The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-07-06
1T WAS NOT A DIRTY FLING.

fling" which appeared in The TIMES
of last week, on what Colonel Watson
read to the audience, that be bad not
read the article until after the meet
ing, and from what We were told we
are satisfied that Mr. Featherstone
would not have regarded anything
appearing in The TINES "a dirty
fling" but good, square, legitimate
criticism. We believe Featherstone
is advocating prohibition from honest
motives, that his heart is in his work,
and he certainly shows sincerity and
commerdable pluck. Such men DO
not "draw the cloak Of religion abont
their leprous bodies, and become re-
cruiting officers for the devil" Such
men are sincere and it matters not
how much we may differ with them
OF the feasibility of the measure they
advocate, we are bound to respect and
honor them for their sincerity, The
class Of Prohibitionists who do "draw
the cloak OF religion about their lep-
rous bodies and become recruiting
officers for the devil" are those who
work upon the credulity OF pious peo-
pie and deceive them into believing
they are with them, to catch their
votes for Office. This is what was
meant by the editorial which Colonel
Watson undertook to read only such
parts as suited his purpose to make a
political hit. Tie Bible can be taken
up, and by selecting parts and con-
Meeting them with others, totally
different meaning can be had. But
such tricks, only last and have their
effect while the performer is working
his sleight OF hand, then the trick is
found out and falls fiat.
There is no man in the State who
has q higher regard for the conscien-
tious supporters OF prohibition, and
in our whole experience we have lever
cast a vote to permit the sale of liq-
uor. On more than one occasion we
actively supported ''dry tickets" to
success, but the operation Of the law
after enactment has always proven
failure. We are honest in the belief
that the dispensary properly forced
will be nearer temperance measure
than would be a prohibition law,
hence our support of it.
The dispensary has not had fair
test; from its beginning it was fought
by the opponents of the law, some
because of politics, others believed it
unconstitutional, others still fought it
because it drove them from the bar
room business, and then some fought
it to make money out of the conten-
ton.
The court of the last resort has de-
creed the law constitutional, which
removes doubt that existed il the
minds of a very respectable portion
OF the opposition. This doubt re-
moved, law-abiding citizens will fall
into line and give it fair test, and
when that element is found not an
tagonizing the law, it will make many
who would like to be lawless halt.
The dispensary is now upon the
threshold of getting fair treatment
and should it not prove practicable
Temperance measure, the people will
clamor for its repeal, and none will
work harder than US to see it wiped
from the statute books with absolute
prohibition in its stead.
AS we understand it, the Prohibi-
tionists who are in this contest are
not in reality after prohibition; they
want liquor sold for medicinal, me-
chanical, scientific and sacramental
purposes" This is a theory which
does not commend itself to practi-
cal mind, to mind that knows the
ways of the world. Do not our friends
know if liquor is sold in any way,
shape or form, it is the gate thrown
open to those who use it? And to
think that liquor drinkers can be held
down to medicinal, mechanical, sci
entifc and sacramento purposes, is
an idle dream not to be realized in
this world.
But the Prohibitionists contend
that tie laws against stealing, mur-
der and other crimes do not prevent
the commission of crime, and accord
ing to the dispensaryites might as
well be repealed. No, there are GER
tain ofenses which are even crimes
in the sight OF God and man that are
almost impossible to convict because
there is a sentiment which degrades
q man "who does and tells" A good
citizen will inform his neighbor if be
knows that chicken was stolen from
him and will 60 on the stand and
swear against the thief. That same