New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-11
1BOTT HALF A PINT"

There is something in the present twO-f0r-a-
cent attitude of the Democratic party on the
issue of Reform as contrasted with the large
and breezy manner in which it swung out few
wears ago for all sorts of reforms of the most
sweeping character, that somehow reminds us
of the experience Wholesale liquor dealer had
q while ago with a well-dressed customer OF
dignifed manners and pleasing address, who
said he would like TO sample some gin, as he III
tended purchasing few barrels it he could find
some that suited him. The dealer responded
with aacrity. In the course OF the next MALT
hour the genteel customer managed to get out
side of several snifters while he entertained
the dealer with "reminiscences OF some excellent
gin he had in 1897 which this reminded him OF.
At length he said he liked the gin very much,
but wouldn't give his order just then; he had
one or two other matters to attend to and
would call again.
In the course of an hour or two, sure enough,
he did come in again. This time he sad he
was going to buy a barrel OF gin-Only one-and
would like to sample and select it. While this
sampling was going on he repeated the same
story about the gin of 1897 and managed to abb
sorb three or four corkers' Then he selected
the barrel he liked best, and rcmarking that he
would presently come round with a carman, pay
for it, and take it away, again Departed
An hour or two later he came in and said he
had been disappointed in finding carman and
consequently couldn't take the barrel away to-
day, but the gin reminded him so much OF that
he had in 1887 that he thought he must take
gallon of it with him anyway, and send for the
rest the next day. He had forgotten which
barrel it was, however, and would have to find
it with proof-gass By this time the dealer
had begun to comprehend that this was getting
to be a transaction in which there was great
deal of sample for very little sale. He accord
ingly stopped short and looked the genteel Gus
toner in the eye.
"Look here, my venerable friend" said he,
do you want to buy any gin 2
The genteel customer was somewhat taken
aback by the abruptness of the question, but
gathering himself answered confidently !:
"Why, yes, of course do"
"Then you've got to take ii now; for I'm
Z tired of hearing you smack your lips and talk
about that gin of 1897 How much do you
want ~
The genteel customer hesitated. Well" said
he, = if you can give me a few days time on it, |
would like drawing out small black bottle
-" halt a pint-in this
And the dealer didn't give him time-didn't
give him enough to get outdoors.
The Democratic party have been playing the
same dodge on the people that the gentecl Gus
toner did on the liquor dealer, promising
wholesale transactions in RefOrm-as he did i'll
cin-and taking tastes of power by way of
sample. A few years ago they were finging up
their hats and their hands, and hanging out
their banners for all sorts of Reform: Admins
trative Reform; Civil Service Reform; Rev
enue Reform; everything except Temperance
Reform. And they talked about Jefferson and
Jefiersonian standards just as the genteel Gus
toner did about the 1887 gin. They have
been tasting power occasionally, as the genteel
customer did for a sample, and with the same
result: they have tapered of. From a whole
sale business in Reform they have dwindled
down to much less than an ordinary retail trade.
Having backed down from Civil Service and
the other reforms, they are asked with some
Impotence by the American People
Are you in favor of any reform Y
well, yes" they say hesitatingly; ave are in
favor Of Revenue Reform"
"And how much do you want n thunder the
People.
1t is Mr.. William A. Morrison who takes out
of his pocket little bit of "A tariff bill and an
swers in n timid way: "About half pint--in
this
And on this two-cent transaction be asks, and
keeps asking, for time"
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