Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-08-06
TEMPERANCE.
How They Vote.
BY REV. Z. NJ. ROBERTSON.

| mean those self-styled temper
ance men who tell US on the eve of
our municipal elections that they
care strong temperance men, but
don't believe in prohibition" and
consequently vote to keep saloons in
the heart of our towns and cities
Granting, gentlemen, that you are
true to your convictions, and vote
against prohibition" from no mer-
cenary motive, but with an honest
feeling that it is for the public
good, let us see what kind of COM
pany you kept the other day at The
election.
You voted with the saIoon-keeper
He saw his cause in danger, and
voted against prohibition" You
voted the same, and how glad he
was. He had double joy Your
vote said to him, tive don't want you
disturbed :" and furthermore, "there
are a good many respectable people
on your side, after all, Mr.. Saloon
keeper" You did not 80 intend it,
possibly-nay, certainly, if you are
an honest man; but deeds tell in this
living age, and the saloon keeper so
took it. You could have done no
other act which would have pleased
him so we'll
You voted with the drunkard, who,
bound Mazeppa-like to the wild and
firery steed of Ruin, groaned within
himself as he voted, 80 that tborc
were some power to break these
bonds, and make me once again q
free manr' Yes, you voted with the
man who neglects his business
abuses his wife-murders his child.
rem, aud then in his agony cries
s'there is no help for me !" and sc
whistles "off breaks" and dashes or
to ruin. Had he been your brother
aroused to awful earnestness, woulC
You not have voted and said that day
"For heavens sake, gentlemen, le
us get hell'sgate as far from my
brother as possible !"
You voted with the man who was
drunk. He "rolIed logs" and pullec
"wires" and watched the polls unit
he saw that temperance was recelv
ing q wound even from her friends
thoD he went and got drunk, and bal
lot in hand, he reeled to the polls
shouting "Hooray our sides goln
to beat" You voted with him.
You voted with the jail-bisd. Prac
tically you said to him, "You and
see alike on this subject; we'll make
| it warm for crusaders" And the
iail-bird swore-"Our side is al
right" You voted with those mis-
creants who, down in Illinois, cover
ed church with mud because The
preacher carried temperance into the
pulpit. You voted with the gentlemen
in Iowa who painted the front of the
postoffice with nameless filth, because
the postmistress was crusader
Strange company for a temperance
man to keep You were honest, sc
you say, but what company for ar
honest man!
You say you "voted in the MAJ orr
ty." Did you? True, there were .
| few votes more polled against thaL
for prohibition, but what about the
scores and hundreds of names OF wo
men who petitioned for prohibition
You say, "They are not voters, anc
are not the parties to settle such
matters" Very we'll; we propose
then to establish the fact, within ter
years. that women have some rights
that even saloon-keeper is bount
to respect, We will give her the bal
lot. 1t will be u sorry day for dema.
gogues and ssloon-keepers, wher
women mount the American citizen
throne-the ballot-box. Meanwhile
the crusade deepens, and ere long no
only intempersnce, but profanity
gambling, Sabbath dissertation, anc
crime shall be crusaded with a song,
and prayers that girdle the globe
and bring on the miliennium apace.