The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-03-27
WILL NOT DOWN.
OLD STATE DISPENSARY HARD
TO GET RID OF.
Joshua HardstroHg Makes Some OBJ

OSCo AAC1i LII SOuuCCllOu W1Cn 1g-
Pardon us for mentioning it, bnc
the old State Dspensary seems to be
the chief topic of discussion nova
days; but we will not tarry long.
In his opIdi n rendered more than
fifteen years sluce when declaring
the Dispensary Law unconstitutional
Chief Justice McIvcr declared the
sale OF whiskey under this system
was not proper function OF govern
ment, and his worcs seem to he
for time is fas, proving
that he was right.
More than year since the peo-
pie throught the Legislature abolish
ed the State Dispensary, and ap-
pointed a commission to Immediately
wind up it's affairs; yet the old crea-
ture seems to be more alive today
than ever.
Two years since an investigating
committee was appointed by the Cen
eral Assembly to investigate it's af-
fairs, and since that time the pa
pers have teemed with sensational
statements about fraud and graft,
and we have been many, many times
Promised that "grafters" would be
wearing stripes ere many moons had
waXed and waned; and still the bat
tie goes merrily along, while the
good people are paying the piper.
Numerous junketing trips have been
taken beyond the limits of the State
to get evidence, and it has been got
ten, so it is said, but the elusive
grafters are still enjoying the free
dom of other citizens.
One noticeable featureis that these
in charge become very active toward
election times; the Attorney General
offers himself as a vicarious sacrifice
upon the altar of "states rights, the
Governor sends bombastic message
to the General Assembly, and all
of the smaller fry who have not an
nounced their respective candidates.
croak in unison. 1t is surely. an
amusing situation.
If sufficient thunder and lightning
can be produced the Governor will
not have so much trouble securing
reelection this summer; and If the
Attorney General, bless his soul, can
Just get Judge Pritchard to send him
to jail for contempt why that means
Governor Lyon two years hence; and
Just little later this man Of destiny
will be hailed as the only man to
been the redoubtable Benjamin Ryan
when he enters the lists for United
States Senate. But Pritchard is a
sly old chap.
We are not deprecatng the efforts
Of those in authority to hunt down
criminals and see that they are meet
ly punished; but this should be done
in an orderly manner and with judge
ment.
If any person or persons stole
money from the Dispensary let them
be indicted, tried and punished; but
don't let us be forever talking about
it.
The conflict in Judge Pritchard's
Court would never have arisen If
those in authority had attended 10
their business and wound up the
State Dispensary in six months as
the law under which they were act
ing required; they should have con-
cluded by last July or August.
One thing is certai, it Is not SEEM
ly that out highest officials, those en-
trusted with upholding the majesty
Of the law, should abuse the law it
self, or the Courts. or the Courts. or
the lawyers; there Is only one step
from this to anarchy and lynch-law.
The firms which sold the whiskey
are entitled to be heard in the Courts
as to the validity of their claims,
that is what we have Courts for;
they are entitled to emplo!y lawyers
to represent them In those Courts
and it is none of our business what
fees they pay these lawyers; the
United States Circuit Court, Judge
Pritchard presiding, has the right un''
der the law to hear these cases and
to decide them as he deems proper
In the light of the law as he sees 1t,
and if he decides wrongly, the State
has a complete and adequate remedy
by appeal OF the United States Su-
preme Court, which will surely re-
verse, If the Court below is in error.
So therefore, why all this fuss and
feathers; the State cannot suffer.
The United States Supreme Court
has been justly declared to be the
greatest court In the Wordl. In an
unbroken line of decisions 1t has up
held the rights Of our citizens from
the highest to the humblest. 1t has
never hesitated to decided to decide
against popular clamcr when the law
was upon the other sde. lthas never
fattered in defining and upholding
states rights. A familiar instance
of this is the famous Dred Scott case.
when the Court, composed largely OF
men of Northern birth, just prior to
the breaking out Of the Civil War
sustained the contention OF the
Southern States and set the whole
North aname.
1t should also he remembered that
the United States Supreme Court al
firmcd the constitutionality OF this
same Dispensary Law, when our own
Supreme Court had declared 1t un-
constitutional.
Therefore why should the Federal