The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-09-24
THE SALOON IN POLITICS.
A Dennoralixirig and D~isgracefui
Agency I'm American Polite
cal Life.

-
Agency I'm American Politi-
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 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 brutallized every institution they
have had to do with; they have per-
yerted and spoiled the democratic sys-
tenn, making a kissing and a reproach
of American I'll izenship and the suf-
frage. establishing political shambles.
p~andering to the worst vices OF the
worst classes, defiling everything de-
cent and pure with their ribald scoffing,
and producing at intervals, as proof OF
their quality. tendencies, and power,
such abominable scandals as that of the
Tweed ring. or the more recent sale of
votes in the board of aldermen. But
evil as are the results Of the combin-
alton between the saloon and the poll
ticians, 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 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, a vice which destroys every
elevating influence, kills shame, man
hood. ambition, family affection, honor,
all that makes life worth living; a vice
which fosters brutality, self-indulgence,
and all the train of ignoble and de-
grading passions and inclinations.
Now, the purpose and intent of the
saloon being what it is, the develop
ments noted are simply what ought to
have been expected when so large a
share in the government of the country
was permitted to be seized by this sim
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-
pensable to make himself solid'' with
the rum power. He must buy the fa-
vor 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 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-
fee and such Observation-Disclosures
Monthly.
M