The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-12-29
The DiSpenSary Question.

The Anderson Peoples Advocate,
in commenting upon the criticism
made OF Governor E!!eroes $ acts, and
n approving tae general trend OF his
administration, says:
HE is today engaged in fighting
relentless foe, the wLishey ring, and
the pity Of it is that this enemy OF all
that is good and pure and noble in
the State is backed By the whole
power Of the federal Judiciary, and
they ere fighting to tasten upon US
again the infamous b&r-room system
and make It again political power
in the land. In our judgment the
Governor has taken the right stand
in affirming his determination TO
stand By the dispensary law until i
is oYerruled by the Supreme Court IN
sustaining Judge Simonton's cecls,
ion, ard in that event recommending
to the Legislature an amendment TO
the dispensary law in accordance with
sbat decision eliminating the sale OF
liquor as beverage and the profit
feature, and confning it 10 sales for
medicinal, sacramenta!, scientific and
mechanical purposes, al under tie
control OF the State. This will knock
out the original package stores and
ali other plans for shipments into the
State, except for personal use. It is
plan that must commend itself to
the best moral and religious senti-
mert of the State. We never liked
the profit feature in the dispenssry
I law as the tendency Of it WAS to in-
crease sales, build up the trade and
by consequence the profits rs drift
was to magnify rather than minimize
the consumption Of l;q0or. Without
that feature the dispensary law Was
the best solution Of the liquor prob
lem that has ever been presented.
But the United States courts seem
determined to put their veto on II at
the demand of the whiskey ring. And
unless Congress interyenes and puts
the control of the liquor wholly with
in the police power of the States
the plan proposed By Governor Ell
lerbe is the rext best thing TO do"
While we concur with onr Auder-
son contemporary IN the conclusion
reached, yet we moss say that we do
not consider the Advocate as stating
fully the matter of the opposition TO
the State dispensary.
Good men and wise men are di-
vided in opinion as to the principle Of
the dispensary-as TO what might be
called the philosophy OF the system,
as measure of craftsmanship.
It is not what may be called the
"wbiskey ring" or the champions OF
the saloon school, that alone oppose
the State dispensary. Il is also op-
posed by men who conscientiously
condemn the principle upon which it
is based. If now these men find
themselves allied with the ''wbiskey
ring" ii is their misfortune, but net
their fault. The circumstance may
furnish food for thought, bat not
ground for reproach.
We have not approved the profit
feature OF tie Gispcnsary, ror have
we regarded the administration Of tie
law at all proper and saGacioas in the
main.
But tie d;spensa:y law modified
and amended and Gecently admins
tered by good men and honest Off
ciaIs is, We hold, the best thing yet
proposed to !he people OF South Car
olina.
The evil OF strong drink demands
State control.
The question is, what IS tie best
practicable mode OF control?
Between the saloon system, with
high license or low license, the proLi-
bition that will not prohibit, and the
dispensary that wisely and judicious-
Ily dispenses the beverage tiiat il
seems our people will have, by hook
or by crook, We advocate the dispen-
sary until the wisdom of statecraft
and the sentiment and taste of our
people shall unite in some better way
Of dealing with the vexed question
of strong drink.
Divine legislation is one thing; hu
man legislation is another, though al
human law ought to be inspired By
the principles Of the divine CODE.
When iloses proclaimed the deca-
logue OF prohibition, he Was lesisla:-
ing for a theocracy, and he was Of
course regardless Of the sentiment Of
his people.
In lesislating for democracy,
craftsmanship does the best that is
possible in view of the public senii-
ment. Sound law is crystaiized pub
lie opinion in free countries.
When the General Assembly shall
meet and discuss the question in tie
light of the message OF the Governor,
we small expect to see the whole sub
| iect discussed in spirit looking to
tie best and the highest interests Of
| tie State.-Columbia Register.
! Biz Wedding III Sa!IE..