The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1886-10-30
THE SALOON IN POLITICS,
4 Dcmorallzlng and Disgraccfu
Agency In American poliu-
cal Life.

cal Life.
What have the seven thousand saloons
of New York city done for hcr9 They
have fastened upon her citizens the
most shamefully corrupt government
ever endured by community indulg-
ing in the illusion that ii was free; they
have almost made il impossible for an
honest, educated man 10 touch local
politics, much less take Office; they
have degraded the conduct of public
affairs TO their own low level; they
have brutallizcd every institution they
have had to do with; they have per-
verted and spoiled the democratic sys-
tenn, making Kissing and rcproach
of American cit zenship and the sui.
fragc, establishing political SHAMELESS
pandcring to the worst vices of the
worst classes, deiling everything de-
cent and pure with thcirribald soothing.
and producing at intervals, rs proof OF
their quality, tendencies, and power
such abomnable scandals as that of the
Tweed ring. or the more recent sale OF
votes in the board of aldermen But
evil rs are the results OF the combin-
alton between the saloon and the poll
tcianS, it is not just TO hold the latter
responsible for all the mischief they
cause. In truth, they are the result of
conditions which could not produce
ANYTHING better, and ii is unreasonable
to blame the product while refusing TO
interfere with the generating agencies.
The saloon is IN arrangement for the
maintenance and propagation of the
worst vice with which humanity is
afflicted. vice which destroys every
clevating influence, kills shame, man
hood, ambition, family affection, honor,
all that makes life worth living; II vice
which fosters brutality sclf-indulgence,
and all the train of ignobe and de-
grading passions and inclinations.
Now, the purpose and intent of the
saloon being what it is, the develop
mcnts noted are simply what ought TO
have been expected when so large II
share in the government of the country
was permitted to be seized by this sin
lister agency. The American system of
government is theoretically sound.
The means of education are accessible
to all But when our children have
passed through the public schools and
entered into public life. if they wish to
take part in public affairs they must
descend to the saloon tor instruction in
politics, and in the same institution the
foreign immigrants must graduate be-
fore they can exercise the right of citi-
zenship. These are our political
schools, in fact, and they give tone to
our politics. city, state, and national.
The candidate for office finds it indis-
pcnsablc to make himself solid" with
the rum power. He must buy the ia
vor of the saloon-keepcrs. He must
frequent these places and tlatter the
vanity of those who gather there.
Through them h. must obtain the votes
of the idle. the vicious, the criminal
classes. He must become familiar with
all the ward str kcrs' and loafers.
lie must bs rcprcsnn,c nj the caucuscs.
which are always held whore drink
abound,. lie must defer TO the views
of mon Of the loves intelligence. He
must ,u' scribe 30 platforms drawn up
by demo .n@Uc, an time servers. Is il
any wonder that sr!l-su,p'ciing men so
often shrink from these ordcalS, and
prefer the ub,curitr Of private life to Il
political career demanding such sacri-
lice AID such doDascmrat?--1t atlantic
H0Rthly.