Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-12
End of the Dispensary.

Although no one of reasonable IN
telligence can be so foolish as to think
that the liquor question has been set
tied, or even materially improved, al
last it is practically certain that the
state dispensary machine is dead. and
all the right thinking people of the
state have a right to be glad.
South Carolina has gone through
numerous severe trials, social, politi-
cal, educational and otherwise, but
as we see it none have been more fear
full than has been involved in this ex-
pertinent of state conduct Of the liquor
business. To say the state has come
out without seattle would be consider
ably more than we would care to risk
for as we see 1t, we esteem 1t remark
able that she has even been able to
come out at all. 1t is proof that the
moral principles of the majority were
based on a firm foundation.
The greatest menace of the state
dispensary was not so much in the
harm that came from the use and
abuse of the liquor 1t sold. That was
bad enough. But worse than this was
the capacity Of the institution to un-
dermine and destroy the foundations
Of the honesty and integrity of char
acter in all who allowed themselves to
become entangled in it's control and
management
Since the establishment Of the dis
pensary-stealing that was previously
frowned down upon and punished, has
been laughed at, condoned and ap-
proved. The state has never known
more corruption under a white mans
government, and while the negroes
stole all they could when they had
charge Of the affairs Of the state, it is
a matter Of doubt as to whether they
got altogether as much as was stolen
directly and indirectly through the
state dispensary. But the money loss
occasioned by and through the insti-
tuition has been Of small consequence
as compared with the corrupting in
fluence on the people generally, espe-
cially in the matter of bunting their
conceptions Of right and wrong.
But now in spite of it all, we say
without hesitation that we are prouder
than ever Of South Carolina. All along
most Of them were actuated by the
highest motives. Thousands Of as
good men as there are in this state or
in any other state thought that the
state system furnished really the best
possible method of dealing with Ii
quor. and theoretically 1t is still a
question as to whether or not they
were right. But the weakness Of the
system lay in the fact that men, weak,
hungry, grasping men had the man
agement of 1t. These saw their OPP
portunity and were shrewd enough to
engage the support Of the honest, pa
triotic people referred to. For years
we have been witnessing the spectacle
Of a state being robbed and plundered
by thieves while honest men were
standing on guard to prevent inter-
ference. But in the course of time, as
always happens, the thieves began to
fall out with each other and as the
eyes of honest men were opened from
time to time. they quit and fell away
in disgust, leaving the system to die
II its own rottenness.
South Carolina has passed through
a horrible nightmare in all these years,
and although there is still much to be
done. because people who strive for
the best never reach the end of their
labOrs. there is every reason to hope
that she will now be better rather than
worse because of what she has been
through