Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16
An Iutempera Speech.

Inc largest pOlltlcal meeting ueiu
in Lancaster this season was the
meeting addressed by Mr.. DIN on
Friday evening last. Mr.. DIN is
not refined orator. He has too
much gesture. Especially when
pouring out assertions that would
not bear the test of examination to-
find truth in them he is very rapid
and strikes his hands together with
blistering blows. The effect upon
many hearers is TO so engage the at
tention that the mind cannot olsen
gage itself and sift the chaff out of
his blistering assertions, and keep
on with him. The nearer is thus
led into the confidence of the speak
er, and while thus contidenced pas
sionate and voluble assertions are
poured into the same minds as un-
questioned as were the undeniable
truths. Counterfeit money is often
accepted without question when the
receiver has tested several pieces in
the same handful and found them
genuine. There is more harm done
TO society by muttering counterfeit
truth than III the utterance of coun-
terfeit coins. 1t is confidence
game.
Mr.. DIN is the representative of
cause against which we have not a
word to say. He is backed by
people the best in every community.
But Mr.. DIN is pursuing a course
that is as certain to delay the success
of or destroy the cause they repre-
sent, as putting deadly poison into
a sick mans medicine is Gel tain to
delay the restoration of the man to
health. He is stufiing the people
with palatable receptions. The de-
ceptions go down very nicely now,
like rich food to a depraved appetite,
but after they have lain long enough
on the stomach to prove themselves
indigestible, healthseekers will re-
iect them. More than half the labor
of a correct education is that requir
ed to break the human mind from
its "strong delusion to believe lie"
Evil designers utilize this natural
weakness, and for a present purpose
aim to influence "balances of power"
by use of relishable falsehoods.
When Carey's receptions We're dis
covered, his cause, good in itself,
was deserted by all but few, and
Carey himself went into disrepute.
So it will be with any other cause
promoted for time by prophets of
falsehood. Richmond and DIN
came and went two years ago every
where honored. Whole dollar con
tributions were readily handed over
for the asking. Then their object
seemed to be wholly to promote the
one cause of temperance. This year
they do not fail to impress their
hearers with the idea that what is
wanted Of them is to vote for Cleve-
land aud not for Blaine. They do
not say so, but, like MIR. Richmond
with the Republican party in not
openly avowing the saloon cause,
there are those who would honor
them more if they did say so. This
year they seem to go in just as fine
style and have more "cheek" on
commission on five-cent badges than
two years ago on plentiful one-dol-
lar shares of stock. We cannot
think that the bone and sinew of the
Prohibition party favor the "bearing
false witness" programme. We APP
ply the remarks to these speakers.
When Mr. Richmond was here he
told us the Republicans found pro-
hibition in sixteen states. When
Mr.. DIN spoke he said fifteen. Eth
er Of them could just as we'll and
just as truthfully have said thirty
1t is a demagogical assertion. We
have prohibition in Wisconsin now
in the same sense. Lancaster peo-
pie may vote into office a board of
aldermen, under Wisconsin laws,
who would refuse to grant licenses
or permit the sale of liquor in the
city. That would be prohibition
Therefore Wisconsin is prohibition
state now. This is the case in near
ly all the states, or in all, for aught
we know. If SO, why not, instead
of fifteen or sixteen, say thirty-eight
states? And if there is already
prohibition in thirty-eight states,
what is the use of the Prohibition
party? Isn't its occupation gone?
And it must be admitted that If
there was prohibition in fifteen
states, it wat introduced without the
help of a Prohibition party, which
would be proof that prohibition has
had wonderful success without any
party, which as an Independent
party it has never had success. The
logical conclusion would be that
these men are running a Prohibition
party for the very purpose of pre-
f,,1 $50, l., bt4,ar fFba