The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-08-08
Wednesday, Aug. 8, 1900.


As there may be some Misrepresentation
as to the position which Hon. +. B. Gary hoios
as to the dispensary, we copy the larger part
OF the first speech which he made In the CAM
paign. 1t was delivered In Orangeourg, July
IA.
It will be seen by a careful reading OF that
paper that Mr.. Gary is unqualihedly for the
dispensary and squarely opposed 10 Incense
In the essentials he agrees with Governor Nc
Sweeney, but In the non-essentials there are
some differences Nobody who reads the
Press and Banner can doubt the earnestness
OF this newspaper in upholding every meas
ure, or law, which has for its purpose the cur
tailment of the liquor traffic. and we see notn'
ing in Mr.. Gary's position that we conceive
contrary to the best interests OF The country.
1t is good Democratic doctrine to let the
people OF any county say whether they want
adispensary or prohibition. If, for instance
our neighboring County Greenwood does not
want dispensary we see no fairness In I'M
posing one on her.
Mr.. Gary's position against the prohibition
dispensary is right and proper. What he says
of coalition" may be an open question. AT
any rate that is speculative. or prophesy.
What he says of en- nforcing the law In this
county is true. Under the dispensary drunk
enness, and the drink habit, has been very
much reduced.
His utterances on education will be endorsed
by everybody.
His appeal In behalf the Con nfederate soldier
Is eloquent, and will meet with responsive
cord In many hearts. II he had gone little
further and proposed TO add cent to each
bottle sold from the dispensary to raise the
pension fund, the idea would have been en-
dorsed, both as financial move and as re
straining effort. The less liquor man gets
for his quarter, the better II is for him, and
the better the profit on the liquor, the larger
would be the pension fund.
AS the Confederacy did not object TO all the
Garys going into the army, he sees no reason
for opposing him because the people, In the
past, chose TO put some of his kinsmen IN
office.
The speech, as far as we could see, is right
And we would say that his position on the
dispepsary Is perfectly orthodox.
We publish his speech and make these com.
ments IN order that we may be perfectly fair
to our neighbor, and in the hope that all ,oi
our people may understand the position OF
MIR. Gary. 1t is we'll understood that this
newspaper is supporting Governor Nc.
Sweeney in this race. but we would not gain
for him a single vote under a misapprehen.
sion OF the facts. and we would not. under any
circumstances, be unjust to Mr.. Gary.
The fact, reduced to the last analysis, South
Carolina has nothing to fear from the election
OF any one of the gentlemen who are running
for Governor. With single exception, they
are standing fatfooted on the dispensary.
The prohibition candidate seems to be will
ing. or determined, to enforce the dispensary,
II he cannot get prohibition, and everybody
knows dispensary legislature is not going to
fool with prohibition, when the large majority
Of the voters would hold them to an account
ing. There is comparatively no public senti'
ment demanding prohibition. 1t 1s true,
however, that there is q limited demand for
the breaking up OF the restrictions and the
prohibition which the dispensary entails.
But that demand is largely by the bibulous
portion Of our fellow-citiZens.
The choice between candidates is, therefore,
based largely upon sentiment. This news.
paper has great respect for the fair and i'm
partial manner in which Governor Mo
Sweeney has discharged the difficult and deli
cate duties of his Office. He refused TO pardon
Pons for bigamy. He refused 10 surrender q
negro to an outraged mob. He has had the
manhood to be in FACT the Governor of South
Carolina. He has held the Office for less than
full term, and we feel like endorsing him
for second term. That now Is sentiment.
If you have better reason for voting for any.
body else, why just 60 ahead.