The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-06-28
ssDispensary Doomed"

We do pot know the author Df that express
sion. but suppose 1t came like most of the
thrusts at The daspensary-from those who
favor Il license system.
If the ex preston had be q the "fale OF H.
quor doomed" then good men everywhere
might %rej>ice. But If the "dispensary Is
doomed" and high license IL 10 follow, then
we will return TO u system of dealing In H.
quor. which ls worse than the dispeusary.
AS far as we are Ab 9 10 see. there are IN
fact very few pro LlblLIouisls 10 this State.
1t occurs to US that the opposition to the
dIspensary. comes almost exclusively from
the license men and the men who drink at
the bars. AT any rate. except Oh opposition
to the dispensary, 1T would tie hard to &C.
count for Inc votes which were cast fJr pro-
hibition Candidates Il few year, ago.
We do not believe that any prohibltionist
belle yes that he can he elected TO any
State office without the votes OF the ll"uor
element. The combination ef saloon men
and pronib!tionists Is o netting unusual,
but we believe that prohioitlonists want OF.
flee. aud that the liquor element want TO
break up the dis pensary, and so they would
De willing TO give anybody office that they
could use for their purpose. That Is the way
The unnatural and unprecedented alliance
appears to us.
Any calm that the saloon 81, ment and
the office seeking probibitionists are any
better than any body else, is ridiculously
absurd and beneath contempt.
AS far as the circumstances and facts war
rant, this newspaper accords TO all men full
credit for honesty Of purpose and sincerely OF
action.
We know that men can honestly hold any
shade OF oplnlon that appeals to their reason
or appears TO them 10 be the best for all, and
we respect each and all for that honest opin.
ion, and so DESTROYS are we TO be fair and
ag reeable to allf that we try to say nothingto
offend anybody, even though we may donbt
their sincerely, but We have little or no re.
spect for the act of any man who, while afil-
iatiog with the So loon element, would claim
TO be better and purer than those temperance
people from whom he differs, possibly for
political purposes.
lfopposition 10 The dispensary comes from
a desire TO reduce the drink habit, why is 1t
that we hear nothing as to The evils Of drink
aud 30 much against the dispensary?
We do not regard the dispensary as perfec.
ton In the matter OF dealing in liquor. 1.-THE
temperance people have the welfare and SO
briefly Of the people at heart, why is 1t that
they do no make effort to keep the dispense.
ry open fewer hours? We have prohibition
for half the twenty-four hours. Half a loaf Is
better than no bread. II the dispensary Is
kept open too long. why not keep 1t shut
for more than half the time?
lift is bad to put the profits on LIQUOR into
the treasury OF the State, where would the
high license people put the license fees?
lit Is wrong for the State TO sell liquor, IL
Il right for the State to license others to sell
it?
Would reasonable and sensible people pre-
fer TO see the. immense profits on liquor go
into the pockets OF saloon men or into the
public treasury?
Would any good and conscientious man lay
his hand on bis hear; and say that he pre-.
fers high license to low iicense7 In one case
the poor mar who might be honest, would
be excluded. In the other case, the rich and
possibly unscrupulous neigbbor would have =
monopoly. A monopoly offers the greatest
inducements to extortion and fraud.
Can any man with a thimble full OF brains
claim to see the difference in the principle OF
The State selling liquor and authorizing
others.
1.-THE people in any county desires to be
rid Of the dispensary, then let them shut il
up. We would force the dispensary on no.
body, but we shall protest against giving
high license to anybody. 1t is the most
wicked OF all forms OF dealing With liquor,
and we are unalterably opposed TO selling ex
elusive privileges to any citizen.