The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-09-17
TRIUMPH OF RIGHT.

sale OF liquor won SlSndi NICtory
Tuesday when by a vote of nearly
three to one they said that after the
first of January next 1t should not be
manufactured or sold in the state.
1t is surprising that the will of the
people has so long been thwarted.
For the past quarter of century, at
least, the majority OF the people OF
South Carolina have been opposed to
the liquor traffic. but demagogues
and politicians have forced it upon
them About twenty-three years ago
the matter was submitted to the vot-
ers at the polls, and by majority
of at least 10000. they declared
against the legalized sale of liquor,
but when the bill was introduced in
the legislature to carry out the will
of the people, Tillman, the then gov
ernor, who dominated the legislature,
forced them to enact the Athens
Georgia Larry CAN'T dispensary meas
ure. the greatest liquor selling,
money stealing Temperance abortion
the guise of a temperance measure.
At different times afterwards the
people struggled to free themselves
of this so-called Great Moral Institu-
ton. but this same Tillman,i by
characterizing them as "hypocrits"
and their ministers, who were raising
their voices against it, as being 'in
league with the devil" succeeded in
prolonging It's life. But the oppo-
nents of liquor never ceased their ef-
forts to Danish it from the state.
Step by step. they pressed the fight.
The big octopus. the state institu-
ton. was abolished and under the
Brice law the people of each county
were given the right to say whether
or not it should be sold. Under this
law county after county voted dry
until out of "A counties only Is re-
manned wet. A stubborn fight was
made in the legislature against the
statewide prohibition law, but it was
enacted. The demagogues and poll
ticians fought against it, knowing
full we'll that if the people had the
opportunity of expressing their will
it meant that liquor must go.
But only the first line of entrench-
ments has been taken. The next
battle is to be with the blind tigers,
noot-leggers and their sympathizers,
among whom will be found these
same demagogues and politicians,
and they are n formidable combina-
ton. The temperance forces should
keep up their organization and make
public sentiment so strong that Off
GERS of the law will not fail to en-
force the law. Governor Manning
hrs pledged himself to law enforce
ment and called upon the people to
rally to his support. With this sup
port the law can be enforced. There
is enough right sentiment in every
community to enforce the law If 1t
will but crystaliZe and make it's pow
er felt. 1t will not do for a COM
munity to allow the law to be vio-
lated until some good citizen is
killed in his effort to enforce it. and
then for the people to rise in their
might and take the law in their own
hands. Such a thing happened in
Kentucky few days ago. Blind
tigers had been operating in de-
fiGnce of the law for long time A
warrant was sworn out by a young
man against one of the tigers, who,
becoming enraged thereat, shot and
killed the man and a deputy sheriff
was also killed. The community was
SO outraged ha it arose as one
man, drove twenty-siX blind tigers
''om the community and poured out
all of their liquor If officers Of the
law would but do their duty sucn
acts of violence would never take
place.
/, We might as well face the situa-
ton. The next battle is to be against
the Illicit sale of liquor, but the sup
porters of law and order will win II
they will but prepare for the fight.
The enactment of the law is only the
beginning OF the battle. Let every
lover CT law and order enlist for
action.