The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-09-21
Wednesday, Sept. 81, 1904.
Anew Temperance Men In the Wrong
CamD.

Some people are distressed about what is to
take the place OF the dispeDsary in counties
where 1t may be voted out. 1t may be some
comfort 10 them To know that sober people
don't want anything TO take its place. When
they asked for the abolition OF The saloon they
did not ask for anything 10 take its place.
temperance people don't want liquor from
any source, and tiplers would find that they
can get along without 1t better than they i'm
agine.-Chester Lantern.
The Lantern need have no fears about tip
lers not getting liquor. If there is no dispen-
sary in sight, the blind tigers will accommo-
date them.
If temperance people are really in earnest
about curtailing the liquor traffic they might
do well to make some effort TO enforce the
law which now gives prohibition for half the
time and presumes to regulate the sale OF
liquor for the other half of the Tina.
AS we understand. however, the tiplers, pre-
fer to have open bars, or anything else than
the dispensary.
The strange thing to US is that a few good
and sincere prohibitionists can be SO hood
wlnked by the liquor element as to join their
ranks in the fight against the dispensary.
The great mass OF people who are opposed to
the dispensary are the liquor men, while 1t Is
painful to realize hat a few good prohibi'
tionists have lost their bearing and have
Joined the forces OF the enemy against their
natura friends and allies.
While the few prohibitionists are at the
head Of the liquor element in their fight
against the dispensary, 1t is to be regretted
that the zeal and energy OF the majority OF
the temperance people is paraliZed by the
detection in their own camp. II it were not
for pleasant association In the past, and a be-
lief on the part OF the great mass CT temper
ance people, that the brethren who have gone
over to the enemy have been blinded, though
still aiming TO be faithful TO the temperance
cause, greater effort would be made TO enforce
the provisions Of the oispensary law Excep,
in comparatively q few isolated cases we be.
lieve the temperance people are giving their
support TO the dispensary, while license peo-
pie are solidly opposed to the dispensary.
II the temperance people can be made cats
paws for the license people 1t is barely posi-.
bic that the dispensary may be crippled or
done way with entirely, when we will have
q reign OF free liquor.
Whether these temperance men who have
Joined the enemy are aware of the fact or not
itis nevertheless true that prohibition cannot
be enforced without money, and a great deaI
Of 1t, too. Expressions about taxation for this
purpose nearly throws the agitators into fits.
Instead o fjudglng for themselves, they seem
to follow the expressions Of their enemy, the
liquor element, in making unjust, unwarrant
ed and Incorrect statements as to the matter
Of taxing counties TO enforce the liquor law
in such counties as may vote out the dis
pensary.
II instead OF going over to the
camp Of the enemy these excellent people
had remained in the camp where they
properly belong, the temperance people
could no doubt effect great good by not only
enforcing the law as 1t now stands but by
placinS other restrictions and safeguards
around the traffic in liquor.
If the restrictive features Of the law as
now constituted are disreguarded let all
temperance people join hands and require
Its strict enforcement, but let US not pull
Town the institution until there is a prospect
OF something better TO replace it.