The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-08-26
LIQUOR and LynchinH.

The extraordinary record of MI OBJ VIC.
lepce throughout the country during the
last few months has startled both con.
tinents. Our strenuous protests against
Russian massacres have been completely
neutralized by acts no less barbaric IN our
very midst. So fragrant and widespread
has been the spirit of lawlessness that 1t
has compelled the attention of the entire
newspaper press of the country. De.
astonishing to consider how far and fast
the spirit Of anarchy is travelling in this
country. 1t is no longer sectional, it 1t
ever was, but is nationally difused crime,
and a growing menace to the good order
and civilized procedures of the nation at
large. 1t must be stopped"
In no current events can the influence
of the saloon be traced so easily. Yet
heretofore, it is practically certain that
that influence was scarcely recognized out
side of the Prohibition press. The signi-
ficant feature of editorial comment IN the
secular press to-day is the general Iecog-
milton of this very thing. Says the Knox
vile (Tennessee) Journal and Tribune:
"The only safety to a State or COM
munity lies in q Just and fearless enforce
and they will take foot. Permit a minor
law to be violated and it will lead to the
violation of greater ones: Wink at the
law against gambling and it will encour-
age the criminally disposed to do some
thing worse; close the eyes. to the illicit
Sunday saloon, and those who may medi-
tate larceny may conclude that the Off
cials are Indifferent generally. Rem
der law.breaking unpopular and law-break-
ers of every sort infamous. When this Is
done there will be no such demonstration
as we have witnessed in - county, and
no more violations that bring terror to
communities and disgrace to States and
cities"
"Whisky." declares the Inter-Ocean. Of
Chicago, is playing a most conspicuous
part in the outlawry now prevalent in SO
many localities. g,
Excessive use Of intoXicants may afford
o partial explanation of recent reyolting
crimes and the shameful events following
them. If so, then a common sense view
of the situation involves the closing OF
saloons in every city menaced by mobs.
and the closer supervision Of those dis
posed to the reckless Use OF intoXicants."
The closing OF saloons in Wilmington,
Delaware. when the city was infamed
and convulsed over lvnching," declares the
Wisconsin State-Journal, suggests a
theory as to the final overthrow of the
saloon system Oj fIueIlcd.
1T is only a speculation, but the men
tai outreaches OF men great in soul have
in them something of prophecy. It is
certain that 80 deepSeated and pervading
condition as the chain of 100000 sa-
looms, cannot be wiped out without a
convulsion that shall shake all. What
ever the price may be, God speed the
day"
There IS absolutely no extenuetion for
these awful examples of public frenzy: but
the fact that the nations attention is so
seriously fixed upon them is distinctly en-.
couraging All the mobs of the year. the
country over. have not been so destruc-
tive OF human life. and subversive of ma
tional order, as the legalized dramshops
of the nation in one weeks uninterrupted
dehauchery Of the citizenship.
But this fact Of cheer stands out: The
pcoolc have been reused to point OF ef'
fective acton by this series of passionate
outbreaks, and to unexpected appreciation
of the part which the saloon plays in
them all. Inevitably the cause OF the
American home versus the liquor traffic
has been advanced on the docket and bids
fair to be the next case called fo- hear
inc at the bar OF public opinion.-New
Voice.