The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-06-07
PROHIBITION ADDRESS.
Conference Address to the Voters OF
South Carolina.


per and right that they should clearly
aEd unC Iaivc> ally state their position
with reference 10 the business con-
ducsed IN the name OF the common
wealth. which thereby makes all its
citizens respCa sible in measure for
the continuance Of this traffic. which
we believe TO be crime against Au-
manity and a means OF degradation 10
the people.
In me frs, place we have chosen 10
make this contest at the Democratic
primary because we are members c.
this political organization, which Is n
virtual control of all the affairs OF t2e
State.
We have tie right to raise this iss"H
within the party lines because the n
chinery OF the State government h&s
been used 10 contruct and operate
system of liquor selling, which has 10.
its chief object the constant increase
OF the consumption of liquors by tie
citizens CT me State. mainly with the
view OF making money out OF the bus
mess in which the State is engaged. We
would violate conscience and prove re-
creant 10 duty as good citizens II We
did not protest against this inquitous
method Of obtaining money through
the sensual indulgence and debaucAeF!
of our citizenship, AID We are making
this protest in a fair, manly and con-
sistent way, appealing TO the hlgneT
instincts of humanity, and pleading lor
the social, domestic, moral, relglous
and political elevation Of our whoie
people. BY banishing the evils now
fastened upon the State in consequence
of the system under which the sale OF
liouor is conducted. We would protect
our Young manhood, bring relief 10
wronged and suffering women ana
children. and inaugurate an era wAlch
would eventually rid our homes OF thc
blight following the use OF liquor as Il
beverage. The State is now encoura@-
ing this use OF liquor on the part OF lt'
citizens when il should by every mea ;
discourage that which wastes the re-
sources. p2ralyZes the energies anu
DESTROYS the manliness Of those WAC
should be the shield and protectlon Oh
orr homes. TIE State is engaged lot
profit in q business that strips the
home of comforts with as mucn Ger
tainty as a cyclone mows down lAe
mighty forest; business that opens
the gates CT pe~dition to lost sous
business that the genius or nell mas
never fashioned a more complete meth
cd OF recruiting its ranks; business
that has borne from time immemorl3l
the badge of disgrace in clvlllzed anu
Christian communities. and that Is no"
exalted in the sovereign and enlghl-
ened commonwealth OF South Carollna
to the dignity of government service
and government protection, so that our
youth are taught by the example OF the
government itself that the manual
ture and sale of liquor is an honoraDls
and desirable occupation. Whence came
tits usurper of governmental authorl-
tyo Did the citizens OF the state ae-
cree its introduction as the best solu-
tion of the liquor question:?
Eight wears 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 unomclal
box might be placed at each poll where
every voter could cast ballt for or
against Prohibition. The opponents ~
the license system were without ell
cient organization. but the voters Vol
untarilv went to the polls and rolled
IN a decided majority against the sa-
looms. Political eXigencies did not
favor a prohibitc-y law, and although
a majority of the House OF Representa-
tives passed such law. enough mem
hers were Cafterward found Cto reject
the law which they had Caided in
framing and q substitute was Cdls-
covered in the Cpresent dispensary
system. "Ye asked for bread ana
were given stone; ye asked for hsh
and were given a serpent"
ProhibiJionists 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 pretence
of controlling the traffic and giving to
consumers a commodity that was
<cbemically p.re," at price that
would not admit Of profit. This was
coupled with the declaration that the
system thus inaugurated without the
consent OF the people was "a step to-
wards prohibition and many acqui-
esced in the legislation with the belief
that the State would really undertake
Il nninirnizn the cnnSnmntiOn of LIQUOR.