The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-08-25
whole country will some day recognize

the fact" What sort OF civilization
are we rearing In South Carolinap Ou1
Supreme Court, In its famous decision
unfolding the COnstituttOnality of thu
dispeDsary law, laid down the follow
Ing as a fundamental proposition ant
said that II this proposition is not true
the law Is unconstitutional: "Tha,
liquor, In It's nature, Is dangerous tc
the morals, good order, health anC
safety OF the people, and is not to bt
placed on the same footing with the
ordinary commo dlties OF life, such al
corn, wheat, cotton, tobacco, potatoes
etc. Kansas says to her children
The liquor traffic Is dangerous anG
ought to be prohibited" South Car
olina says to her thousands Of echoo
children: The liquor tratlic Is dan
gerous to the morals, good order
health and safety Of the people, anC
therefore we will sell liquor and gel
all the money we can for the schools. >
| You may call 1T can't II you will, but
In effect here is an insidlous attempt
60 we'd public education to the liquor
tr& ). 1t Is an unholy alliance and
God will put them a. under. We can.
not afford to lower the ideals Of oul
schools. We must not poison the foun
tain that nOurishes the heart and brair
Of our people.
WAS BECOMING D1SREPUTABLE.
The business OF the saloon kt epe,
vas becoming disreputable in this
State, and saloon keepers we're begin
nirg to find 1t d.nicllt to justify the
business in the eyes of tleir children.
The dispenSary system attempts to
make the traffic respectable and repu.
table. How can the children In our
schools answer the sophistry Of the
argument that whatever contributes
to the support OF the school is good
and wise? lay 1t down as little short
Of an axiom thatany restrictive scheme
that takes control [ f tr.t1i, that is
dangcrt u! to the morals of the people,
and controls it in such way as to
make 1t reputable, Is vicious and
dangerous schome.
Let me suggest an historical paral.
lei. A great leader was commanded 10
so down against the Amalakites,
standing for immortality, and destroy
them and theirs utterly. When he was
called to account by the old prophet
and asked what meant the loving Of
cattle and the blcating Of sheep, his
lame excuse was that the people had
kept the best OF the sheep and oxen to
sacrifice to the Lord. The PROPHETS
answer was as swift and whitening as
lightning: Behold, to obey is better
than sacrifice" Sacrifice is good, but
there are better things than n e sac
rifice. The Government o. great
State was commanded by the moral
sense OF the people, expressed at the
ballot box, to 20 down and destroy
the liquor Graillc. And when called to
account 1T makes the pitiful plea that
@h!le 1T has not destroyed the traffic
it has managed 1t SO as to get money
for the taxpayers. Money for, the
schools Is good, but there are Better
things than money for the schools.
The blight Of Gods curse falls upon
the people that resort to methods that
dull the public conscience and lower
the tone Of public morals.
IT CANNOT HELP YOU.
Senator Tillman, the .lispensary sys.
tCm cannot help you, and you can help
it only temporarily. 1t is wrong in
principle and corrupt In practice, and
| its doom has cen written. BY throw
ing your powerful Influence against
the present agitation you may save
Che dispensary for q while, but 1t Is
tottering and must fall. 1t Is fortu-
nate for you that your reputation rests
upon achievements that will endure.
| You recall, dc you not, the desire Of
Jefferson that his cpitaph should re.
mind poSterlty that he was the author
Of the Declaration OF Independence,
and Of the bill OF religious liberty, and
the father OF the University Of Vir.
R'nia. And so hi8 name is handed
down, riveted to civil liberty, ana re.
liGiouS liberty and higher education,
three things that can never depart
tIom the earth or from the love OF
ncn. And you, what would you be re
membored by? There Is Winthrop and
there is Clemson; "ell may your heart
Swcll with honorable pride And there
isl will not name the third thing.
WHAT true friend wDu,d link your
name with the dispensary? What bit
Ter enemy could desire q worse fate
| for you than to have you raised to
| that bad eminenc, ? A wise solution
Of the liquor problem is one thing; the
dispcnsary Is another.
have very little political ambition,
and no taste for public controversy.
! Y.u need not remind me that it Is
none Of my business to take care OF
Jour reputation. | know that. But
.,N t,f i \, 20,
been doing my best, little as 1t msy
nave been, to develop strong, clean,
pravc manhood IN thiS State, and it
3aGdenS ne to feel that you are about
10 let pride Of opinion and the feryor
f debate stand in the way OF a fair
Ard open test OF great moral ques.
ton. The people do not need advice,
they need free opportunity to vote.
Respectfully, GEoRGE B CRoMER.
Newberry, Au2uat II, 1905.
| -------------------------
start with New York Life.
Insurance Commissioner r.. e.
Folk, OF Tennessee, announced Sat
urday that the Interstate examination
OF life insurance companies would
commence on October /. The New
York Life IaHurance Company will be
XamnUd frat. Tnis announcement
vas made after conference between
the insurance commissioners OF Kgn.
| lucky, Minnesota, and Wisconsin,
Nebraska, Louisiana and Tennessee
and President John a Nc Call, e the
New York LIE Insurance Company
N GOOD Gift.