Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-11-06
Prohibition Civilizes.
columbia Record.)

main the STOCK arguments OF prohibi-
tionists. We have shown that per-
sonal rights regarding matters indif- !
ferent in themselves ought to be
yielded up to advance the good Of the !
many. We have eshowp that a pro-
hibitory law may be enforced to the
same extent as any other law enacted
for the peace and welfare of the
state. We hav shown that prohi-
tion would lead to no greater amount
OF hypocrisy and subterfuge on the
part of its violators than does the
law against theft or murder. We
have shown that prohibition would
be or real economic value to indi-
ytduals, to communities, and to the
State as whole. t
We propose now to advance ano-
ther argument In favor of prohibi-
ton, which, owing to the peculiar
situation that South Carolina finds
itself In, is more worthy of consid-
Grafton and Of greater force than any
hitherto presented. 1t Is an argu-
ment that Is based as much OH the
economic value of prohibition as on
its moral value. II we succeed in
making 1t clean cut, presenting 1t
with the force and vigor 1t demands,
we are confident that those who have
heretofore opposed prohibition will
lay aside all scruples and vote for 1t
as the only measure which can
corruption and crime.
South Carolina we regret to say,
holds no enviable place in the sister
hood Of States. Statistics show taht
her record for homicides and MUIR
ders is about the worst Of any State
in the Union. This Is due princi-
pally to the character of the popula-
ton, the most of which consists Of
an alien race that, unfortunately for
itself and for society at large, has
become addicted to the hahttual use
of the vilest liquors. We are conf
dent that intemperance among the
lower orders of Our population,
whose passions are unregulated and
easily inflamed, has had more to do
with the commission of such crimes
as murder and rape than any other
half dozen causes combined.
The time has come, 1t seems to us,
when thinking men-men who are
truly regardful of the welfare and
fair fame of their State-should not
blink the situation, but meet it
squarely and apply the only remedy
that will put liquor beyond the reach
Of those who use it to the damnation
of the State. We contend that it Is
key in the hands of such people--as
great crime as 1t would be to put
arms in the hands of the inmates of
an insane asylum and then turn
them loose to work their mad will
upon an unsuspecting community.
Local option Is no solution OF the
evils that affiict the State. AS long
as it endures there will continue to
be homicides and murders and other
crimes more diabolical. In a democ-
racy, educated and civilized, 1t may
do we'll enough, but not in State
like South Carolina, where half the
people Is semi-barbarian. Here, we
should want no law that gives one
county the right to debauch with IL
quor the people Of another that is
opposed to liquor. Here, we should
want no law that gives a score or
more of counties the right to place
within the reach of half-barbarous
and irresponsible people throughout
the whole State that which arouses
their worst passions to the commits
sion of the most awful crimes. The
plea that the law Is based on a prin-
ciple thoroughly democratic and
therefore it is right, should not avail
In South Carolina. 1t Is not the CIV
ilization Of one county that is threat
Shcu, VI VI I"O VI Three OF twenty,
but the civilization of the State as a
whole. ThiS must be saved, and the
only way in which it can be done is
by sacrificing, on the altar Of prohi-
bition, this much lauded and cher
ished democratic principle Of local
option. Even one county that elects
to have a dispensary can keep South
Carolina, conditioned as she is as to
population, mark for the scorn and
contumely Of the world. Therefore,
to minimize the crime of the State,
give 1t cleaner record, and so pre-
serve 1t from further reproach, local
option must be destroyed. 1t entails
upon South Carolina all the evils OF
its predecessors, and to bar the en-
tail it Is necessary to resort to the
heroic measure of prohibition-a
measure that shall apply to the whole
State and not to segregated parts
Of it.