The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-12-27
About ProhibitiOnists.

II our well-meaning friends, the prohibi
bitionists, would consider the whiskey ques'
tion fairly, We are ofopinion that they would
join their forces with the dispensary people
instead Of with the saloon men.
<All the years Of the life Of this editor he
was prohibitionist. until we got prohibition
In Abbeville. There was no one to enforce
prohibition, and by the middle Of the year
liquor was sold so openly that good men
were 80 sick OF 1t. that they made efforts TO re.
peal the law. and we returned to the bars
Prohtbitionists never did assume the role OF
informer, or attempt to perform the duties ol
the sleuth hound. ..-
There was, however, sentiment in the
hearts OF the people demanding prohibition
Thinking that II State prohibitory law was
enacted that some plan might be discovered
whereby the law could be enforced. When the
question was submitted to the people lin 1890
or 1892 they voted In round numbers 1900 for
prohibition and 400 for liquor.
The dispensary law followed, and, as far az
we know. this county is practically unani.
nous In its support.
The effort last year to organize q prohibi-
tion party failed in this county, but few re.
naming prohibitionists, some of the polit.
ical opponents Of Tillman, and possibly every
liquor man in the county voted for Feather.
stone.
The Supreme Court IL will be remembered,
held for about three months that the dispen-
sary law was unconstitutional. We then had
prohibition for a season. In y very short
time runors, which were believed TO be we'll.
founded, we're current to the effect that va
rioas negroes were getting ready to sell
liquor. To prevent the calamity OF free
liquor, the town council were urged to take
action toavert the threatened evil. They had
no authority to grant license, but they,
on the payment OF the specified fees,
granted "indulgences," (or immunity from
prosecution to certain persons,) to sell liquor.
We know that our prohibition friends are
sincere and honest In their warfare against
liquor, but their allies, the saloon men, should
at least put them on inquiry to see If they
are not fighting for a good cause In bad
way.
We have absolute prohibition from sunset
to SUNRISE But the dispensary is open dur.
ing all the day time. This should not be 60
II our good friends and well-meaning citi.
zens would take q practical view Of prac
tical subject, we think they would join cru.
sade demanding the closing Of the dispensary
j.. for longer hours. II the dispensary was kept
open from nine O'Clock in the morning until
four o'clock in the afternoon, all necessary
demands for liquor could be supplied.
The friends Of temperance should hold fast
to the prohibition which we now have. live
could limit the time for keeping the dispen.
sary open, a great good would be accom-
plished.
The fact that liquor men everywhere are
fighting the dispensary should satisfy the
prohibitionists that there Is good in the law
Liquor men in other parts OF the United
States have made effort to bring the dlspen
sary into disrepute. and they have fought II
from every conceivable standpoint, as they
never fought prohibition. This fact should
set temperance men TO thinking.