The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1886-10-16
THE SALOON IN POLITICS.
Demoralizing ana DisgrnccfuI
Agency in American Politi.
e0l Life.


cal Life.
What have the seven thousand saloons
of New York city done for her? They
have fastened upon her citizens the
most shamefully corrupt government
ever endured by community indulg-
ing in the illusion that it was free; they
have almost made it impossible for IN
honest, educated man to 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-
vertcd and spoiled the democratic sys-
tenn. making Kissing and u reproach
of American citizenship and the suf-
frage. establishing political shambles,
pandering TO the worst vices OF the
worst classes. deiiling everything de-
cent and pure with their ribald scoiling,
and producing at intervals, us proof OF
their quality. tendencies, and power,
such abominablc scandals rs that of the
Tweed ring, or the more recent sale OF
NOtts Ill tuc DOutu vi ll'tCi DNt
evil rs are the results of the combn-
alton between the saloon and the poll
ticians. il is not just TO hold the latter
responsible for all the mischief they
cause. In truth, they arc the result of
conditions which could not produce
anything better, and it is unreasonable
to blame the product while refusing TO
interfere with the generating agencies.
The saloon is an arrangement for the
maintenance and propagation of the
worst vice with which humanity is
afflicted, vice which destroys every
elevating influence. kills shame, man
hood ambition, family affection, honor,
all that makes life worth living; n vice
which fosters brutality, self-ndulgence,
and all the train of ignoble and de-
grading passions and incinations.
Now, the purpose and intent of the
saloon being what il is, the develop
ments 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 inds-
pensable to make himself solid" with
The rum power. He must buy the ia
vor of the saloon-keepers. He must
frequent these places and tlatter the
vanity of those who gather there.
Through them he must obtain the votes
of the idle the vicious, the criminal
classes. He must become familiar with
all the ward strikers and loafers.
He must be represented mt the caucuses,
which are always held where drink
abounds. He must defer to the views
of men of the lowest intelligence. He
must subscribe to platforms drawn up
by demogogues and time servers. Is it
any wonder that self-suspecting men so
often shrink from these ordeals, and
prefer the obscurity of private life to a
political career demanding such sacri-
lice and such Observation-Disclosures
Monthly.