Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1885-12-09
IDLESiDE PAPERS.

Now that Brother Worst has closed his
regular services for the season, and the
winter with it's long evenings draws on
apace, l propose to erect q platform
within the KECORD and deliver short
weekly lecture upon commonplace top
les, "as it wcre," Being only deacon,
and lean one ut that, shall have to
rely mainly upon the gray hairs just be-
ginning to obtrudc anent my right car
tor dignity, rather than upon pedigree.
humor, or genius, as it requires fat man
up the feelings and one with blue blood
sloshing about in his veins to inspire his
auditors with great ideas.
So much by way of introduction--but
don't forget the gray hairs alluded to
above.
If you are a common man, don't be
ashamed of your station. You have
many associates belonging to the same
grand order.
The worst thing that can be said against
common men is that they allow them
selves TO be handled for political pur-
poses to advance the selfish interests of
political satraps, to their own disadvan-
tage. The common people Of this coun-
try have a majority of five hundred to
one; and why don't they work and vote
If bad laws and high taxes become bur
densome, we, the common people, are
responsible, for our votes are an over
whelming majority.
When Brevet- Major D. D. Slicktongue
came along you left your work, whoop-
hu,rahed like crazy men for him, and
elected him; or, in other words, yielded
all your power up and placed it in his
trust. What thcn2 Well he despised
you as soon as he found he had your
power, as citizens, in his own hands.
Then you kicked when you found that
Major Slicktongue had too much dignity
to look at you, and you clicked" again
when he snubbed your interests and ad-
vanccd his own.
You said, "Just wait" Well, you
waited until his trust expired and your
power reverted into your own hands
again. Then Captain B Blowgard andrCol-
onel McMoney came along, set 'em up,
and said "Look here You are good
set of fellows, and we want you to stand
by Major Sliektnnsue.- good fell
low-only you don't understand him."
etc., etc. Then you go to work, whoop
and hurrah for Slicktongue again, and
rc-clect him.
So it goes. We are responsible; and
either let Us keep quiet or stop our non
sense. Either let us do our own think
ing, or lease our power and pay the taxes
without grumbling
If the common people-the bone and
sinew of America--would not allow them
selves to he handled like so much ballast,
then the people would rule !; as it is, one
shrewd political poltroon wields more
power than ten thousand honest voters !;
because when he fiddles, you dance. Il
is grand thing to be a free man, isn't itI
Ninety nine men out Of every hundred
do all tue work, pay all the taxes, and
possess all the power under republican,
form Of government The other or hun
dredth man lays his schemes, impresses
you with his greatness, controls your
votes, and pockets good share Of your
taxes. The people rule-don't theyY A
high. slick hat on Majors head, a lib.
eral purse, and plenty Of taffy, and the
voters fall into line like well.trained
sheep. A glorious privilege. this, of
voting
Well, then, what do you want9 .Yon
need not ask long, for the supreme power.
! is in your own hands. No sense Of you
kicking" for your combined power
must carry everything before it. The
common people are the hope of our coun-
try just as soon as they do their own
thinking, and lead the few, instead Of
being led by the few. When this state
of affairs shall come to stay, q new el d
will mark the political career Of Dakota
and the Nation and no enc will be
made happier than DEACON DooLIrrLn,