The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1900-05-30
/. AN ADDRESS
To The People OF the State OF
South Carolina
FROM THE PRoHlBiTioMisTs
The Dispensary Law Assaiied in
unmeasurod Terms and Many
Crimes laid to It's Door.

Z :
Tho following is tho address to tho
Prohibitionists Of South Carolina to
the people, which was prepared by Col.
Hoyt:
Tho prohibitionists Of South Caro-
lima in appealing to tho Democratic
,,!oters to join them in supprossing tho
liquor :lf.,}nS, in thia Slate, deem it
proper and right that they should clear.
ly and uncquivocally state their posi-
tion with rcferenco to the business con.
Quoted in the namc of tho common
wealth, which thereby makes all its
oitisens responsible IN measure for
the continuance of this traffic, which
We believe to DO crime against hu
manity and means Of degradation to
the people.
In tho first place NO hayo chosen to
mako this contest at tho Democratic
primary because wo arc members Of
this political organization, which is in
virtual control Of ali tho affairs Of tho
State.
"Wo have tho right to raise this is.
sue within the party limos because the
machinery of tho State government has
been used to construct and operate q
Bystom Of liquor selling, which has for
its chief object tho constant increase
of the consumption Of liquors by the
oitiaens Of the State, mainly with the
view Of making money out Of tho bust
ness in which tho State is engaged.
We would violate conscience and prove
reoreant to duty as good oitizens if wo
did not protest against this Ubiquitous
method of obtaining money through tho
sensual Indulgence and dcbauchcry Of
our citizenship, and wo arc making this
protest in q fair, manly and consistent
way, appealing to tho higher instincts
OF humanity, and pleading for tho SO.
DIAL, domestic, moral, religious and po-
litioal elevation Of our whole people.
By banishing tho OWLS now fastened
upon tho State in consequence of tho
system under which tho salo of liquor
is conducted, wc would protect our
young manhood, bring relief to wrongcd
and suffering women and ohildren, and
inaugurate an era which would evontu-
ally rid our homes OF the blight follow
ing the use Of liquor as a beverage.
The State is now encouraging this use
of liquor on tho part Of its citizons
whom it should by every means discour.
age that which wastes tho resources,
paraly Eos the enorgics and destroys tho
maDlincss Of those who should DO the
shield and protection Of our homes.
The State is engaged for profit in bus
tness that strips the home Of comforts
with as much certainty as o CYCLONE
mows down the mighty forest; bust
ness that opens tho g.tcs Of pcrdition
to lost souls; business that tho genius
Of holl has never fashioned moro COM
plete method Of recruiting it's ranks; a
business that has borne from time i'm
memorial the badge of disgrace in OWL
lied and Christian communities, and
that is now exalted in tho sovereign
and enlightened commonwealth Of
South Carolina to tho dignity OF govern.
mont service and govcrbmont protcc-
tion, 30 that our youth arc taught by
the example Of tho government itself
that the manufacture and salo Of liquor
is an honorable and dcsilablc occupa-
ton. Whonoo camo this usurper Of
governmental authority? Did tho oiti.
sens Of the State dccrco its introduo-
tion as "the best solution Of tho liluor
question:"
"Eight years ago The Prohibitionists
Of South Carolina asked tho privilege
Of testing public opinion as to whether
licensed saloons should bo prohibited
within it's borders. This request was
made Of the managers Of tho Domo
cratic election machinery, who consent.
cd that separate and unoili oial box
might be placed at each poll whcro yo-
ters could cast ballot for or against
prohibition. Tho opponents of tho
lioongo system wore without cMcient
organization, but tho voters voluntarily
went to the polls and rolled up dcoid-
ed majority against the saloons. Po.
litioal exigenoeies did not favor a pro-
hibitory law, aud although majority
Of the house of representatives passed.
such law, enough members woro after
wards found to reject tho law which
they had aided in framing and O sub
stituto was discovered in tho present
diepensary system. Yo asked for
bread and wero givon stone; 70 asked
for a fish ard were given scrpont.'
"Prohibitionists we're thon placed
in an awkward position and many Of
them knew not what to do. Tho saloon
had been abolished, and this was one
Of the objects for which they had strug-
gled in tho past, yet liquor selling was
not stopped. On tho contrary, tho
State had been mado to engage ia the
business under tho protcDco Of oon-
trolling the traffic and giving to con.
sumers q commodity that was "chomi-
oally pure" at o prioo that would not
admit Of profit. This was coupled with
tho declaration that tho system thus in
augurated without tho consent Of The
people was "a step towards prohibi.
tion," and many acquiesccd in tho leg
islation with tho belief that tho State
would really undertake to minimize
the consumption Of liquor. 1t was q
law upon the statute books, and many
Of the law-abiding and pcaco loving
oitizenp, though honestly opposed to
liquor selling in any shape, throw tho
weight Of their influence in favor Of
the execution Of tho law.
"An. armed constabulary VAS fur.
nished with guns to shoot down oiti-
zons who violated tho liquor law, if in
the judgment Of tho constable it was
necessary to enforce their authority,
and thus began long rcign Of violence
and turbulence in tho land, for tho
law. breakors wcro as ready and anxious
to shoot aa tho M en- clothed with lit
tle brief authority" who acted upon
tho theory that their own liyos wuro 10
constant peril, and their surest dofonoo
was to tako quick and deadly aim. Tho
bloody catalogue ncod not be dwolt