The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-27

What the 1000 Drinking Shops of New York
have Done for that City.

What the 1000 Drinking shops Of New York
have Done for that City.
Atlantic Monthly.
What have the 1000 saloons of New York city
done Tor bert They have fastened upon her
citizens the most shamefully corrupt govern
ment ever endured by a community indulg-
ing 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 perverted
and spoiled the democratic system, making a
Kissing and reproach of American citizenship
and the suffrage, establishing political shambles.
panderlng to the worst vices OF the worst classes
defilng everything decent and pure with their
| fibald soothing, and producing at inter-
vals as proof of their quality, tendencies
and power Ench abomnable scandals as that eft
the Tweed ring, or the more recent sale of votos
| In the Board of Aldermen. But evil as are the
results OF the combination between the saloon
and the politicians, it is not just to hold the lat
ter responsible Cor all the mischief they cause.
In truth, they are the result of conditions which
could not produce anything better, and it is I'M
reasonable 20 blame the product while refusing
to interfere with the generating agencies The
saloon 10 an arrangement for the maintenance
and propagation of the worst vice with which
humanity is afflicted; vice which destroys
every elevating influence, kills shame. manhood,
ambition. family affection. honor. all that makes
life worth living; vice which fosters brutality.
self-indulgence and all the train of ignoble and
degrading passions and inclinations.
Now, the purpose and intent of the saloon
being what it is, the developments noted
simply what ought to have been expected when
so large share in the govern ment of the coun-
try was permitted to be seized by this sinister
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 en-
tered into active life, If they wish to take part
in public affairs they must descend to the sa-
loon for instruction in politics. and in the same
institution the foreign emigrants must gradu-
ate before they can exercise the right of citizen
ship. These are our political schools, in fact
and they give tone to our politics--city, State
and national, The candidate for Office finds it
indispensable to make himself solid" with the
rum power. He must buy the favor of the
saloon keepers. He must frequent these places
and fatter 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 at 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 demagogues and time
servers is it any wonder that self-respecting
men so often shrink from these ordeals and
prefer the obscurty of private life to political
career demanding such sacrifice and such de-
basementa