Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-07-25
"Whiskey and the Democracy"

Under this title "Brick" Pomeroy's De-
nlOcrut discusses the relations Of the Dems-
cratic party to the liquor traffic, in the fol.
lowing straightforward, manly style. Re-
publican politicians may learn something
from a careful study of the article. 1t is
true that 1.-THE aim of the Republican party
was morally higher III its early victories,
but there is a tendency now to come down
to the plane of the Democratic party, and
pander to the whishey interest. The fate
ofthc Democracy should be sufficient warn
ing IN regard To such a course. We here
hold it up as a Fearful example -
"Why is it that so many Democratic po-
liticians are afraid to endorse temperance
Why is it that Democracy and drunken
ness ale 50 generally associated Go
where you will and three out of
five Democrats are afraid to be known as
temperance men, as if it were n disgrace to
be one and crime to discountcnancc the
cause of ninG-tCnths of the misery and
hree,tourths Of the local taxation now
cursing this country. The Democratic po-
litician who is up for office tli2s from rum
hole to grogshop, from saloon to sample
room, to rally the Democracy. Public
meetings are held in whisky shops, and the
very man who urges reform from Republi-
dollar he can borrow, and goes home drunk
or sees his audience in that condition.
Hundreds of times have we been severely
denounced for defending the cause Of tenn
pcrance, on the ground that without the
whiskcy vote the Democracy is dead
duck.
$50 it is that the Democrats wallow in
the mirc when they might walk on the
trott"ir. They seek the support of the de-
praved, and of those whose diseased ap-
pctitcs war upon the body and demoraliZe
the Intellect, thinking more of Il Yhiskey
bottle than of book or of brains. Instance
the city of New York. Not Democratic
politician in the city dare put himself on
the record ~ a temperance man. To do
50 is to loose the support Of eight thousand
six hundred giog- shops in this city. Not
Democratic politician in this city dare
circulate II Democratic paper whose col
umns plead for temperance, sobriety and
morality, lest the vote Of the thief, the bull
ly, the repeater, the drunken lOater and
disgraccd humanity he lost to the party be-
fore the poor drunkard is lost to life.
democrats are to blame for the abuse
they bring upon themselves. There is n
duty to society, to humanity, to the widow,
the orphan and the taxpayer the mere De-
mOcratic politician lo0scs sight Of. There
is Il broader platform than the space be-
tween the door of saloon and the bar, or
between the home Of the druukard and the
State prison ur Il pauper's grave. Bt cause
there is an element of humanity whose in
telligence is rotting in the sums Of large
cities to DC easily operated on by the money
of the politician expended in liquor, the in
tercsts of the party must not he placed in
jeopardy. no matter what reputation comes
to a good principle. The drunkard thinks
only Of whskcy. he votes for the office
seekers who feeds his fiery appetite The
large ma iOrity Of Democratic editors, ora
tors, and leaders, who have for the past
twenty years attempted 10 control the pub
lie, have relied more upon whiskey than
principle. Mark the result. Democrats
have dirtird their own nest. Ii is not the
business of the Democracy To cater to an
appetite, foster creed or embrace dcSra-
dntiOn. and until men who make Dcmoca-
tic platforms rise To n higher place, take
higher grounds, and appeal tn better ma
lures Father than lower passions. the bet
ter element Of society that which has tho
most lie and lnngirity-- will IN obedience
to an instinct hvurinS that which is the
better, be found at the polls arraNcd against
Democracy, not because it is Democracy,
I OuI DtClNSt Di Ahc low, uckIaullS tFllb, ~
does not cut loose from, lest a heavy vote
be lost.
The medicine that cures disease must
be pure. The principle that mellows minds
to lis endorsement most be one that builds
up the mind rather than debase it. When
Democrats will call voters from the grog-
shop to the school house, from the den of
dissipation to :he Church, from the gutter
to the field OF labor then will the people
whose instincts are good, rush to that
which is natural political principle, in
this or any other land, dedicated to liberty.
The aim of the Republican party was mo-
rally higher than has been that of the De-
mucratic party for years. Its first fights
were won in the vicinity OF churches, and
just over the way from the saloon and den
of dissipation. So long as the Republican
platform rested on q moral idea, based up
on humane sentiment, it drew to its sup
pert q sympathetic element the leaders OF
The Democracy had not the bravery or the
high moral courage to bid for. Without Il