The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-15
The Prohibition Question.

as many of them seem inclined to do.
1t is common thing to hear men
say that prohibition is now a settled
issue, and that people should give
their attention to other matters of
more importance. This suggestion
appeals strongly to people who do
not think; but to those who take a
correct and comprehensive view of
conditions not as they would like to
have them. but as they are, it ap-
pears only as the deceit of the enc
my.
The liquor question is not dead,
and what is more, the probability is
that it never will die. 1t is true that
the sale Of liquor has been outlawed
in many counties of South Carolina,
and it looks as if there is no proba-
bility Of its revival; but this is a very
deceptive appearance. The appetite
for whiskey is as strong as ever, and
so is the greed for the gold that is to
ne made by satisfying that appetite.
That the whole thing will be bobbing
to the fore again when those who
would forbid least suspect, is as sure
as the coming of the seasons.
There is no business under the sun
that appeals more strongly to the Gu
pidity and the appetites of men than
does the liquor business, and herein
is the secret Of the tremendous
strength of the enemy to be fought.
In communities where liquor has
flowed freely until large numbers are
besodden, it is easy to arouse the
public conscience to put down the
evil; but SO soon as the evil begins
to hide it's head, the public conscience
subsidies and the process starts over
again.
Only few years ago, Greenville
county arose against the liouor busi-
ness and voted the evil out. Every
body rejoiced for the time being. The
good work, however, was not followed
up by enforcement of the law. Ti-
gers thrived here and there, and most
of the appetites that already existed
were supplied along while new ones
were being created, until now there is
enough appetite to demand free and
easy access to more abundant sup
plies. There Is a movement for an
other election and the outlook is that
the county is going back to the liq-
uor business like a dog returning to
its vomit.
Some time ago there was q sugges-
tion in the hearing of the writer, al
legged to have come from a prominent
politician, outlining what great
scheme it would be to vote the dis
pensary back into York county so as
10 permit the establishment of lia-
uor shop in Rock Hill that could ca
ter to all dry territory in North and
South Carolina. The maker of the
suggestion painted an alluring picture
of tho big revenue that could be de-
rived, sufficient to pay the expenses
of the city and county; but said not
a word Of the increased debauchery
of the people and the certain corrup-
tion that would grow cut of the ZEN
terprise."
If Greenville county goes back to
her liquor selling, people may we'll
look for a rapid spread of the move
ment to the other counties. The spread
of the re-establishment of the dispen-
saries, we fear will be swifter than
was the movement to vate them out
This will certainly be true, if there
Is any relaxation of vigilance on the
part of the people who have Tough.
liquor out Of the State down to the
few strongholds it is now occupying.
Our reference to the few strong
holds" is TO the counties in which liu-
uor is being legally sold 1t is more
than absurd not to recognize the fact
that the evil still has a footing in ev-
cry county. Men cannot get rid of
facts merely by refusing to see them.
In spite Of what is being done in
York county, liquor is still being sold
in large quantities and the Illicit sale
is gaining rather than losing ground.
II those who have fought the scod
night so far would prevail in the end,
they must continue to exercise vigil
lance. They must exercise their in
fuence for the enforcement of the
law; they must incur risk and trolble.
otherwise they may look to @re the
liquor business restored in all Of its
debauchery and with all of it's hor-
rors.-Yorkville Enquirer.