The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-06-09
"Give Both Of Them Hail Columbia"

| DeDsAry or DllUQ llBeTs. IL III Iiihu, WV
is about as bad as the other. What every
good citizen-such az the editor OF the Press
and Ba~nuer-should do, Is 10 fight botn WIN
ali his might. There is no excuse Tor a man
who claims to be q temperance man, support
Ing either the dlSpensary or The bllnu Tiger
Give both of them hail
What this country needs Is temperance
teaching. 1.-THE press and the pulpit would
talk more Of the dangers OF tampering with
intoxicants we would waste less money for
LIQUOR and We would have less drunkenness.
The sensible and level head Ledger almost
excltes us to deliver a speech on the evils re-
sultipg from the lack of care In parents to
teach their children temperance habits III
all men were like the editors OF the Press and
Banner and the Gatfney Ledger county dis-
pensers would lose their jobs.
Without bringing charges against any oedy
and without knowing whereof we speak, we
think some mothers are responsible for the
drunkenness of their sons. We have seen IT
stated by q physician of some degree OF dis
"linc,lou that no woman who expects 10 be b
mother should drink intoXicapts, or words 10
that effect. The world knows that q nursing
mother is careful of her food. Ifshe must be
careful of her food, is 1t not equally certain
that she ought to be careful OF her drink,
| eSpSCIulS "hSA NAth
water, or beer. And then some mothers give
their coIlicky babies a little whiskey to soothe
them go as to bring on sleep, without ever
thinking that they are implanting the fatal
thirst.
Can the child who takes in the thirst Tor
whiskey in It's mothers milk, or who Is fed
from a spoon with diluted whiskey. expect
to escape drunkenness? What can a
mother expect of a child that Is led upon
" hiskey and beer and other slops from ls
earliest exietence? II the infant has not
sufficient natural nouristment, let the old
gentleman OF the house buy IN a COW or two.
That is the way.
Bottled or canned goods. II is said, puts un-
told numbers OF children In their graves, and
those that are I'D intoxicants with their hTst
br cath can surely depend upon having The
thirst for liquor we'll grounded into them.
Let our newspapers and our preachers teach
temperance, ard we will have neither dlspen'
saries nor blind tigers.
Our testimony would be that the Illicit
traffic In liquor is the worst form Of dealing
In 1t, at least, as far as Abbeville is concerned.
One ~inIquity Of the proposed substitution
of the blind tiger for the dispensary Is, tha''
as lar as we Informed, no adequate provision
wa S made for the enforcement OF prohloitlon.
AS a rule, prohibitlopists throw up the
sponge as soon as they vote, or as soon az
they succeed in getting a prohibitory law.
When laws are made for q special purpose
the Legislature usually elects an officer for
that purpose, and then makes an approprih-
| ton to pay him. Isn't IL so In the RAILROAD
Conmissi or; insurance protection; child
labor in cotton mills; the protection OF birds,
etc, ETC..
But, we are ~unacquainted with any pro-
vision as to enforcing prohibition. 1t seems
to US that the main dependence for enforcing
that law is upon the treachery Of white man
who might induce a negro to sell him a half
pint.
or course the man who induces aEother
to sell a pint OF liquor is as morally guilty az
the man who receives the money, and when
he reports his victim, how is it possible for a
reasonable and honorable public not to see
which ofthe two suffers most In the ompro-
mise OF character? An oficer might lay a
trap 10 catch violators OF the law, but any
idea that q decent prohibitionist would do
any such thing, is not 10 be thought of for one
moment. We do not believe that there Is In
the State a prohibitionlst who would 30 COM
promise himself. II such a thing may be
lawful, but never to be approved. A gentle
man should neither mislead nor betray. II
there was 8 fight against liquor the Gafney
Ledger would be sure 10 find us In the fore
front Of the ranks, but when 1t Is proposed to
Substitute the best form of liquor dealing
for the worst and most degrading system
we must protest.
We accord sincerely OF purpose TO those who
seem 80 anxious to restore the worst form OF
dealing with liquor. They are honest, but
they are mistaken. We think prohibition
lists, as a rule. are as good as anybody else.
But we do not see how practical, sensible
and conscientious men can set themselves
to either the flooding Of this county with
| LIQUOR or 10 the ts king Of this towp Annually
In a large sum to enforce the law, which
large sum should have been legally taxed up
against the county. Last year this town
spent about S4,l00 for police. Including the
street overseer who divides bis time In en-
| forcing law and order. Why did Prohibition
lists in the Legislature dodge the levying Of
tax TO enforce their favorite law: 9
How can they expect the town OF Abbevllle
TO shoulder the duty which the prohibition
lists Of the Legislature should have saddled on
| the people Of the " hole county? 1s there an
| intelligeEt and fair mi ded man In Abbeville
county who would place that burden upon
| the town of Abbeviile while evading or ca
Gaping his own duty? And then can reason
able and sensible people oithe county expect
the town Of Abbeville 10 volunteer 10 pay q
tax that is not morally or legally their own
obligation? Abberille Is now heavily taxed
for schools and school houses. II the people
should vote 10 cut eff our income, does any.
body think that Abbeville will pay the
tax which the Legislature may have
Thought we would pay for Others? What
would you do In or under the circumstances,
as the case might bt? You might pay our
taxes, but the act would be unprecedented.
And Abbeville city may incur a debt OF 81, 1000
a year TO enforce the law for other people
We shall see. While this town will likely
have sufficient policemen TO lock up and fine
all such as get drunk, Abbeville may not
spend any more than We can collect by fines
This newspaper has always commended for
what II conceived 10 be the right. We are
| for temperance now and forever. but re can
not join forces with anybody to bring about
| con fusi on and disorder, however good and
honest they may be. We may be depended
upon 10 resent and to oppose the effort OF all
men, no matter whether they are double
barreied or clerical politicians or simply
| designing enemies who would shirk their
share OF taxes which may be necessary to
| enforce their favorite law.
AImOst auybOcy can aSSumeguperiOr