The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-07-01

at is Entirely Out Of the Question to Try to
Bring This Great Theoretie Subjunetive up
in Opposition to the Practical Indicative" +"
Be Gorros!
A portion of an article from our
friend ''PaXville' appearing in the
issue of this paper dated June lIth, is
so eminently conspicuous for its alb
sence of argument that few remarks
in reply will likely not be out of place.
The part of the article referred to IS
that entitled ''About Schools. After
reading the whole of this portion, one
can only conclude that Mr.. "PaNvllle''
is opposed to the building Of new jail
by any means, for he very forcibly con-
de,nns the provisions made for that
purpose, and does not offer any proro-
sitions or suggestions by which such
a work might be accomplished. I shall
attempt to take the said article apart to
some extent and refer to it piece BY
piece, hoping thereby to comprehenSl,,
bly show that the opinions contained
therein are not well supported.
st does seem that there is a certain
fitness of things when the dispensary
profits are to be used for jail building;
Now, shall we have new jail: Surely
there is not citizen of Clarendon who
will answer in the negative. In the
first place, our progressive ambition
demands it, and it is just as Important
for a county to have q specious jail as
to have gorgeous churches and schools,
or any other public buildings. In the
second place, our pathos with refer
ence to humanity pleads for a decent
and comfortable arrangement for those
of us who are so unfortunate as to have
to occupy position behind the bars OF
a jail. Thanks be to civilization, our
method of punishment is not to torture
in filthy cell before an impartial
trial; it is after trial and conviction
that our prisoners are sentenced And,
too, we must not forget the fac5 that
many who 60 to jail to await trial are
as innocent as those who stand by and
cheerfully see them conducted into that
prison. Then, il we are to have this
new building, the necessary funds can
come from nowhere except from the
taxes paid by the people. Now # they
must pay for same, what difference does
| it make whether they get the money
out OF the right-hand or left-hand pock'
et2 VIII it amount to practically the
same?
:sThe concern is a splendid factor ir
raising jail-birds." Doubtless it is con
ceded by ali that whiskey is among the
greatest evils of the world, but the re-
suits of its corruptness are principal!
perceptible on the moral character, ano
are not nearly so manifest when we
come to investigate the causes of crime
IF we educate properly lasls ane
dispensaries will sink low in place:
they shall occupy. The dispensary vii
close and the jail poorly tenanted. Il
is all right for sentimentalisJ to sl1
down and dream ideals, but it is en-
tirely out of the question to try to bring
this great theoretic subjunctive up II
opposition to the practical indicative
| think it only philosophical, and not
pesSimistic, to say that it will be many
Years before the human race will attain
this coveted paradise. I do not know
what friend ''PaXville" means by edu.
cate properly" I can conceive OF nc
form of education that would so revolu'
tionize humanity as to eliminate crime
before the old jail could rot down en-,
tirely, if allowed to stand.
''No the dispensary furnishes enough
for the jail without giving its profits tc
it," Attend any of our court sessions
and take note of the charges brought a:
gainst the prisoners, and you will inc
| that. very few of them are there with
the dispensary as either the direct OF
indirect cause AS stated above, the
| worst abusers of whiskey are not the
ones who occupy our jail.
I hardly deem it necessary to state II
conclusion anything regarding my OBJ
ject in submitting this writing or the
stand that take in the matter: a care
full reading will be sufficiently explani'
tory. i only ask thatyou give each side
the consideration that it deserves.
r. L. JONES.
Nashville, Tenn.