Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-17
The Prohibition Question.

The Prohibition Question.
While it was with much pleasure
that we gave space in our issue OF
Tuesday to the communication Of Mr..
w. S. Garrison, on the prohibition
question, we desire to say that al
though we are satisfied that we feel
very much as Mr.. Garrison does about
the liquor traffic generally, we are not
in exact agreement as to what is the
best course to pursue in regard to the
matter.
We would like to see the liquor
traffic abolished from South Carolina,
just as we would like to see it abol-
ished from York county, and we are
here to contribute anything and every
thing we can to such q consummation;
but while we can see some promise of
hope along the line of doing away
with this business in York county, we
do not take so much encouragement
from the proposition to do away with
it in the state.
that all that was necessary to secure
state prohibition was the passage Of a
state law on the subject; but as the
result of years of observation and ex-
perience since then, we have come to
the conclusion that the passage Of such
law would be of but little effect. Our
present idea is illustrated very aptly in
the story of King Canute. who yielding
to the persuasion of his courtiers that
the tide would hold itself back at his
command, tried it with the result that
he got a good drenching in the surf.
This country, as Judge Gage told the
grand jury the other day, is governed
absolutely by public sentiment. The
only reason we have prohibition in
York county at this time is because
public sentiment so desires, and the
reason that prohibition is not enforced
any better than it is, is because public
sentiment is no stronger than 1t is.
Prohibition is enforced better than 1t
has ever been; but it is not enforced
perfectly. If the sentiment were stron-
ger, the enforcement of the law would
be better. If the prohibition sentiment
were weaker, the enforcement' Of the
law would not be nearly so satisfac-
tory as it is.
1t would give us great pleasure to
see Chester county vote out her dis
pensary and establish prohibition; but
we feel that if it were in the power of
York county to abolish Chester's dis
pensary it would be unwise to take
such a step. We say this for the rea-
son that as we, see it, until Chester
herself abolishes her dispensary, there
will be but lax enforcement Of prohibi-
ton. Chester will not have prohibi-
ton until she is ready for it, and she
will not be ready for it until she es-
tablishes it herself. When she does es-
tablish it herself, she will enforce 1t
much better than if it were foisted
upon her without her consent.
1t is quite possible that there are
enough prohibition voters in South
Carolina to pass a prohibition law for
the state: but the vast majority Of
those votes are in certain localities.
That is, the prohibition votes predom-
mate in certain localities and the Ii
quor votes predominant in certain
other localities. The liquor sentiment
predominates in the localities where
the liquor vote predominates, and even
after a liquor law has been written for
the state, it will be ignored and nulli-
fled i'm those localities that were op-
posed TO it in the first instance. or
course the prohibition sentiment could
enforce the law in the prohibition
localities; but it could not do it with
ont a long campaign Of bloodshed, and
this the situation does not warrant.
But in sizing up the liquor question
as one of tremendous importance, our
friend Mr.. Garrison, has made no mis-
take. AS we see IL, there is nothing
extreme about the views he expresses;
but we are afraid that it will be i'm
possible to do all that he wants to do
least important of the difficulties in
the way at the present time is the
need for leaders of experience and
ability who can command the conf
plenty of men, of course, who Will be
willing to try to lead; but the move
ment has not yet gone far enough 10
develop recognized leaders, and it is
best to wait until these begin to make
their appearance. Otherwise the great
aim in view is in danger of being
doomed to defeat and failure.
However, we beg leave to call the
attention of Mr.. Garrison and others
who seek the same end that he is
looking to, that there is plenty for
them to do at home for some time yet.
York county has prohibition but she
is not secure in it. Under the law,
upon a petition and a majority vote, a
dispensary may be established. There
are those who appreciate the value OF
Il county liquor business as base
upon which to build a political organ
iZaliOn of great power, and there is
reason to believe that this very thing
is now under consideration. That the
prohibition people of this county are
going to have to fight this proposition
is as sure as the rising Of the sun, and
the sooner they begin the better for
their cause, and the continued happi-
ness and well-being Of the county.