The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-02-24
The Saloon in Politics.

sons on the evening of Feb. II and ordered
by the Union to be published.
The power If the saloon has steadily increased
like the advance Of an insidious foe. whose APP
preach was unexpected until it has entronched
itself in strong position until now it stands a
menace to the freedom of our republic.
1t has laid its blight upon the homo. as its in
fuence has entered. and robbed it Of its purity.
and dsbauched its Victims. ofits power here In
the home we are familiar for few of as who have
arrived to middle life. even here in favored
munity where its power has been least felt. but
can recall instances In our own observations when
youth, intellect and morality have become its
victims and broken hearts and wicked lives have
followed in its train Of influences. We question
not It's power for evil, in the home. in society,
but the saloon has become power for evil In
politics. am aware dear friends that am tread
ing on forbidden ground; and you are ready to
ask what have women to do with politics. an
swer much. We have responsibility here that
we dare not step over or walk around. In the
home and in society we have an infu fence which
christian womanhood demands shan be
exerted for the right and against the
wrong. Aud to our training Is committed the
future voters and law makers Of this nation, and
1t behoovss us as accountable to God. that we be
intelligent, capable teachers and to that end we
should acquaint ourselves with the questions of
the day
That the saloon is an important element In the
| control Of our elections. is an undeniable fact.
No one who observes the machinery Of politics.
but must recognize 1t as the propelling power.
The bust ness Of the saloon keeper has tendency
to destroy his patriotism. as well AZ hat Of his
| customers, and make them the really tool In tie
hands Of designing politicians. In some Of our
cities the municipality is run in the interest Of
the liquor trsfac that 1t has become Impossible
for an election to be held without the saloon in :
fuenc> Nov that the foe Is upon us the cues.
ton is being asked. how can this power that
threatens the perpetuity Of free government be
abolished? Some Of the best minds of the country
are engaged ia trying to solve the problem of
higher import at this time than Free Trade" or
Protection" and when the question is being ag
itated by the people, and they Get to thinking Its
solution is hopeful.
In the jan number Of the Chautawquas. leading
divines, educators and statesmen have discussed
this subject, extracts from which will give as
more convincing than anything can write.
| Bishop Potter of the Protestant Episcopal
Church says: "The relation Of the drink traffic
to politics. is large and certainly pre- eminently
| important question. The drink traffic represents
to-day. so enormous pecuniary interest. it APP
peals and with such tremendous effect. to the
lowest appetites and it threatens 80 directly and
seriously the best interests of the state that Its
power to influence politics for evil. seems to me
one of the most dangerous of the evil forces in our
land. Not until the people are aroused to the
| do hat thraa tens NOT Until fhav hav
resolved that no man tainted by particip alton in
this traffic, can be tolerated in any public Office
can We hope our common peril may be avcrtsd .
! DR.. A. A. Livermore says "The saloon debauch-
es politics. by arraying the dregs Of society
against social order. temperance, sobriety and
morality. In the lower wards of our great cities.
the saloon is eten made the voting station Of the
precinct. whore pot-house politicians. and ballot
| box suffers. and pugilists do mostly congregate
hold high rsvelry. and ply Internal acts 1t is as
much as the life Of voter is worth to cast vote
against the dictation of this desperate band Of
terrorists' Mr.. Robert Graham has ascertained
with great care, that preceding the election Of
1884 in New York City OF 1914 primary of poliicsi
meetings in which the country is 60 yerned. ass
were held apart from saloons. s6 next door to 50.
| looms, and 6SS in saloons. Says DR.. Livermsrs
AuIbAcEs 4uo SAAOOu Ao lSCsOr IN PoutlcB IN
the U. 8. is corrupting both great parties Repub.
licans and Democrats alike. by passing word along
the liquor lines. that this or that man who favors
free whiskey shall have the support OF the retail
ers and Wholesale dealers in spirituous drinks.
Says Rev. Washington GLADDEN., Columbia Ohio:
The liquor dealers are but small fraction of
the community. bat so determined and resistent
are they. that they control to 3 great extent the
policy of both political parties.
Hon William Window. ex Sect. o. s. Treasurer.
asserts 'that the saloon is deadly foe to all that
lie sacred in free institutions. It destroys homes
and desecrates the ballot. 1t costs the country in
taxation waste Of money. property and product
i've power. as much to support our two hundred
thousand saloons as it did to support the Union
army.
U. 8. Senator Colquitt of Georgia, describes
bribery at all times vile and destructive. You
may bride man with god, honors, or ONCE, but
to influence the voter. by holding to his lips the
cup of drunkenness. is beyond comparison, the
lowest kind Of bribery. and when we take into
account the seduction when appetites for drink is
established. 1t amounts to ownership Of the vo-
ter's suffrage.
This is certainly array OF facts. which If duly
considered cannot fail to arouse appre hension for
the safety OF our country. 1t has been asserted
and truly too. that the political atmosphere de.
| ponds in the long run. on the social condition,
| and that brings us to our own Individual rsspon.
sibility in the matter. as members OF society.
Sisters are we living up to our privilegesi are
we observing that bit of national housekeeping
going on down at Washington and are we sound.
ing the arning all along the line. that the time
has come for them to go TO house cleaning. that
the housekeeper in chief. with his numerous high
salaried public servants. just lock up that
troublesome surplus for while. give Free
Trade and Protection" a little rest. while they
go to work and destroy the saloon moth and clean
up some OF the foul pollution it has made In our
nation. or II they dont-wel We will discharge
them. appoint women servants to keep house for
Uncle Sam.
The champion advocate and defender o. the So
loon In Texas. after the defeat of the Constitution
al Am. ndment asserted that JEFF, Davis" and
Democracy had saved them from the dominion of
the W. c. T. o. earnestly desire dear friends
that we of the woodawn W. G. T. o. will 30 work
mp. explain and promulgate our principles. advo-
I..ati ikvf In.