Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-05-31

higher instincts of humanity, and
pleading for the social, domestic,
moral, religious and political eleva-
ticn Of our whole people. By ban
ishing the evils now fastened upon
the State in consequence of the sys-
tenn under which the sale of liquor
is conducted we would protect our
young manhood, bring relief to
wronged and suffering women and
children, and inaugurate an era which
would eventually rid our homes of
the blight following the use of liquor
as beverage. The State is now en-
couraging this use of liquor on the
part of its citizens, when it should
by every means discourage that which
wastes the resources, paralyzes the
energies and destroys the maDliness
Of those who should be the shield
and protection of our homes. The
State is engaged for profit in bust
ness that strips the home of COM
forts with as much certainty as a
cyclone mows down the mighty for
ests business that opens the gates
of perdition to lost souls a business
that the genius or hell has never
fashioned a more complete method
Of recruiting its ranks a business
that has borne, from time immemo-
rial, the badge of disgrace in civilized
and Christian communities, and that
is now exalted in the sovereign and
enlightened Commonwealth of South
Carolina to the dignity of Govern
ment service and Government pro-
lection so that our youth are taught
by the example of the Government
itself that the manufacture and sale
of liquor is an honorable and dcsira-
bic occupation. Whence came this
usurpcr of governmental authority
Did the citizens of the State decree
its introduction as "the best solution
of the liquor problem ?"
Eight years ago the Prohibitionists
Of South Carolina asked the privi-
icgc of testing public opinion as to
whether licensed saloons should be
prohibited within its borders. This
request WAS made of the managers
of the Democratic election machin-
cry, who consented that separate
and unofficial box might be placed at
each poll, where every voter could
cast ballot for or against prohibi,
tion. The opponents of the license
system were without efficient organi.
zation, but the voters voluntarily
went to the polls and rolled up a de.
cidcd majority against the saloons
Political cxigencics did not favor a
prohibitory law, and, althous,h a ma.
jority Of the House of Representa-.
tivcs passed such law, enough
members were afterwards found tC
reject the law which they had aided
in framing, and a substitute was dis.
covered in the present d;spensary
system. eye asked for bread and
were given stone ye asked for q
fish and were given serpent"
Prohibitionists 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 selling was not stopped. On
the contrary, the State had been
made to engage in the business under
the prctencc of controlling the traffic
and giving to consumers commodity
that was "chcmically pure" at a price
that would not admit of profit. This
was coupled with the declaration
that the system thus inauguratcd
without the consent of tho people
was ga step towards prohibitions
and many acquicsced in the legisla.
ton with the belief that the State
would really undertake to minimize
the consumption Of liquor. 1t was
law upon the statute books and
many Of the law abiding and peace
loving citizens, though honestly op
posed to liquor selling in any shape
threw the weight Of their influence
in favor of the execution of the law
An armed constabulary was fur
nishcd with guns to shoot down citi
zcns who violated the liquor law, il
in the Judgment of the constablcs il
was necessary to enforce their au-
thorlty, and thus began long rcigl
Of violence and turbulence in the
land, for the law breakers were az
ready and anxious to shoot as Che
men "clothcd with little brief au
thority,' who acted upon the theory
that their own lives were in constant
peril, and their surcst defence was tt
take quick and deadly aim. The
bloody catalogue need not be dwell
! nnnu for If 10 tho nout oh a N, n -,