Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-06-14
COL. rRlBBLE ON PROHIBITION.
Appeal TO Christians for tho Cause and Col.
Hoyts Candidacy.

derson, who was suggested for Lieu
tenant Governor by the prohibition
conference, has been delayed in pub
lication by the absence of Col.
James a. Iioyt, to whom it was en-
trusted for delivery to MIR. II. N.
Berry, chairman of the conference,
who had been expected in Green
vile week ago, but did not come
until few days since, and who now
authorizes it's publication:
ANDERSON, S. c., May %, 1900.
Col. Thos. N. Berry, Chairman Pro-
hibition Conference.
My Dear Sir: | have been in
formed of the action of the prohibi-
tion conference in Columbia in sug-
gesting my name for Lieutenant
Governor on the ticket with Col. JAS
A. IIoyt for Governor to be voted
for at the Democratic primary.
1t becomes my duty, notwithstand-
ing the high compliment paid me, to
decline to enter the race. Circum-
stances are such that it is out of the
question for me to run. | am not an
aspirant for that or any other office,
and had | been present at the con-
ference should have promptly de-
clincd.
beg to assure you and the mem
bcrs of the conference that | apprc-
ciatc the compliment, and when
consider their moral courage, their
integrity Of character, their noble
efforts i'll trying to stop or prohibit
the government from selling liquor,
it fills me with deep emotion that |
should have been deemed worthy of
the honor of being one of their
standard bearers.
In rendering this, my formal decli-
nation, | hope it will not be deemed
out of place for me to add, in this
connection, that l am in full sympa-
thy with the members Of the confer
cncc, rs well as all who are dcsi rious
of freeing the State from the shame
that has been cast upon her good
name by this liquor business. If it
is considered unlawful, disrcputablc
and immoral for the individual citi-
zen to engage in the liquor traffic,
then it is equally so far the State.
Some one has said, "prohibition does
not prohibit" Well now, you and |,
(and in fact every law abiding citi-
zcn) are prohibited from selling
liquor, and it docs prohibit, and since
prohibition has reached the single
individual, there is no one now in
the State but the government to be
prohibited in this ncfarious business.
The people constitute the State, they
create the Offices and set their
bounds, and put men in these offices,
now let the people say to these gov
vcrnmcntal agencies, "Ccase selling
liquor" There is no one else to pro-
hibit.
| indorsc in toto the strong and
powerful, because truthful, address
or appcal'to the prohibition Demo
Gratis in the State to join battle in
this fight against evil. Your plat
form is clear-cut, without platitudcs
or Juggling phrases to catch voters,
and shows that the men who adopted
it had the moral courage to decline
any compromise with the great evil,
which is recognized among all civil
lized people as an unmitigated evil.
i is to be hoped that the Christ
iana Of this commonwealth should
know whether it is to be the fixed
policy of our State to make the sell
ing Of liquor as a beverage a func-
ton Of government, and thus make
all the people partners in the bust
ness.
1t is to be hoped that the Christ
ian men and women of this State
will make their influence felt in this
contest. You have flung your ban
Hcr Of sobricty, temperance and vir-
tue to the breeze, and have selected
Col. James A. IIoyt, the peer Of
any Democrat in the State, as your
leader. lie is man Of irrcproach-
full character; a true and tried Caro-
linian, who has stood by his State
in her darkest hours of adversely,
laboring and waiting for her re.
dcmption man who has always
championcd the cause of right
against wrong, seeking no other re-
ward than that sweet consciousness
Of ,uty performed. With such a
man AZ leader it docs seem that all
men who love puricty, honor and
the good name Of our State should
rally to the standard, and drive out
forever the liquor traffic.
With these we can afford to con.
tend for that which is good, noble
and pure in government, as well as