The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1900-05-29

wcrc invoked to compass its dcstruc.
ton, with tho result that tho main
! TEXTURES Of the system wrro sustained
| by tho Courts and tho statute was
unimpcaed i'll its progress towards
prohibition. Dispensers neglected
to observe somo OF thc most snlutury
| features Of tho law aud themselves
| became Niolators, whcio they woro
expected 10 become guardians; min.
ors and druukards have found it
easy enough to procure liquor with
or without the counivanco Of the dis
pcnser: 'chCmically puron has be-
como b.f,word and to mean the
vilcst Of thc vile; tho agents of tho
State havo dcfrauded and defeated
in largo numbers, and few havo been
made to ir1l The penalties for their
misdemenrors The State board Of
control has moro than onco become
an exhibition Of exceeding offence in
the nostrils Of the good people Of
tho Commonwealth so that time and
again it WAS necessary to rake
changes and bring about rcrorma
tions; scandals almost without num-
Der havo tracked It's pathway:
charges Of dishonesty have been con-
stant, and tho public was mado fa-
miliar with rebates and tho sample
room. In a word, the entire system
has been permratcd with suspicion,
distrnst and can:r3 Of offence in
striking contrast with the honorable
record Of South Cnrolina's glorious
past
Has the system proven "a step to-
wards prohibition?' Not in tho
sense that originated this phrase, but
in another and truer scnse the do,
mand for actual and honest prohibi-
ton Of the liquor traffic has bcon
largely incre" d by tho failures and
shortcomings oC the dispcnsary sys-
tenn, which has been "wcighcd in the
balances and fnuud wnnting" That
is the indictment that we bring
against it today, and to tho Demo
cratic voters we turn for verdict.
In it's stead wo would offer them
still further restriction Of the liquor
traffic, destroying the p,oht and
beverage features Of the present sys-
tom, and limiting tho sale Of alco-
holic liquors to strictly necessary
purposes such rs medicinal, mechan-
ical and sncramcntal Uses.
This substitution would take away
the odium Of tho States being en-
gogcd in a business that is prostitute
ing the youth OF the country, vast
ing tho resources Of the poorer class
cs, bringing disgrace and degradation
upon faniili's, impovcrishing the
| homes Of our citlZons, and withhold.
ing bread from tho women and
children WHO are cursed with the
blight of tho drink demon. Prohibi
tion offers an opportunity to work
for the elevation of tho entire people,
the better instruction and training
of the young, tho creation Of in.
centives to Industry, and tho moral
advancement Of the State to keep
pace with its material prosperity.
The benefits Of rrohibitory law
will not be fully realized in n year
or oven in five years, for tho longer
such a law is in existence with reason.
able chances Of enforcemcntt the great
er will be tho benefits derived from
its presence as permanent policy Of
the State. A generation that shall
grow up without any knowledge of
liquor saloons, whether operated by
individuals or tho State, will be
population noted for its sobricty,
which will bo tho rule and not the
exception among the young mon.
Onco firmly rooted and grounded in
tho minds Of tho people, prohibi-
tary measure will come to be regard,
ed as necessity. More than u gon-
Grafton has passed since this law was
enacted in Muinc, and for long time
thero WAS Il vigorous light against
its continuance, but at this timo
both political parties arc pledged to
it's maintenance as the settled policy
of tho State. The cry Of repeal has
been frequently raised, and not many
years ago ono OF tho political parties
mado ropoal a plank in its platform,
with tho result that not moro than