The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-08-29

Ine State, ana TO express my 8ppreCi;
tlon OF their friendly and social after
q tions on all occasions. IL has been
. source OF great pleasure to be associa
ed with them, and whatever may /
the result Of tho primary election
will always cherish the recollections
their gentlemanly behavior and exen
plary conduct, which have been
credit to the State. Few Instances
any unpleasant nature have occurred
anu the c8mpaigners will part frol
each other with sincere regret, wha
ever may be the result OF their hope
and expectations.
There is no disagreement anon
the candidates for governor excep
upon the liquor question, and there ha
been no Issue raised In this campaig
on any other line. The educationa
policy OF the State has been REGARDED
on all sides as settled and fixed, an,
whatever differences may have beel
prevalent heretofore, the friends o
higher education may feel secure II
obtaining just and liberal appropria
tions for the respective institution
which are fostered and sustained b,
State aid. The common schools art
unanimously regarded as the basis fol
the instruction OF the people, and there
ls only generous rivalry in pointing Ou
methods by which the children OF the
State may obtain better facilities IL
these schools, which are the sole reli
ance OF nine-tenths OF the school popula
tion to secure the benefits OF education
There will always be differences o
opinion as to modes and methods of Sc
curing the best results from the public
( schools, but the frequeut discussion oI
these methods among the masses them
selves will Inevitably tend towards the
Improvement and advancement OF the
schools, which should year by year
grow moro In favor with the patrons
| and receive their earnest and hearty
support. Much of the desired efficiency
| In the common schools can be obtaine d
by Jealous, hearty cooperation among
their friends in every locality and the
day will never come again when the
public men OF South Carolina will be-.
come Indifferent or lukewarm In the
support OF these helpers to the pro-
gress and advancement of all the
people.
"The principal issue in this cam
palgn has been the liquor traffic, and
the prohibition Democrats OF South Ca
rolina have chosen to make this con.
test at the Democratic primary because
we are members of the political organ
ization which is in virtual control OF all
the affairs OF the State. We had the
eight to raise this issue within the
party lines because the machinery OF
the State government has been used to
construct and operate system OF H.
quor selling, which has for its chief
object the constant increase OF the con-
sumption OF liquors by the citizens OF
the State, mainly with the view of
making money out OF the business in
which the State is engaged.
The State Is encourag ing the use
OF liquor on the part of its citizens
when 1T should by every means discour-
age that which wastes the resources,
paralyZes the energies and DESTROYS
the manliness OF those who should be
the shield and protection OF our homes.
The State Is engaged for profit in "A
business that strips the home OF com.
forts with as much certainty as cy-
clone mows down the mighty forest q
business that opens the gates OF perdi-
tion to lost souls; s. business than that
the genius OF hell has never fashioned q
moro complete method Of recruiting It's
ranks d business that has borne from
time immemOrlal the badge OF disgrace
ip civilized and Christian communities,
and that Is now exalted In the sover-
South Carolina to the dignity OF gov
erpment service and government pro.
lection, 80 that our youth are taught
by the example OF the government it.
sell that the manufacture and sale OF
liquor is an honorable and desirable
occupation.
Eight years ago the prohibitionists
OF South Carolina asked the privilege
OF testing public opinion as to whether
licensed saloons should be permitted
within its borders. This request was
made OF the managers OF the Demo
cratic election machinery, who con-
sented that q separate and unofficial
box might be placed at each poll whore
every voter could cast ballot for or
against prohibition. The opponents OF
the license system were without eff
cient organization, but the voters vol.
up majority Of 1000 against the ga
looms. The House Of Representatives
by majority Of 66 to AZ passed pro-
hibitOry law in accordance with the
verdict at tho polls, but enough mem
| bers were afterwards found to reject
the law which they had aided in franz
| Ing and a substitute was discovered In
| the present dispensary law. PrOhibi.
tion Democrats were then placed in an
awkward position and many of them
knew not what to do. The saloon had
been abolished, and this was one of the
| objects for which they had struggled
In the past yet liquor selling was not
stopped. On the contrary, the State
had been made to engage In the bust
ness under the pretence OF controlling
the traffic and giving to consumers a
commodity that was chemically pure,
at q price that would not admit OF pro
fit. This was coupled with the declar-
alton that the system thus inaugurated
without the consent OF the people was
q step towards prohibition and many
acquiesced In the legislation with the
belief that the State would really un-
dertake to minimize the consumption
OF liquor. 1t was law upon tho statute
books, and many OF the law abiding and
peace-loglng citizens, though honestly
opposed to liquor selling In any shape,
threw the weight OF their influence In
favor OF the execution OF the law.
THE dispensary law was far from
satisfactory to @ majority Of the people
and 1T Ia no wonder that It's progress
was contested at every step. The
courts were invoked to compass It's de
structlon, with the result that the mair
features of the system were sustained
by the courts, and the statute was un
impeded In It's progress towards prohi
bitiOn. Dispensers have neglected t
observe some OF the most salutary fea
lures OF the law and themselves have