Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1900-06-06
ADDRESS OF PROHlBlTIONlSTS.
Conference Address TO the Voters of
South Carolina.

per and right that they should clearly
and unequivocally state their position
with reference to the business con-
Quoted in the name of the common
wealth. which thereby makes all it's
citizens responsible in a measure for
the continuance of this traffic. which
we believe to be a crime against hu-
manity and means of degradation to
the people.
In ;he first place we have chosen 10
make this contest at the Democratic
primary because VIC arc members of
this political organization. which is in
virtual control Of all the affairs of the
State
We have the right to raise this issue
within the party lines because the ma
chinery of the State government has
been used to contruct and operate Il
system of liquor selling. which has for
its chief object the constant increase
of the consumption of liquors by the
citizens of the State. mainly with the
view OF making money out of the busi--
ness in which the State is engaged We
would violate conscience and prove re-
creant to duty as good citizens if we
did not protest against this inquitous
method of obtaining money through
the sensual indulgence and debauchery
of our citizenship. and we are making
this protest in a fair. manly and con-
siStent way, appealing to the higher
instincts of humanity, and pleading for
the social. domestic. moral. religious
and political elevation OF our whole
people. By banishing the evils now
fastened upon the State in consequence
of the system under which the sale of
liquor is conducted. we would protect
our young manhood, bring relief to
wronged and suffering women and
children. and inaugurate an era which
would eventually rid our homes of the
blight following the use Of liquor aS Il
beverage. The State is now encourag-
ing this use of liquor on the part of its
citizens when it should by every means
discourage that which wastes the re-
sources, paralyZes the energies and
destroys the manliness of these who
should be the shield and protection of
our homes. The State is engaged for
profit in a business that strips the
home of comforts with as much GER
tainty rs a cyclone mows down the
mighty forest; a business that opens
the gates of perdition to lost souls; i
business that the genius of hell has
never fashioned moro complete meth
cd of recruiting its ranks; a business
that has borne from time immemorial
the badge of disgrace in civilized and
Christian communities, and that is now
exalted in the sovereign and enlight-
ened commonwealth of South Carolina
to the dignity of government service
and government protection, so that our
youth are taught by the example of the
government itself that the manufac-
ture and sale of liquor is an honorable
and desirable occupation. Whence came
this usurper of governmental authori-
ty? Did the citizens Of the State de-
cree its Introduction as the best solu-
ton of the liquor question?
Eight years ago the ProhibitionistS
of South Carolina asked the privilege
of testing public opinion as to whether
licensed saloons should be prohibited
within its borders. This request was
made of the managers OF the Demo-
cratic election machinery, who con-
sented that a separate and unofficial
box might he placed at each poll where
every voter could cast n ballt for or
against Prohibition. The opponents ~
the license system were without eff
cient organization. but the voters vol
unfairly went to the polls and rolled
up a decided majority against the sa-
loons. Political eXigencies did not
favor prohibitCry law. and although
majority OF the House of Representa-
tives passed such a law, enough mem
bers were Cafterward found Cto reject
the law which they had Caided in
framing and a substitute was Cdis-
covered in the Cpresent dispensary
system. "Ye asked for bread and
were given a stone; ye asked for fish
and were given a serpent"
Prohibtionists were then placed in
an awkward position and many OF
them knew not what to do. The sa-
loon had been abolished. and this was
one of the objects for which they had
struggled in the past. yet liquor sell
ing was not stopped. On the con
trary, the State had been made to en-
gage in the business under the pretencc
of controlling the traffic and giving to
consumers n commodity that was
chemically p-Te." at a price that
would not admit of profit This was
coupled with the declaration that the
system thus inaugurated without the
consent or the people was a step to-
wards prohibition" and many acqui-
esced in the legislation with the BELIEF
that the state would really undertake
to minimize the consumption of liquor
1t was a law upon the statute books.
and many of the law-abiding and
peace-loving citizens. though honestly
opposed to liquor selling in any
shape. threw the weight of their in
huence in favor OF the execution of the
law
An armed constabuary was furnish
ed with guns to shoot down citizens
who violated the liquor law if in the
judgment OF the constablos it was
necessary to enforce their authority.
ana thus began a long reign of vio-
lcnce and tmrhMlence in the land for