Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-03-28

Francis Little, delivered IN the
State Senate on the proposition TO
submit the Temperance Bill to a
vote of the people.
Mr.. President Were it not for
the particular position which | oc.
cupy on this floor | would not at this
time occupy a moment OF the time OF
the senate, and If ! in the course OF
the few remarks l do make, depart
from the strict rules of order, | claim
YOUR indulgence. Butsuch frequent
illusions have been made during the
debate on this bill, in the other
House and here, to the hostility OF
foreigners to the measure, that deem
it my duty here to say, that l am a
citizen Of the United States, born
and brought up in a foreign land,
Nearly thirty years of my lie have
been spent in the territory and State
of Wisconsin. | have seen many
days and long years Of toll IN WIS,
cousin. She is to-day great and
powerful what she is J have helped
to make her. All | Owl today is
within her border. Here my children
were born, and beneath her soil my
first born sleeps. am now past the
meridian Of life, and |, also, soon ex-
pect to sleep under her sod until
walked by the mighty trump. This
is my country | have no other l
owe allegiance to no other / desire
her welfare and progress in virtue
and true greatness desire to see
her foremost in the race OF civiliza'
ton and honor.
! stand on this floor the represent
alive Of a constituency largely com
posed Of foreigners of various nation
slities, aud every creed, and | am I'M
willing that this vast audience should
depart with the impression that we
think it a privilege TO get drunk.
Mr.. President, in the nam and in
behalf of the people, | repel the i'm
putations that they oppose the pas
sage of this bill. Let each Senator
speak Of their own citizens, | will Of
mine.
The sturdy liberty.loving son of
cid England, though fond of a glass
of beer, desire the passage OF this bill,
and that a limit should be set to the
evils flowing from the sale Of ardent
spirits. The virtuous and industri.
ous children Of the Cambrian hills,
desire that the hideous monster
should be shorn Of his locks.
And of my own countrymen, what
shall l'say? We lrjshmen have suE
fercd more from this cursed tartiic
than any Others. Why should we
not support this bill.
We have brought to this country
an immence amount of capital in the
shape Of hardy industrious constitu'
tions-unimpaired by disease inherit.
ed by vice-whjch we have ex'
changed for money by tearing down
the mountain side, digging canals,
Killing swamps, constructing rail.
ways, and building IA cities.
What have we left? Let the
saloon keeper answer. They have
too often reaned the rewards OF our
industry, We do not think it is a
blessing to get drunk, we do not
look on the use OF intoxicating drink
as the foundation OF our hopes for
the future. We do not look on the
passage of this bill as a blow at our
liberties. We are not fools; we de-
sire It's passage.
| desire not to be looked upon as
an lrishman; | want no line drawn
between native and foreign born.
We are all citizens Of the one great
country our interests are identical,
Though born beyond the sea, our
children will boast Of their citizen.
ship,
And indeed ! have reason to speak
in behalf of all our people-that
while petitions have been sent here
to me IN favor of this bill, on which
! see the names of Americans, Eng.
fish, Germans, Irish, Welsh, aud
Norwegians blended together, not
one single remonstrance has been sent
to me against It's passage. | have
not had a word Of instruction except
from petitioners. | take the rcspon.
sibility. hold no one accountable !
Ny vote is my own, and | will act in
accordance with the motto on our
State flag, now I'VE your head, which
has waved in the battle and the
breeze, "Forward.n shall vote for