Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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MCLAURIN ATTACKS Former Senator Cha] herent in the Sys [Bot J)illon. .luly IS. - Senator McLau rin in his speech herc today 6aid: Thc people of this country arc al ways, when aroused and convinced, ready to check or destroy any public enterprise, institution, or law, which forbodes certain future evil, and threatens to sap the foundation of the public peace, for public good or pub lic morality. Kor V.i years the people if South Carolina have been watching the unique dispensary system, and have patiently awaited the result of the experiment. They have at last been roused to a recognition of the fact that the sale of liquor by the fctalc is inimical to the spirit and ge nius of our political institutions, sub versive of the order and peace of so ciety, demoralizing in its effects, and is breeding a generation of political cowards, rum suckers, drunkards and criminals; its destruction is sure. The c-ngine of public opinion, tho mightiest force in a free government like ours, is moving to crush like a juggernaut those who have upheld and maintained it. Heretofore when opposition to the dispensary manifested itself, or pro tests were made against its honest ad ministration, the cry has been raised that it was the wailingB and foolish action of "fanatical women and preachers" who dream dreams and see visions. Now when the people aro generally manifesting opposition to the system and its administration, thc cry is that the people are enthused by ignorance, know not what they are doing, and have no right to exercise their sovereign power by voting the dispensaries out of counties, but that it must be done by all the people of State in a general election; that the system inherently is a good one, but haB been maladministercd, and that it ought to be left to the general assem bly to correct the abuses in its ad ministration. The admission has at last been forced that thc dispensary law has not been faithfully and effi ciently administered. Why has not this admission been made before, when it haB been known by those in timately connected with the admin istration or the law that there have been abuses from its very incep tion. No, this cry that the people them selves should not vote the dispensary out by counties is the same old cry of 1892, when the dispensary system was forced upon the people of the State by the general assembly; notwith standing it had been determined at the ballot box that the people wanted prohibition. This is all clap trap, and this talk about submitting it to all of the people in a general election is nothing but a political trick born in the brain of its originator to post pone action on the part of the coun ties and retain the system. If thc people of tho State should vote upon the question and overwhelmingly de cide to destroy the diepenBary, what guarantee have they that the legisla ture would repeal the law? The samo one man power that had the legisla ture to enact tho dispensary law in defiance of the vote of the people for prohibition, will have the legis lature to continue it in existence in defiance of the vote to destroy the system. This cry of submitting the question to all of the people in a general elec tion is practically saying to the peo ple of the counties you are noi compe tent to vote on this question, that the general assembly alone is, and it must be left to this wise and unerring body tobe determined asa political ques tion. It is the same old "ass in the lion's skin," the diotation of the one man power, and the object is to take from the people the right to decide for themselves and to leave it to others to decide for them. If true it is a sad commentary upon the intelli gence of our people, and rash indeed is the man who dares to oast insult into the faces of his fellow citizons. This is trifling with thc rights and liberty, as well as the intelligence of the sovereign people of South Caro lina. The liquor question is morally and politically local in ita charaoter, what will do in one co an ty will fail in another. I ?si one who has implicit confi dence in the honesty, good practical sense and judgment of the people. They may be deceived sometimes, and are often by demagogue and time serving politicians; but in time they always detect an error and are manly and patriotic enough to admit it and to rise up in their might and correct their mistakes. The people of this State, notwithstanding tho dispensary 'system was forced upon them, have been disposed to give it a fair trial, to condone everything evil growing out ot its administration, to submit to the X /law, distasteful as it was, and give aid _/,./. id its enforcement but after a fair DISPENSARY SYSTEM. rges Corruption is In ?tem Kr om Top to tom. tiial they feel that the experiment has been a failure, that it has been productive of bloodshed, murder, diunkards, crime, and all of the other evils growing out of the State as hoad barkeeper, and putting the bottle to the mouths of its citizens. Being thus convinced they have determined in many counties to rise up in their might and vote out thc dispensary. This is a legal right, and yet they are told they have no such right. Away with such clap trap. I am in favor of leaving the question to the people of the county, as they have a right to pass upon it, and I feel that they will not be deterred by the cajolery or threats of any man from asserting this right. I believe the only practical way for the people nf the State to rid them selves of tl dispensary is to vote it out by counties. If this ooursc is not pursued, and thc question is remitted to the general assembly the responsi bility of repealing thc law is cast upon tho legislature, and wo will see a repe tition of thc legislative subterfuges of IS?2. The fact that the advocates of thc dispensary are endeavoring to have the election in Piokens County deolared illegal, shows how far they dare go in defeating the popular will. Those cleaving to tho dispensary feel just as I do, that thc only way to kill the dispensary is to vote it out by counties, and they aro determined to prevent this if possible So that you sec that all of thc talk about tho dis pensary system being such a good one, and that its only faults arc in its ad ministration, is simply an apology for fastening this immoral institution upon the people. Is it the cry of ! those who desire to hold on to a poli tical machine to return thora to office. It is thc selfish advocacy of an insti tution which has brought the emolu ments of office to them. It is not the part of true patriotism which would rid thc Stato speedily of this hydra headed monster. Felic * citizens, I am opposed to the dispensary syBtem. First. Because it is a hug^ monop oly on the part of the State, and pre sents the spectacle of a State in com petition with its citizens in business not governmental. If the State has a right to engage in the whiskey busi ness, why not in any line of merchan dise? Can any distinction be made? Last winter a measure wan brought before our general assembly to put the State in the fertilizer business. This was a mere travesty upon our dispen sary system. Tho measure did not pass, and this was a taoit admission that the State had no right to engage in the rum business. Recently the supreme court of Kansas held an aot un constitutional whioh provided for the Stato engaging in the oil business in order to give competition to the Stan dard oil oompany. And the dootrine of that court is in accord with the common law, the letter and spirit of the federal and reate constitution, as well us tho genius of our democratic institutions. It is true that the United States supreme court has held that the dispensary law is constitu tional, but it was by a divided court, a majority of one in favor of the decis ion. While I would not charge our highest court with anything wrong, yet its decision on the income tax and other questions furnish grounds for suspicion as to its always strict adherence to constitutional law and justice. The very idea of a State monopolizing any business to the positive disadvantage of its oitizens is repellant to common sense and judg ment. Thc functions of government must be entrusted to agents, and ijt is tho sad experience of tho past -that public officers are not so faithful, so diligent and so economical as indivi duals. Take for illustration the dis pensary law. . The State has over a $1,000,000 invested. What profits aro realized from this mammoth mo nopoly? Not over $200,000, if so muoh. Any aggregation of indivi duals having a monopoly of the whis key business in this State with the capital would double the profits made by the State. I have been informed that a wealthy gentleman of Charles ton, who has been a merchant for years, offered to give the State $500, 000 to allow him the monopoly of sell ing whiskey io the State under the restrictions of the dispensary law. No State can manage any business as successfully as individuals, outside its governmental functions, through its official agents without corruption, bribery and other forms of rascality growing out of it as naturally as spirks fly upwards. The State is within its constitutional orbit only when it is in tho discharge of its gov ernmental responsibilities, and when 'it goes outsido of this, it is an er ratic ?star in. our constellation of S tate 3. Second. I am opposed to the dispen sary law because it places the State in the position of a barkeeper, and lowers its standard of right and mor ality to the level of thc barkeeper. Io the earlier history of the institution its crea'.or actually had placed on every bottle of whiskey sold a palmetto tree, and thia advertised to the world the infamy of a State as a barkeeper. In . this country souio of the States by repudiation have brought upon their people the infamy of dishonesty, but this infamy is not everlasting, as it is possible for it to be wiped out by fu ture honesty, ^cjuth Carolina will go down in history' as the barkeeping State of this union, as the debaucher of its own citizens and thc infamy thus brought upon her will be ever lasting, as no future condonation can restore a debauched and degraded citi zenship. We are accustomed t<> abuse the whiskey seller as one who puts the bottle to the mouth of his fellow man and thus seduce him to drink to in toxication and degrade himself. What difference is there when the State does thc same thing. Thc idea of a State by its offered allurements willfully de basing its own citizens by giving them drink and making them drunkards is abhorrent to the thinking, virtuous,pa triotic citizen, and yet this is what thc State ia doing and has been doing for years, through the dispensary law. ? State in the American union, a com ponent part of one of the greatest gov ernments on earth, should preserve its dignity and have some regard for the good name of the United States. Has South Carolina done this? She enjoys; today the unenviable distinc tion of being head barkeeper for her own citizens and of thus lowering the dignity and character of one of the sovereign States of tho union. Is it not time for her to retrace her steps? Tbc repeal of tho dispensary law will not ontirely remove the obloquy which has been brought upon it, but it will BIIOW to the world that the State has repented of her folly and will in the future maintain her dignity as a State. Third. I am opposed to thc dispen sary law because of its demoralizing effects in making whiskey selling, whiskey drinking and drunkenness reputable. It was claimed that the main object of thu dispensary law was to manage thc evil of whiskey drink ing and drunkenness. Has it accom plished this object? The effect of whiskey drinking can generally be measured by the amount of crime it produces. It is ao established fact that since the dispensary law was passed there has beeo a gradual in crease of crime in the State. This gradual increase of crime may be safe ly attributed to the increase of the sale of whiskey, for it is a faot that there is more whiskey sold in the State to day than ever was before through the dispensary and blind tigers. What has tho State done for the last few years? Instead of diso mraging the sale of whiskey it has encouraged it by offering for sale eheaper and bettei whiskey, and by forcing dispensaries ia prohibition counties to make it easily obtainable by all. Dispensers who sell the most whiskey aro com mended, while those who are not so diligent are soon displaced. The dis pensaries are filled with captivating drinks of all kinds to entice person? to buy. What a speotacle for the State to debauch its citizen s with whis key and thus to encourage them tc commit crime, and then prosecute them in the courts and send them tc the penitentiary for crimes commit ted under the influence of the wbiskej upon which the State has pocketed the profits. And yet there are good ! people in the State who aro pleased tc oall the dispensary a moral institution I have no hesitation in asserting that the dispensary system has been mon demoralizing in South Carolina th M the old barroom system. Fourth. I am opposed to the systen beoause of the oorrption io it. Cor ruption is inherent in any system liki the dispensary, it is neoessarily ai incident to its administration. Thi only way that it can bo prevented ii to destroy the system. It oan neve: be eliminated by any legislature, o tho most honest and rigid - investiga tors. If a man associates with whis key every day, und lives in the atmos phere of it, he will naturally and inov tably be oorrupted. This has been thi experienoe of the ages. I heafd of ai instanoe a few years ago of a Presby terian elder who was appointed a dis penser in ono of the towns of thi State, in about nine months afte the appointment tho assistant attor ney gonoral was sent down to investi gate him. He found him short in hi accounts about $1,200 and drunk. Th party confessed to the officer that h waa a Christian when he was appoint ed a dispenser, but by drinking, sell ing at night, and to minors and othe small violations of law, he had grad nally fallen to the lowest depths, neve to riso. Of course, this TS an extrem oase, but tho corruption in every ons will surely work its way, and in th end destroy. Think of the opportun ities to make money in tho bnsioee by tho agents of the State. If & die penser ia dishonest or has been dc bauohed, how much money o?n h make by adding a little water to th whiskey. I believe, h o wo vcr, tba the most corruption had been at the fountaiu head of this institution. Kver since the system has been adopted there has been whisperings and iourdoes that there was corrup tion there. Who has not heard of rebates in connection with the' Ktate board of control? Here is an article from a Charlotte paper which speaks for itself. If county dispensers are thuB bribed, what may be done by whiskey sellers at the fouutain head, and who can tell what has been done there. When you think of tho scram bling before the legislature for com missioner and members of State board of control which paya but little, what other conclusion can you reach thar that their positions have alluring perquisites? I believe there was more corruption ir. the Grat years, than now, it was only tho favored few then, now, it is in smaller slices so thc watermelon will go all around. Rebates arc at IcaBt accounted for now, and go into the State treasury. (Joly God and bc who received them know where they went in 1893 and 1894. It is the system not the men, ' the present management is about as good as any they have had, and it is not fair to attempt to th von all the blame on them with the coward cry of "stop thief!'' The ruae is too old to work. Fifth. I am opposed to the dispen sary law because it now is and has been a huge political machine-a one man political power, and for the pur pose of perpetuating this one man power. It needs no argument to show that I am right, for it is as apparent as the noonday sun to the people that this political machine exists. Those who have watched the politics of this State for the last ten years, are blind, indeed, to deny its existence. During this period no man could aspire to office with any hope of success with out at least having the good will of the head officer of the institution. During this period no legislation who Becnicd inimical to the leaders could be secured. Why? Because the po litical power of the machine has been exerted upon the legislature in various and insidious ways. And the reason that it has been suggested that it be left to the legislature to determine the fate of the dispensary is thc hope that this vast and powerful political machine may bring its influence tc bear upon that body and save the in stitution. I congratulate those whe oppose the di?p-nsjiy upon the happy omen of ih\> time. It seems that the people of the State at present are en deavoring to free themselves fros this domino?" jg political machine, ant are in ope;, revolt against it. N< wonder the head of thc machine wishes to check the revolt by opposing counties voting out dispensaries With the downfall of the politics machine many office holders in Soutl Carolina will be decapitated. Then will be many now high in authority to "hang their harps on the willow,1 and bev ail in doleful accents thoi fate. It is by only breaking down th dispensary system that this politioa machine can be destroyed, and I hop that the sober and thinking people o the State will rise in their might am destroy both. I may be asked after the dispensar; system is destroyed, what then? M; poeition is this'- Let tho counties vote out the dispensaries, and after this is 'accomplished, let the people decide what shall he substituted for the dis pensary system, whether prohibition will he best, or whether prohibition in certain counties will best subserve thc wellbeing of the State and be more practicable. An old Roman senator in the senate concluded all his speech es with the words, "Carthage must be destroyed," and left it to the good sense and judgment of the people of Rome as to what thpn must be done. So I say that the dispensary must be destroyed, and I leave it to tho good sense and wisdom of the people of South Carolina to say what shall then be done.-The State. Col. Watterson's Stying's New York, August 2.-Comparing the American aud European types of aristocracy, Col. Henry Watterson, who returned Co day on the steamer Oceanic from a trip to Europe, said: "I observed Europe aristocracy pret ty closely while I was over there, and I have arrived at tho conclusion that foreign aristocracy is of a much better grade than the American article. There aristocracy means lineage and brains. Here-well it ranges chiefly from bad whiskey to Standard Oil." Mr. Watterson said be had read the accounts of the scandal ir. the depart ment of agriculture and added: "I have often wondered how so many scientific men, connected with the Government at comparatively small salaries, could live so well. It only goes to show that the college man is not a success in politics." - A movement is on foot among the wealthy Hebrews in New York city who have lived io the South to start a fund for the erection of a mon ument to the Jewish soldiers who served in the Confederate Army. It is olaimed that there were not less than 15,000 Hebrews who wore the grey and they proved their gallantry on many a bloody field. It is recalled that the first surgeon general of the Confederate Army was of this fai*h. He was Gen. David De Leon, it is proposed to have a co operation of members of the faith from all sections of tho South in this movement, and, no doubt is felt that funds will be quickly raised for a magnificent me morial to be erected in some place in the South. Richmond, Atlanta and New Orleans have been mentioned as suitable places for such a monument, but ail."irs have not progressed suffi ciently as yet to warrant a serious dis cussion of the site. - A wife is an awful nice thing not to take along on a pleasure trip. - It makes a girl blush even to have a young man ask her to go buggy riding. - Everybody's morality needs a good strong tonic every once in so often. - A girl of that kind has red hair unless she has money to make it au burn. - It takes a man of 50 to be as big a fool over women as he thinks a young one of 25 is. - A girl is only indignant with you if you try to kiss her; she is ripping mad if you don't. - Every woman ought to have an allowance so she can tell her husband how muoh too small it is. - A married man's idea of being in heaven is being a bachelor again. Bi Say Plainly to Your Grocer That you want LION COFFEE always, and he, being a square mau, will not try to. ee? you any thing else. You may not care tor our opinion, but What About the United Judgment of Millions ot housekeepers wno have used HON COFFEE for over a quarter off a century ? Ia there any stronger proof ofmerit, than the Confidence of the People and ? ver increasing popularity V LION COFFEE Ss carefully EC lected at the plantation, supped direct to oar various laclarles, where It ts skin fully roasted and j carefully packed ia sealed pack ages-unlike loose co?fee, wklcla ls exposed to germs, dust, to? sects, eic. LION COFFEE rea ekes yoo as pure and clean as when lt left tke factory. Sold only In fi lb. packages. . Lion-head on every package. Save these Lion-heads for valuable premiums. SOLD BY GROCERS EVERYWHERE -WOOLSON SPICE CO., Toledo, Ohio, BEWARE OF SUMMER GERMS. Will Cause bick ness Unless Stomach is Strengthened WithMiio-na. If tho etomaoh ia weak 80 that food OGS not readily digest it, the food rill become a sour, slimy, formen t ag mass in tho digestive organs, the deal condition for germs to oauao owel trouble, diarrhoea, or other nmtnev illness. . ? The well known Mi-o na Will make be whole digestive system so healthy, lean and sweet that food cannot orme Pt, and any disease germs which ?-iV eater tho stomach will be destroy a. ? ???? Jost one small tablet put of a 50 cent bos of Mi-o-na before eating, and you will have no headaches, baok aohe, poor appetite, distress aft ar eating, heartburn, furred tongue, sleeplessness, or general / debility. I?, will tone up ?bc digestive sys* tfri 4fad give perfect health and strength. Take Mi-o-oa now. aodEvaus Phar m aoy will guaran tc 3 to refund the money if it docs oot caro. Tho f?ftt is all theirs. 9? H li B^B fl fl UH fl nfafli j^SI??UMfc|J . I For Infants and Children rllii i ; The Kind You Have A\?getable Prc pacation For As similating the Food andRcguIa ting the Stomachs andBowels of lMVVN 1S/C H lI.DKliN Promoles DigeslionCheerful nessandRest.Confains neither Opium,Morphine nor Mineral. T?OT >?A?C OTIC . fkttpe QfOU?rS?KUllPtTaiER PivrtjJ?n Seal'' ,1 Ix Sr; j ul * CtanfitJ Sugar A perfect Remedy for Cons Upa Ilon, Sour Stomach, Diarrhoea Worms .Convulsions .Feverish ness and Loss OF SliEEP. Facsimile Signature oP NEW YORK. A I {j VI i i Oil th %V.'r> 1 tl DSl.S'r 5>< ' EXACT COPY.QFIWRAPPERJ For Infants and Children, The Kind You Have Always Bought This Establishment has been Selling IN ANDERSON for more than forty years. During all that time competitors have come and gone, but we have remained right here. We have always sold Cheaper than any others, and during those long years we have not had one dis satisfied customer. Mistakes will sometimes occur, and if at any time wo found that a customer was dissatisfied we did not rest until we had made him satisfied. This policy, rigidly adhered to, has made us friends, true and last ing, and we can Bay with pride, but without boasting, that we have the confi dence of the people of this section. We have a larger Stook of Goods thia i season than we have ever had, and we pledge you oar word that we have never I sold Furniture at cs close a margin of profit as we are doing now. This is ; proven by the fact that we are selling Furniture not only all over Anderson County but in every Town in the Piedmont section. Come and see us. Your parents saved money by baying from us, and yea and your children cnn save money by buying ho re soo. We carry EVERYTHING- ia the Furniture Rae?. Gs, F* T?LLY &. SON- Depot street. The Old Reliable Furniture Dealers A LONG LOOK AHEAD A man thinks it is when the matter of life insurance suggests itself-but circumstan ces of late have shown how life hangs bv a thread when war, flood, hurricane and firs suddenly overtakes you, and tho only waj to be sure that your family is protected in case of calar \\ty overtaking yon ia to in sure in a soLd Company like The Mutual Benefit Life Ins. Go. Drop in and see ns about it. M. ML, MATT?SON, ?.STATE AGENT, Peoplee' Bank Building, ANDERSON, O 8. ARMOUR'S GUANO MD ACID. ALSO, COTTON SEED MEAL. If yon want High Grade Gooda wo will be glad to sell yon?. Splendid lino cf . FliOXJB, COFFEE, TOBACCO, fm OATS AND CORN, We want yonr trade. VANDIVER BROS; Fresh Shipment just in-all the varieties that grow well in this section. Fruit -Jaxs,.'f^t> <f?r Tops and Fruit Jar Rubbers. - - - - Phone188. HMM ^;9? STBIOKLAM). ";? DE?TTI BW. Office over Farmers ano Merchants Bank, Ande J Boa, S. fl. ?