opinions
may be, leave II TO less disinterested elements
to wage the battle and shape the results.
We may put these classes down then as moi
figuring at all as representing Charleston In
any practical. political or actual sense-they
only represent ideas which are OF the uni
verse rather than of locality.
The overwhelming majority voice OF the
active, militant, potential factors In Charles.
ton Is opposed to the diSpensary law and ev-
cry fibre OF this representative part OF me
sponsive 10 the sentiment. 1t Is respect
able-nay praisewOrthy-tO sell intOx.
icating spirits In defiance of the pro-
visions of the State law. II IL disre.
putable to sell 1t under the %cOunten-
ance and in accordance with those
provisions. IL Is n crime 10 enforce
the law. 1t Is an act Of patriotism TO
eVhuc J. L lb UhO PiSSSoeot
an unjust, oppressive and ~tyrannical measure
Imposed on them in disregard OF the prevail.
ing sentiment of the community. What,
pripciple for which we stand? Shall we dis
avow and dishonor our cause? Shall we APP
pear to be ashamed Of 1t? Shall we weakly
attempt to put II upon q false grouno? small
we. with evidence in refutation staring us
in the face at every turn, declare thatit Is
the lack of that evidence and not the worthi-
ness OF the cause upon which we take our
" - - = - HONI IN 4 n nl
upon the statement that "the failure OF the
Jury to indict was due not 10 their OPP
position TO the law but to a lack OF suholent
evidence to warrant their Indictment? such
a course would prove futile II II were not un-
worthy. If we adopt 1t we desert the solid
ground OF truth from which there Is no pow
er TO dislodge us and INVOLVE ourselves In q
course Of prevaricatien from which IL is I'M
possible TO escape without detection anu Wild
honor. w
Let the News and Courier reflect a little.
But a few days since II stated In It's news col
umns that Governor Ellerbe had received a
tin. OF the Metropolitan Police, which, 1t is
said, is devoted 10 the statement OF the prose-
cutions during June OF the violators OF the
dispensary law in Charleston" !
Let it think a moment what this report
may contain. Not assertions merely that no
well.informed person-not even those who
make them-is prepared to.oelieye. But re-
cords OF the court-testimony submitted to
the grand jury-sworn NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
that may be very far from appearing to other
eyes than those of the grand jury as not
sufficient TO warrant indictments" II. then.
grand jury's consistent action In throw
ing out the dispensary cases Is put on this
ground instead Of honest and avowed opposi'
ton to a bad law, 1t Is not easy to see what q
cut de sac we shall have run our heads into?
No. There are certain truths that are self
evident. Among them we think may be
classed the statement that the fact that the
grand Jury did not find any indictments was
due to their Opposition to the law" And.
assuming that such is the case, they should
stand on that ground, 1t was long since com
monty reported that the foreman of the body
had said that he would ''sit in his chair until
dropped off his feet be fore he would
return q true bill In any Of these cases." or
words to that effect; and the course of the Jury |
has apparently been In strict accord with the
sentiment. 1t is the only tenable ground to
occupy, In view OF all the circumstances, and
we deem 1t due TO Charleston that 1t shall not
be weakly abandoned.