The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-11-15
High License.

In. an Interview in the State of Tuesday,
Hon. B. A. Morgan, representative from
G%reenville, says that he will push q high II.
cense law in the next legislature. His law
provides for q vote of the counties on dispep-
sary, high license or prohibition.
II the vote favors the dispensasy, the dis
pen sary will be retained, perhaps as an In
dependant affair in each County, which
would abolish the State Dlspensary. If high
license prevails, the attempt will be made to
run the bar room under dispensary restric
lions. II the county gets prohibition OF
course, as is now the case with Pickens, Cher
okee and other counties, moon shine and
blind tiger liquor will flow freely TO the salts
faction of the theorizlng prohibitionist. and
the blind tiger who prefers doing business
without license.
The point we wish TO emphasize, however,
is that not only Mr.. Morgan but other able
legislators have high icons bills up their
81 eeves, and the deIuded prohibitionist who
thinks that he is gaining a victory, even
pominally, In securing the defeat Of the: dis
pensary, will awake to the magnitude Of his
error when 1t 10 too late.
Laws in the interest Of good morals can be
enforced only to the level of moral sentiment.
You cannot legislate morals, above THE
level, or rather you cannot enforce them.
The fact ia that the genuine prohibitionists.
while a very select class, constitute a very
small class in our body polite. and while
they seem TO be under the impression that
they are leading In that movement they are
as q matter Of fact leading only in paths d.
rected by the LIQUOR men.
! Mr.. Morgan is a gentleman Of the highest
.tpye. and he Is doubtless entirely sincere in
his high license measure. 1t is not claimed
that he is acting IN the interest Of liquor
men or az their tool, but 1t Is claimed that he
reads correctly the moral tone Of our people.
and is trying TO place his legislation on a
level Herewith.
The question then is, does high license or
OF the State.
! VIII the State Commission merchant, the
bar keeper or its salaried officer the dispenser,
best enforce restrictive measures in the sale
ofliquor.
In this respect South Carolina Ia not differ
emit from other States. 1t 10 one ofthe unfor-
tunate things, that in perhaps every State in
the union, those who would honestly enforce
prohibition are in q small minority.
1t is not an uncommon thing In the fights
against the dlspensary, TO see men who
drink regularly and who order their liquor
from other states and are In no wise depend.
ent on the dispensary. take the most active
part In The fight against the. dispensary.
This does not mean that he will quit drink
tng-not at all. He will order his LIQUOR az
aforetime, and he will leave the poorer class
10 buy from the blind tiger.
= One would think that the license elemen,
are showing their hands too quickly-thal
the prohibitionis lists would take fright and
Withdraw their support. Not so. however
give them the shadow and they will let the
blind tiger and license men have Il y sub
stance.
They would do we'll to recall that period In
English history when the unsuspeotint
Saxons called over the Normans from the
continent, TO aid them in holding back th,
petty invader. Students Of history recall the
fate Of The Saxon.