The Republican journal., 1903-01-22
D1spENsAR1Es VS.. PROHIBITION.

The journal, only outlined method
which believed a better one than the
one we now have. Now, with your
leave, l wish to inquire into what is
feasible, and what it is possible to do
in relieving or removing the abuses of
liquor-selling and drinking, by law; and
also to compare the two methods as to
their availability to accomplish the de
sired ends. 1t would seem hardly nee
essary to say that loading down any
effort for a given end by things impos-
sible of accomplishment can only tend
to defeat the result aimed at
1t is presumed that the real aim of
any law to control the liquor traffic is
accomplished then the law is worse than
useless: but the present method would
almost convince person who has a
knowledge of its workings that the sole
aim was to punish the seller, without
any regard to the result that it may
have over the amount, or manner, of
drinking.
The dispensary, or South Carolina
method, which | advocate, permits any
person of adult age who has not been
blackliSted to openly and honorably
purchase any liquor they may want in
sealed packages and take it away to use
as they see fit; they may even get drunk
upon it without any liability except
some breach of the peace they may
commit, OF their chance OF being black
listed.
AS this will be the tender point in
this method it will justify careful ex-
animation and comparison. In the first
place, but very small percentage of
evils emanate from this class of pur-
chasers, but mostly arise from the low
class of retail dram shops.
In the second place, how would the
prohibitory law, even should it be ell
forced to the letter, restrain this class
of buyers? If one will look over the
advertisements in the magazines, peri
odicals and papers published outside OF
this State, they will find any amount of
responsible firms and distillerS offering
TO send any kind or amount of liquors
at little more than wholesale prices to
your door, express paid. Besides their
public advertisements they are flooding
the country with their private circulars
making the same offers.
! have no doubt that there are hun
dreds within this State who now pro-
cure their liquors through that medium,
and should enforcement of our present
law Shut off the home supply "a thing
that never yet has been, and in my
judgment, never will be under present
methods then thousands, where now
are hundreds, will turn to that source
for their supply, and keep. on drinking
without the thought of restraint; while
if they are permitted to obtain it here
in an honorable way they will be under
slight restraint in two different ways.
1st-Nea all men who are treated
like human beings, feel under more or
less obligation to act like human be-
ingS.
2nd-Pride would restrain them from
risking the chances of being black
listed
1t seems to me that in the line of
purchase permitted by the dispensary
system, it is in no ways more lacking
III restraint of drinking liquor than the
prohibitory method, although it is in
selling it.
one other cause of restraint in the
dispensary method of sale | have to
note; that is, that all purchasers must
sign their names against whatever they
buy, on a ledger open to public inspec-
ton.
| do not advocate this mode of sale
because believe that moderate drink
ing Is ellAef saie or wise, ana tlie DeSl
evidence ol tlls can give IS tlle lact
tlaat / nave hVto 10 oe nearly - years
OF aye WITHOUT ever having CRANK Il
glass ol Il4uoI do 3eFtIa2e; ana Woultl
say 10 all, IKE 81 Faul 10 the CORN
tiIlahS III regard 10 marriage, 1 would
tiiat all men were even as | mySell, IN
thlS paIticuLaI' pllU as l'aui dld not CON
0elllh Ulose VINO lalleo TO IolloW MS eH-
ampe, nelthef 40 1eeI called upon to
condemn those VINO 1ali 10 1olioW NINE;
Du1 very niue can pe accomplished
Tor temperance Dy law.
hat l mean oy temperance is the
leductlon OF tte evils OF orlnhlng alco-
hollc llquors' but what seems TO be CON
sldered as temperance oy the modern
temperance ADVOCATES IS the enforce
ment OF the prohlbltofy law. Inc Two
things stand widely apart The dlscl,
pies OF temperance created by law, II
any, are OF very low grade; TO get bet
ter variety you nave 10 appeal TO men
Intelligence and manhood.
But what 1 DO belleve is That II the
whole force OF the law was directed
against the retail dram-shops, and spec
rally the low grade dram-Shops, Where
the greatest evils arise, the evil might
be abated; but III order to do this, ano
nave Jhe community behlnd the move
ment, IL Woulo, '1 my judgment, De
necessary TO concede the flght OF pur
% n IskC bn Ia