The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-06-02

sometimes a little dangerous TO drink
the connections which are sold by blind IT,
gers. We have never heard that Impure
liquor was sold In our dispensary. II. There
fore, liquor from Abbeville Is offered, It may
be accepted -as reasonably sure that 1t is
what IL purports to be. But the better thing
for dry towns TO do, Is to have prohibition In
fact. Ifthey do not have prohibition. why
publish the fact OF their failure TO have that
OF which they boast? We answer: Simply
because there Is no such thing as prohibition
WHICH IS WORSE?
Reduced to the last analysis. the only
real question in all this great hulaballoo Is:
(which is worse: the dispensary or the blind
tigers?"
Our testimony would be that prohibition
In this town was conducive OF infinitely
more drunkenness and more generalization
than could be charged to the dlspensary. We
being a temperance man all our life how could
you or any other man expect US to prefer
what we believe to be the worse form OF
liquor ira fic? Some mighty good men, how
ever, are lust tearing their shirts in order
to bring down upon us the greatest known
whiskey evil-blind tigers. or course they do
not by so declaredly, but by indirection
their efforts certainly promote the evil OF
which they talk.
The sales at the Abbeville dlspensary
prove positively and indisputably that pro-
hibltion does not prohibit In other counties
II we did not have at the dispensary the
positive evidence then this cry that m
from dry countles furnishes all the proof that
might be necessary to convince a man who
ls open to conviction.
But suppose. the blind tigers. are a less
evil than the dispensary-which we. dc
not admit. Can lany man Inn aglne tina,
there is enough difference to warrant sensi-
BILE people, when are clothed in their righl
mind 10 throw away $4,000 annually?
Could any man In his right mind contend
that the existence Of the dlspensary at Able
| Vile Court House which contributes $4,000
To their support is worth nothing to the
schools OF the cpunty9 $40, 900 enables the
people TO get good teachers at better salaries,
and l. enables the people 10 keep the school
open for the full school term.
Would any reasonable or fair minded man
cut of $50, 900 from the roads and bridges or
ordinary county purposes, because OF any
imaginary advantage that might come from
The substsititlon OF the blind tigers for thu
dispensary?
Would any conscientious and honest school
trustee In Abbeville County contend thai
there Is a difference OF s29, 900 in favor of III,
blind tigers as against the dispensary?
MAKING A lying BY Id AROUND !
or course extra pious men who make a gooI
living by simply handing around a hat OF
Sunday morning, or who may be presente,
With big fees which have been collected b.
their l~ieutenants, may boot and talk abou
"blood money" Men may rise up in thei
pulpits and convert them into politics
stumps, where the speeches Of oongressmel
may be read, where slang about band wagons
fools and liars may be pronounced. That 4
all good enough In Its way, II people do no
object to such utterances in their holy TEN
plee; but the fact remains that money Ia
very real thing which need not be throw
away because Of the utterance airy nothing
By men who have studied what others say @
theology, but who know little or nothing
the SORROWS OF the poor.
This warfare by salaried gentlemen agains
the Interest of those who support them AM
sustain the church Is not Justified. The grea
mass Of people are heavily taxed for both til
church and the State. The vast majority o
the people are enabled TO earn money b!
daily toll. It may be on the farm or In th
shop. By economy and self denial they ar
enabled to pay the church assessments ant
the State taxes. Does 1t come with goot
grace from those who toll not nor do the!
spin to mislead the people into unwisely o
unthoughtlessly throwing away their schoo
money? The throwing away OF the schoo
money means less comfortable school houses
poorer paid teachers and shorter schoo
terms.
The throwing away Of $4,000 for ordinar!
county purposes must NECESSARILY add al
additional burden TO the shoulders OF the ta1
payers.
CAN'T AFFORD TO RUIN THE PEOPLE.
While we might be able and willing Il
throw away 500 200, we cannot afford Il
demoralize and to make %drunkards OF on
people by nourishing and supporting blint
tigers.
LUG COuuLy VI hUUCflllc oWCp q oOoO "
$50, 900 on the new court house. While no
one cent Of dispensary money goes into thu
payment for that building. yet the tax
on this county is already high enough. I
the people of this county are LEI
10 throw away $50, 900 Of our income our tasl
masters will then add $4,000 to our taxes.
A FORTUNE.
D,op nnroaadanta contamination ~ or
cumstances this county has become tn
luckiest, or the most fortunate of all thu
Counties.
Without selling much to our people
and without increasing the former evils, tht
voting out ofthe dispensaries In the State o
Georgia and In other counties OF this Stat
a great fortune has been thrown to AbbeviLl
county. Must this county then cast away thu
chance of life time? Shall our schools per
ish or suffer because of ANY mistake ir
voting out the dispensary and the consequen
loss OF 10000. Shall our people be foreve
hewers of wood and drawers OF water whel
we have a legacy offered to US by Georgia
Is 1t not better to be sensible, and realize thu
and accept the chance that is now offered G
realizing unprecedented profits by keeping
out the blind tigers? The chance may neve
come again. There will nc doubt be changes
In Georgia as we'll as changes in our owl
nelghboring dry counties. We will hav'
competitors In a little while. New market
will be opened, and buyers OF liquor will no
always come to Abbeville for their grog
There is no friend 80 true as a dollar or two
When that friend is here or wants to conn
shall we shut the door in his face? No; II W