Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-08-24
NEW YORK BOSSES.

George Frederic Parsons in September
Atlantic: What have the 1900 saloons
of New York city done for her? They
nave fastened upon her citizens the
most shamefally corrupt government
ever endured by community indulging
in the illusion that it was free; they have
almost made it impossible for an 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 brutalized
every institution they have had to do
with; they have pei verted and spoiled
the democratic System, making Missing
and reproach CT American citizenship
and the suffrage, establishing political
shambles, pandering to the worst vices
OF tie worst ciasses, detiiing everything
decent and pure with their rIbald scotf :
ing, and producing at intervals, as proof
of their quality, tendeLc cies and power.
such abominable scandals as that of
the Tweed ring, orthe more recent sale
of votes in the board Of aldermen. But
evil as are the results of the comhina-
ton between the saloon and the poll
ticians, it is not just to hold the latter
responsible for all the mischief they
have cause. In truth. they are the result
of condition which could not produce
anything better, and it is unreasonable to
blame the product while refusing to
interfere with the generating agencies
The saloon ls an arrangement Tor the
maintenance and propagation of the
worst vice with which humanity is
afflicted; vice which destroys every
eieyating influence, kills shame, man
hood, am bitioD, family affection, honor,
ali that makes life worth living; vice
which fosters brutality, self Indulgence
and oil the train OF ignoble and degrad-
ing passIoEs and incllnatioDs. Now, the
purpose and intent of the saloon being
what 1t is, the Developments noted are
simply what ought to have been ex-
pected when SO large share in the
government OF the country was per-
mitted to be seized by this
ein1ster 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 enter
into active life, if they wish to take part
in public affairs they must descend to
the saloon for instruction in politics, and
in the same institution the foreign i'm
migrants must graduate before they can
exercise the right of citizenship. These
are political schools, IL fact, and they
give the tone to our politics, city, state
and national. The candidate fer office
finds it indispensable TO make himself
solid with" the rum power. He must
buy favor of the saloon keepers. He
must frequent these places and Halter
the vanity of those who gather there
Through them he must obtain the votes
of the idle, the vicious, the crimina
classes. He must become familiar
4 with the word "strikers" ant
| loafers. He must be represented
at the caucusses which are always
| held where drink abounds. He mus
defer to the views of men of the loves
Intelligence. He must subscribe tt
platforms drawn up by demegogues ant
time servers. LIS ii any wonder that self
respecting men 80 often shrink from
these ideals, and prefer the obscnrity o
private life to political career demand
ing such sacrifice and such debasement
The foreigner who lands in this countr,
obtains his first ideas of its government
al system from the saloon. There h
is introduced to the lowest intrlgues o
factional conflict. There he is taugh
| that the chief end and aim of politics il
to make as much as possible for th
workers There he is enlisted into
one or the other of the great organiza
tlons which have reduced party polite
to periodical battles for bluDdel
to contest for the opportunit
TO misgoyerD. There he learn
!, that honor and principle are simpl
"molasses to catch flies" as potoriou
politician once expressedlt, There b
is made to understand that lie is no
expected to think for himself, but tina
he must obey implicitly the party mai
] dates, reverence the saloonkeepers {
his ward, submit himself humbly to b
"boss," and on election day be thankfl
that he can sell his vote for couple
I dollars, or debauch on bad whisk
Q This is no fanciful picture. There
I not considerable city in the Unite
J, States in which purchased votes are nj
cast by the thousand at every impor
9 ant election, and these votes are almol
: invariably bought and paid Tor in af
through the saloon. Gi9V
1t is absurd to expect that under soc
a state of things politics can be anythit
o but corrupt. 1t is absurd to look, /.
parties dependent upon the saloon, fl
enlightened patriotism, progressi'
policies, or any real care for the welfa
of the nation. The country is now in
g defenseless condition. All the riches
: it's seahoard cities lie at the mercy
D any fifth rate power with which we m;
g happen to quarrel. Yet 1t Las be-
l. impossible to rouse congress to actio
a While throwing itself with feverish re
into struggles over place and patronae
while exhibiting demagogic eagerness
70 squanderIng the public fun
!. upon unnecessary local work,
I, has shown itself Indifferent to IL
% vital question; has betrayed want
, public spirit which would be remsrkat
l and perple1iug were it not appare
that members have been desirons or
= of enacfing measures redounding
their personal or party advantage.
u congress which refuses to investigt
- the liquor traffic, and will not author
~ the necessary appropriations for the
. fenee of the coasts against foreI
enemies, is in one sense pattern leg
lature. Tt is pattern. that is to say,
the best that can be expected from
os saloon in politics. 1t can be relied uI
i'd to protect tie rum power. 1t cannot
relied upon to defend the coup
ea against invasion from without, or corr
vd tion from within.
im ia Sleepleas Nights, made miserable
re that terrible cough. Shiloh's Cure
ee the remedy for you. Sold by Purd,
i'm Brecht, Yankton, Dakota
9wI