The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-25
AND BRYANEBR IN S0UrE
CAROLINA.

C~HARLHsroN. q. c.. July 7s.-4South Caro->
lima seems TO have q unique and special
situation Of its own. In nearly all the rest
OF the Southern States the investigator
hears Of Bryan 10 . possibility 20 be rock
oned with-as O superstition. a. Q problem.
a. an anes,hstic. Here. nobody thinks or
talks about Bryan except TO consider him
a. an UNPLEASANT reminiscence. Democrats
are immersed In q quandary. no doubt.
but there is no question Of Brysu. That
shadow has blown over once for all. II is
still conceivable that the leaders Of thought
and the oontrivers Of political action In
this State may eventually abandon to
chance the question OF Democratic leader
ship for 1908. Having no favorite son Of
their own and peroeiving no candidacy Of
special promise In the immediate neigh
borhood. IL Ia quite upon the cards that
they will refer the South Carolina delega-
vcntion and return to q closer oontempla-
ton OF their local complications. which for
the moment are sufficiently absorbing.
As a matter Of fact. unless attention
should be seriously concentrated upon some
acceptable and promising candidacy within
the next few months the probabilities all
are that the natural captains OF tho party
will leave the Democracy at large to look
out for itself. 1t Ia not that they feel no
interest in the matter. On the contrary
they need only the most heetins glimpses
OF q real prospect to arouse them to instant
energy OF action. In the circumstances.
however, discerning no sign Of hope upon
tho horizon and having much to engage
their solicitudes at home. they seem likely
to ignore outside politics altogether. That
field at present offers them no occupation
worthy Of their notice. They see nothing
more han 4 repetition OF the utilities and
disasters Of the last ten years, and they
feel little inclination to concern themselves
In the details Of disaster. SO far as they
banner by default.
Meanwhile-and here lies tho true ex-
PLANTATION OF their indifference to tho ma
tional campaign OF nert year-Charlsston
is in the throes Of the liquor agitation.
The dispensary establishment contrived by
Tillman some years ago has been sbol-
ished by law. and yet 1t remains. In other
words, the dispensary is no longer obliga-
tory. nor is it a State institution. over
where it survives. Nevertheless, wherever
counties or localities have declared against
total prohibition the dispensary remains
as the only lawful medium through which
the popular thirst can be appeased. The
idea Of the legislators was TO make the
liquor traffic a source Of revenue in such
counties. towns, &c. as might vote in favor
OF that traffic. thereby combining the prin-
ciple Of local option with a provident con-
tribution to the public exchequer. But the
| old prejudice against the dispensary sys-
tenn has survived the downfall OF the OBJ
~jectionable and ~tyrannical features Of that
system.
Although communities are now free to
enrich their own treasures through liquor
or to abstain altogether from the so-called
evil, they seem no better pleased with the
new arrangement than they we're with the
old. In Charleston particularly the issue
has become acute. Large quantities. Of
wine. whiskey. beer and all kinds OF more
| or less intoxicating liquids are consumed
in this town, and yet the dispensaries are
doing very little business. The profits
which ought TO go into the Charleston strong
box, financing the local government and
to that extent relieving the taxpayers, find
their way into the pockets Of the illicit
dealers almost entirely. The stun IL oar
ried into town by rail. by express, by
water routes. Hotels, clubs and saloons
purchase their supplies in this way. and the
legitimate sources OF distribution are left
virtually to silence and the cobwebs.
OF course the explanation is to DO found
in the gregarious human instinct-man's
preference for the society of his kind and
his natural aversion 20 carrying a bottle
or a demijohn Of liquor away with him for
the mere purpose OF consuming IL. The
trainers OF the dispensary law evidently
made the mistake OF ~supposing hat the
wicked cared for nothing hut the liquor
itself. They were not whiskey drinkers
themselves or they would never have lone
it. Compliance with the law rob- indul-
gence OF it's chief charm. ~conviviality. 1t
obliterates the poor mans club" the
saloon. and even in the case Of the regularly
organized club obedience 10 irksome and
unlovely. Elsewhere in South Carolina ono
fnds a general surrender to the statute.
The public at large patronize the local
dispensaries. thus swelling the common
purse. and the most exclusive Of the social
organizations have abandoned their bars in
good faith and resorted to the individual
locker system. The arrangement 10 not
attractive. It gives to liquor drinking q
very unpleasant air OF business.
Nevertheless, Charleston stands alone in