Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-01-24

BY RICHARD ROE,

DsaR SPIRIT: Some three or four years
since was guilty. OF the indiscretion, to
call u by no hsrsher name, % running
for the Legislature, in the county Of
Pcrsimmou, State Of Hoosier. Tho par
~ by which ! was nominated and cup
ported had clear majoai.y Of three hun
cred IN the county, and, Of course, my
election was n fixed fact. AZ least ]
thought 60, until about three weeks be.
fore the election. About that time the
fret wave Of tho Maine Law excit ement
reached the State, and ugly questions
begun to be put to me by voters Of both
parties.
/ To take q position 90 either eide was
dangerous, and lodging seemed the only
safe policy. Fortunately had never be-
loDgei to my temperance society. That
Satisfied most % the antics. On the 9TH
er hand, had never drank anything
stronger than coffee, and the Temperance
men took it for granted, was one Of
! them
Things vent on pretty smoothly in the
canvass, and | ard my opponent were TO
make our IA tspeeches in one OF the back
township', on the Saturday preceding
tbe election.
1t was hard place for n temperance
man, and was most thoroughly cross
examined during NV speech 10 TO what
my antec.dents were ia connection with
temperance societies, ami especially
whether belonged To the Sens Of Tenn.
perance; this order being the peculiar
abOmination in tho neiehborhood. Ny
answer seemed to satisfy the sovereigns
and was congratulat,Dg myself thai
the last ordeal was passed.
] was slightly mistaken. Some malic.
ions political adversary had whispered
it about in the crowd, that ! oould no,
bear the taste Of whisky. Thu was q
serious and dangcrinr charge, AMI my
friends, without consulting me, dcterm-
incl that convincing proof Of its false
hood should be given, before left the
ground. Tom W about as hard u
case NJ the n.ighborhooj afforded, was
selected as a committee cf one, TO carry
out their resolution.
.Ju-, a. had monnte! my horse q
leave, Tom approached mo with brim-
ming tunbler OF new whiskey in hi,
hand, and asked me to Zine tn, boys in
horn"
glanced At the crowd, AMI saw TIA,
ut least Fifty votes were hanging IN the
scale. |; was M time to deliberate, u nd
couple OF swallows OF as villain ~,
whIskcy as ever came from u still, found
their way down my throat.
4 grant Of approval frum the crowd
told their Qualifications; but ] was deter
mineI to have my revenge for the mar.
tvrdcm ! had suffered. Leaning owe,
towards Tom 10 confidential Wv.
said
tom, carry better liquor , an thai.
"The devil" said Tom, do you carry
u bottle"
Certainly do. Bu. you must kee,
dark and not let the fellows in town know
about it,
This was degree OF soundness on IL,
temperance question m3 friends had no,
dare to hope to iind ~ me. /. WAS liz,
marrying n woman for beautr, and hod
ing she bad fortune besides.
By the time the crowd had gathered
around u. ! hal extracted from ms
saddie-bags IA bottle Of extract Of ginger
and handed tito Tcm, NTH an invitation
TO 'irv it,
Ten ai TRY it,
"Lori gement,.v," grasped he, az The
burning compound took possession of hi.
mouth and throat.
What is thai! watcr-watcr- wa.
ter'
told him it was tenth proof brandy;
aud the crowd unanimously sw0re tina,
any man who carried liquor ,ha, would
make Tom W cry fer water, was
sound enough for them on The temperance
question.
distanced my competitor at that pre-
cipct the succeeding Monday.