The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-08-30
Senator SIani.ing's Position.

Senator Richard I. Manning, in a
statement which we printed yesterday,
announces thr salient feature of the
platform on which he will stand
should he enter the race for Governor
next year Senator Manning puts
himself to some pains to have the pub
lie understand that he is not candi
date to succeed Governor Hayward,
but it is not unreasonable to assume
that the public will continue to take
his candidacy next summer as q mat
ter of course. His position on the all
important question now before the
voters of this State is that the dispen-
sary system should be preserved after
having been purified. and he prom
ises that bill shall be introduced in
the General Assembly next winter
which will render our liquor establish
ment highly moral and beneficial to
the State generally. 81 would,''
says Senator Manning, "stand for the
"dispensary law so amended; but do
not stand for the dispensary law as it
is"
ator Manning is rather more optimis-
tic than logical. The history of cen
turies proves that the liquor traffic
corrupts and degrades to greater or
lass degree those who engage in it.
South Carolina's experience with it
has proved no exception to this rule.
The dispensary law has been in force
among us for over twelve years. 1t has
been administered in various ways by
various men; but, Senator Tillman to,
the contrary Notwithstanding, there
has never been a time when it was
not honeycombed with corruption.
All the men who have touched it have
been de6led to greater or less extent.
The law has been tinkered with and
changed many times. When the out
cries against the iniquties it has bred
have grown so clamorous that they
could no longer be disregarded, the
friends of the dispensary have come
forward with amendments for which
they promised much. But the result
has been the same in every instance
renewed assertions that the oispensa-
ry was more rotten than ever before.
1t is in the face of this shameful
record that Senator Manning calmly
informs Us that he is not willing to
stand for the dispensary as it is, but
be would be willing to stand for it as
it might be. We fail to see upon what
rational ground Senator Manning
bases the hope that be, or anybody
else, can legislate morality into the
liquor traffic. It is easy enough say
it would not be Objectionable if it:
were not what it is. It has left a
nauseous trail over the whole State for
twelve years and the burden Of proof
is with those who contend that it's
trail can be made other than nause-
GUS. Senator Manning has done no
more than to say to the people Of
South Carolina: You have an institu-
tion that has corrupted and disgraced
! you but do not give it up. Hold on
to it and see if you cannot cleanse it
in spite Of the fact that you have made
similar attempts before and always
! without success.
But Senator Manning is to be COM.
mended for letting the people know
exactly where he stands in the matter.
His position appears to be largely
identical with that of Senator Tillman
and the two of them should not fEd
it difficult to march shoulder TO
shoulder in the contest which is to
take place next ummer.-News and
| CoU rier.