The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-07-15
DEMOCRATS CAN'T BE PROHIRI-
TIONISTS.

tectlOnlSt anu Democrat
Henry Watterson is not infallible.
He does not know it all. Nor is he
set up as the umpire to pass upon the
peoples politics.
However, Mr. Watterson is ALWAYS
entertaining and his utterances are
read with interest, though, Of course,
not accepted as party law. He him.
self is not SO strict a party man that
ne could be whipped away from the
Palmer-Buckner bolt, though he is
now in the Bryan Camp-Even in the
very Bryan domestic household at
Lincoln.
But 1t is Mr.. Waterson's dictum
that man cannot be both a Demo.
crat and a prohibitionist to which at
tention is now being called. In a
recent issue of the Courier-Journal he
said:
The Democrats Of Arkansas by an
overwhelming majority, in their con-
vention Of Tuesday voted down a res
olution, offered by a clergyman.
which proposed to commit the party
to statewide prohibition. In no event
could such scheme have any proper
place in Democratic gathering, but
least of all in gathering charged
with the business Of preparing for a
national campaign. The time was
when Arkansas was a Gibraltar OF
Democracy; let us hope it will con-
tinue so. It's present attitude is at
once timely and reassuring.
There are undoubtedly prohibition
lists who call themselves Democrats,
as there are Democrats who think
themselves prohibitionists. But the
idea Of prohibition is at variance with
all the ideas and tenets Of Democracy.
No man can be a prohibitionist and
remain a Democrat.
Prohibition is of the very essence
of puritanism, federalism and repub-
licanism. 1t is laid in the belief that
the government may regulate the
personal life and private affairs of
the citizen. 1t claims that through
sumptuary edicts and a protective tar
III men may be legislated, at the will
or the party in power, into million
aires and angels, church and state
being interchangeable and serving as
convertible terms
Democracy meets this theory not
merely with proof Of it's fallacy
drawn from history and human ma.
ture, but with an alternative theory
of free will requiring the complete
separation of church and state.
-
The whole prohibition movement is
a scheme to revive the proscriptive
and ruinous doctrines Of church and
state. In the South it's animating
purpose has been to keep whiskey
from the niger. Elsewhere in
Democratic communities it is q
scheme to promote federalism, pu..
ritanism and republicanism. Democ~
racy meets it with these plain pro-
posais:
First-Prohibition does not-it nev-
er has and it never will-prohibit: on
the contrary, it degrades both the
people and the law; it promotes
smuggling, extortion and adulters-
ton; it breeds both hypocrites and
law-breakers, and, therefore, that
which may not be effectively re-
pressed may be wisely regulated and
restrained.
Second-Local option, each COM
munity to be the judge of it's own
wants and needs-the doctrine of
home rule-has been effectual wher-
ever it has been tried, and is as near
restriction Of the drink evil as Leg
islation can provide.
Third-All schemes of legislation
based on religious agitation and hys-
tCi iCdi upIlSl-'SS make not only IOr
bad government, but have for their
ultimate object the abasement of in
dividual liberty and the ascendency
of union OF tyrannous clericalism
and corrupt demagogy, which in all
ages and countries has dragged re-
!igion morals and patriotism through
incalculable wrong to certain ruin.
We congratulate the Democrats of
Arkansas upon their fidelity to DEM
ocracy as we'll as their courageou;
and clear-sighted resistance TO the
advent Of the Trojan horse Of fed
era!ism, prohibition and republican,
tsm No man can be a Democrat and
prohibitionst. AS we'll might one
claim to be protectionist and a
Democrat.