The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-01-25

same liquor law in CharIest n and Co.
lu nha that YIN can in prohibition Marl-
boro and Anderson. | believe that the
qieS ION should be sub mitted to the peo-
pie of each county to say whether they
want the dispen>ary, high license with
constitutional restrictions ur prohibition.
1t is 4 local question, and the people "f
INC community or county in my judy
ment have no right To force the people of
ann'her County "r community to accept
>umprary laws repugnant 10 local Seni-
,ntnt. Traditions and character OF the
people. lave felt this very kcenly and
[ have not Il doubt in the world that this
sill be the final s,luliun of the liquor
question in South Carolina. None other
is in accord with the principles of demo-
rracy. A question is never settled until
II is settled right. YOU may for Il time by
tuice "t circumstances, as has been the
case with the 'ilsprusary law in this
State, deny local self government, and an
opportunity for free expression of public
opinion; >onn.'r or later, however, d free
people will assert their rights at the bal
lot mX, an.l woe unto him who stands iu
tile way. The advocacy of local option
is no new idea with me- Last May in
the Anderson c"unty cunveutiun that
stalwart champion of popular rights,
Hon. Joshua w. Ashley, Introduced Il
resnIni.u inStructing the delegates tn
lie State convention to nse their iuflu-
-nce tn secure submission of the qu-s-
tinn uf high license, prohibition or dis
penSarv To popular vote. | amended
The resolution aud assisted in securing
its passage by the county convention. In
the State couventiun, however, the pen
Pile were bound hand aud foot and de-
uied the fundamental right of deciding
his impnrtaut matter for themselves 1T
tlle ballot box. TIE Anderson county
convention instructed the local commit
tee to have tile question submitted to
our people in the primary with the re-
suit that Anderson County went over
wIelmiugIy tor prohibition. How can Il
democrat "pp"se Il submission of these
qItstiuus To IL popular vmte or refuse t0
abide The will Uf Il majority of his fellu"
citizens?
| realize that my Contest does not de-
prn,i upon my "ffi'.ial record. but upon
llle is>ues hereinbtf"re Indicated. a
contest is being waged against me be-
cau>e l have dared to think ior myself
AMI would not bend the knee t., tile die
tales of srlf-cons'ituted BOSSES. am
proud nf the fact that lave stood in lie
way "f some VIII" sought To prostitute
the public service to private ends. am
being "pE"'Setl l,ccau>e of the principles
that ] have advocated and by the men
"r'se aims lave helped to thwart. Il
is IL vain Il"pr through, me I" compass tue
defeat uf THESE principles. M stranger
argument is needed than The attempt nav
htng IN .tle and The the th.mS pursued +"
defeat me tn trm"n>trate the growth "f
Il dangerous political power welded by
the .liSrens,ry. M man has touched it,,
M mttt..r hos pure his cliaracferU Or how
innocent he has been uf all wrong, that
has not had pitch left upon his hands
1t is appalling the frequency with which
gnveril,rs and high officials have been
charged with corruption and bribery in
cniiuertinn with this institution. Whether
such charges be TRUE or false their effect
tx tile s;irilr, and luw-rs the whole moral
tome OF our State. am ready and will
ing to b+ sacrificed in an attempt tn bet
Ter c''ndiii"IIs in this State. have an
abiding faith in the pe"ple of South
Carolina. am conscious nf reciitud- Of
pu,ln's believe in the Justice of G."l,
and if tile miserable attempt To c"nI'ass
my defeat tIiruugll unI"ly means succeed
shall appeal IN the nanll,"'d and patrio-
,sm nf tl.. people f"r vindicati'n in the
ueXt popular election.
w. A. NEAL.