The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-01-19
SUMTER. S. c.. WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 49, 1898.
RIGHTS OF A SOVEREIGN sTAE.

/ RIGHTS OF A SOVEREIGN STAE
We have, then, to face the follow
ing condition of affairs Under the
protection of a circuit judge Of the
United States court. liquor is being
sold throughout the state in the coun'
try as we'll as in the municipalities
and in defnance of the laws of the
state. The rights of sovereign state
to police and regulate the liquor
traffic in its own way is nuIli6ed
and trampled under foot The act of
congress of July 8, 1890 has been,
so far as South Carolina is concerned.
repealed and we are told that the
enactment of prohibition alone gives
state the right to exclude .'origi-
nal packsge" dealers, unless the profit
feature of the dispensary is destroy
cd. The language of Judge Simon
ton in the Vandercock cases is as fol-
lows eff all alcoholic liquors by
whomsoever held, are declared con-
traband, they cease to belong to COM
merce and are within the jurisdiction
of the police power. But 80 long as
their manufacture, purchase or sale
or their use as bevc age in any from
or by any person Ae recognized,
they belong to commerce and are
without the domain of the police
power" The power to license
the sale of liquor to the
exclusion Of these inter-st
commerce dealers in "original pack
ages. " has been therefore destroyed
by this decision, unless it should be
reversed by the supreme court. The
attorney general of the state has ap,
pealed but it will not be heard until
March too late for you to know
what the decision will be in time to
legislate in accordance Herewith.
PEOPLE FAVOR DISPENSARY.
Ii cannot be doubted that large
majority Of our people favor the dispen.
sary Law. if it can be secured against
the interference of the Federal courts.
Three successive General Assemblies
have declared in favor OF the dispeusary
as the best method Of dealing with the
liquor question. Our representatives.
in congress are at work seeking to se-
cure additional legislation for the pro-
tection of the state against the inter-
ference Of the United States judiciary.
The United Stsses senate has already
passed bill BY unanimous vote Civ
iDg the complete control Of iptoxicants
to the states, and it is hoped that the
house also will pass it. But We must
hsve immediate relief from the present
intulerable conditions. Free liquor
nth its accompanying increase Of
Drunkenness and the consequent IN.
crease of crime must at ali hazards be
got rid Of. As have said Law license
will not secure immunity from this evil.
Judge Simontoa has destroyed. sloug
with the dispensary, the license system
when run for profit.
FAVORS DISPENSARY WITHOUT
PROFIT.
Whst then is left TO do? We must
either enact prohibition or continue the
dispeHsary system without the profit
feature. Maoy-a najority I believe
do not shink prohibition is practicable !;
aud many have approved the dispensary
system because of the profit feature
We Gao oertainly get rid Of the "orig-
inal package" dealers and their demor-
alisiug traffic BY continuing the dispen-
ssry ehoru of all profits and admins.
tered only as police regulation TO con-
troll and reduce the liquor evil. The
Federal Judge Will have neither occa-
sion nor excuse for his every ready in-
functions il that system shall be iu-
augurate, unless he shall again reverse
his own previous decision This, then,
appears to me the best and almost the
only thing left Us to do. We might
try this policy for year. and next
winter. after congress shall have acted
or failed to act and after the supreme
court, at Washington, shall have de.
cided what is to become of the states
power to control liquor under the Will
son bill of 1890 we shall be in position
to take final action.
WHAT THE PREACHERS SAY.
1t is useless for me to make an ex-
tended argument to show that our sys-
tenn of liquor control is q proper exer.
else Of the police power and that Judge
Simonton is wrong 10 bis decision deny.
ing This power to the state. But as
facts speak louder than words | will
give che testimony Of ministers Of the
gospel 10 the state as to the effect cf the
dispeusary law on the morals Of the
people and on the reduction of drunken
ness among them. Out Of three hun
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