The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-05-11
Again the Dispensary.

IL looR5 now llRo inc beginning OF
the end was coming. We have had
Tor five years u most vexatious eXper-
fence with our dispensary law. Tho
world over, especially the civilized
part OF the globe, has had much trou-
BILE with the subject of intoxicants.
Here we remark that, all legislation,
all laws must be made with regard to
the genius of the people. You cannot
put upon q free untrammollcd people,
like South Carolinians, the laws Of
Germany or even France. The free
Carolinian, and especially q man be-
longing to the hills OF South Carolina,
Is apt to inquire when his door is dark
ened or his castle entered, by what au-
thority it is invaded, or rather this
was once the case.
The tameness and seryility with
which the dispensary law has been
submitted to has becn most astonish-
ing. That Carolinians were conquered
In the war between the Statos, may have
modified tEoir manhood. This however
may not be their explanation. The
whiskey evil is q great evil. Our good
people were willing to try an expert
ment. The State went into the business
and 1t involved millions Of dollars. The
best men in the State were not likely
to seek the office Of handling whiskey.
The good mon of the State are not
forward to handle the money of the
State. Men OF broken, failing and
desperate fortunes sought the profita-
BILE positions in the ~dispensary. We
have had murder, blood, and scandal
and now we have charges OF corruption
In high places, and rcproach brought
upon the whole people of the State
We trust that there will soon be an
end to the matter. Our Legislature
has beer called upon at each recurring
session to amcnd the law, yet the
Courts have successfully assaulted it,
come in what shape it might. 1t looks
now like we might have an end to the
matter. A California firm has
brought suit to test their right under
the interstate commercial laws, to
sell to individuals in the State in the
SoS'A - ~ pep . luIcl pOSlUlOH. w o
trust that there will be an early adju-
dication and that we may rest from the
interminable strife. In the mean
while, the shortage on the part of
officials may proceed. All are tired of
the everlasting trouble. Experimental
legislation should stop.
The Bible was made for us; most
creeds were made for us; the moral
codes were not invented by us; we are
not called upon to-day to endure MUIR
der, corruption, and all manner OF
scandal, by new experiments in legisla-
ton to set the pace for the world in the
matter of the whiskey problem. II we
look back over the leadership of the
little State, the record is not encour-
ing. If we examine into the recent
past, our example and leadership is
not eagerly sought. Let us be modest
and go slow. No other State or COM
munity will put 1t into the hands of q
nall dozen men to do a million dollar
business involving the credit and honor
OF the people. No other State will
give TO fifty or a hundred constablcs,
not one of whom could give a fifty dol
lar bank note, the power to seize the
property Of her citizens and invade
their homes.
**x
In O spat with Senator Morgan, Of
Alabama, in u House Of Lords, last
week, Senator Tillman recommended
to that voluminous gentleman the great
moral Institution Of South Carolina.
We are not exactly in a cathedral posi-
ton but il we had to advise our Senior
Senator we would suggest the wisdom
OF leaving all the glory of that imtnor-
tai establishment to CAN'T, Scruggs &
p Co..
Representative Stokes has returned
to Washington to remain here during
the balance of the present session OF
Congress. He visited the Senate to-
day end had a long conference with
Senator Tillman relative to the politi-
cal situation in South Carolina. Wash
ington correspondent News and Cou-
rier.
We are all right and healthy in our
politics. The Board OF Control" In
Columbia might need a mastery con-
trolling spirit.
x*x
Seth Scruggs, the bookkeeper OF the
dlspensary Is getting hot shot from
every side. He evidently knows more
than he will tell about that trunk"
belonging to Mr.. Neutrality-suspicious.
Path Chronicle.
The trouble com es, cotemporary,
from other people telling. "Pitchers
have ears"
Gov. w. G. Atkinson, OF Georgia, Is
= In the city to inspect tho South Caro-
lima Penitentiary. He is accompanied
by Judge Us. Turner, principal keeper
of prisons in Georgia.-From the
state" OF Saturday.
They blundered If they didn't take
q squint at our Board OF Control while
they were on this side the river.