The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-05-05
Wednesday, May S, 1909.
WhirlWind Election.

We see in the newspapers that In one OF
the counties 1t is proposed TO have next
August something like q "whirlwind cleo
ton" on the subject OF the dispensary. AS a
rule, there Is not much good in whirlwinds,
but this instance may prove an exception.
The evil OF liquor drinking could not be
exaggerated, and w presume that there Is
not in South Carolina a single individual
who would approve OF the excessive use OF
intoxicants But the subject OF the use or the
misuse OF liquor Is now only remotely con-
cerned in the coming election.
The proper thing to do Is 10 consider
whether the lawful or the unlawful sale Is
best.
The demand for intoxicants III some form,
and 10. some extent, Is common, and there
are very few persons, when they want II, who
will not buy 1t legally or illegally.
When 70 consider the fact that Of a lack OF
any provision for enforcing the law. and
when We know that prohibitionists, like
other people, when they want ~intoXicants,
i will buy 1t from whatever source. We fail 10
see the practicsbility or the honesty OF the
proposed prohibition.
When gamblers, or other men and women
i So06hV Al oShcb go
the crime are held accountable and are pun
ished.
But how Ia II when liquor Is sold illegally?
II there are no buyers, there can be no sellers
Ii there can be no seller without a buyer, and
II 1t takes q buyer 10 enable a seller to COM
mi a crime, why is 1t that one party 10 the
ohense must pay a fine or go 10 the chain
gang while the other goes free? Could The
most ariant, hypocrite on earth excuse ONE
party to the crime while Furnishing the
Other?
Does q man deserve the respect of the low.
\ est or the dirtiest negro in all this land who
would turn States evidence, and testify
against the man whom he had induced 10
sell him liquor? ~
Does not the sense OF an honest Legislator
re volt at the lawful exception In favor OF the
SD eaklpg buyer OF contraband Liquor? In
what conscience can a judge sentence the
sell er of liquor when he lets the blind tigers
partner in crime 60 free Of sentence,
Without q buyer no man can sell. II 1t is
unlawful 10 sell, then in the name of all thai
is fair, honest and of good r. port, 1t should
be unlawful to buy.
A sneakipg bypocrite may by false pre-
tense induce q neighbor 10 sell him q pint OF
liquor. That same sneak may 60 of and re:
port the man who sold him the liquor.
knowing that he, the informer, is equally
guilty and will 60 UNPUBLISHED.
II the proposed prohibition law is honest.
why did 1t not provide punishment for a,
violaters Of the Law: '.. T..
Thefe may be q whIrlwind In Abbeville
county which would mske one part Of our
citizens spies and informers against others
-, DO mere guilty then themfelver, but we do
not believe 1t.
Do you believe that II is en- honorable law
that makes one party TO an get a criminal.
while the other is considered g~uiltless and lie
not punished9.
Isn't the man who buys liquor illegally as
bad as the man who sells 1t illegally?
II by connivance or cooperation with
another. one man Is a lsw-breaker, is the
other Innocent go 4.
No; the Legislature made no provision for
enforcing the law. IT levied no taxes and
appointed no officer to enforce It. 1t provid-
ed no punishment for the man who may in
duce another 10 violate the Law.