Bismarck weekly tribune., 1889-02-22
THE ARENA.
A Day With the Dakota Statesmen
and Glimpse of the Law
making Body.

Remarks Personal, Political and
General Regarding the Distin-
guished in Halls and Lobby.
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS.
[From Wednesdays Daily.]
COLD WATER DAY.
Yesterday was day of "babbling
brooks" and "look not upon the wine when
1t is red," in the council. At an early hour
in the afternoon the orators began to sum
up the number Of drunkards' graves that
have been filled during the past year and
''the rum curse" was brought from its Sc
ciusion and busted off for oratorical parade.
Having been patched up with amendments
until it presented the appearance of a
acrazy quilt, the bill was passed. This
bill provides for absolute prohibition and
ts what saloon man might call a "corker." !"
The fact that Prime Minister Pat
ten championed the bill with that
persuasive eloquence and irresistible
suav;ty which has gained for him the emf
nent position which he occupies as a leader
OF statesmen, is sufficient explanation of
its passage, but some are in doubt as to the
effect of having the law 60 into force on
January 1st, 1889. AS both North and South
Dakota will settle the prohibition question
picion tha' the present bill is not for pub
lication, but simply an evidence of good
faith. However this may be, the council
went on record for prohibition, and the
liquor men are given another warning of
the approaching storm. Get thee to thy
cyclone cellar, oh unsuspecting liquor
dealer, for the cloud which was once no
bigger than mans hand is beginning to
Overspread the entire sky.
SCENE IN THE PALACE.
Enter Alexiue Griggsius of the Commission
fight. He greets Abenius Boyntonius, who has
been in the thickest of the fray.]
Abeniss Boyntoniss: Welcome, Alexius.
thrice welcome to this place
Where now are gathered in most fearful war
The men who seek our death by fouleet means.
Asezius Grigpsius: By the gods, Abenius, thy
speech confounds me!
What mean you BY these words most startling,
And by the frantic flames which from thine eyes
Do dancer Speak! good Abenins. for by thy
gaze
Isee that this no time for halting is.
Who doth our death desire? What 6end doth
now
Pursue Us In the dark? Quick. m fond Abenius,
Ere do in m mad, relentless rage.
Pounce fierce upon some guiltless one meet!
Abenius: Didst not see the moon. Alexius?
4Alezius: The moon? In sooth, must confess
That in the business cares which bear upon me
1 hath fair Luna given slight. cav her not.
But. haste, Abenius, how looks the moon?
Abeni,ss: Gods, gods, Alexius, her full round
face
Doth look like one vast mass of warlike blood,
And from her streaming in a crimson shower
Is gore enough to drenoh the quaking earth.
But two years past, when we didst counsel here,
The war clouds gathered and it looked most black;
But then, Alexius great Groverius hath won
And We no harm from Washington didst fear.
And we didst win, and on the board railroadian
Midst plaudits of the throng we didst appear.
But now. these statesmen who gather in the
halls,
Do all their fingers snap at our appeals,
And with jesting malice that doth cut us deep
Upon our every wish do they make merry war.
Yea, even now, while we do speak, a bill most
Vicious. our Offices abolishing, doth find place
Before the house of lorde, where it doth dangle
Like serpent ely. betwixt new life and death.
Bot we must to the war! This is no me
For words, dull, idle words ByJupiter, couldst
Spit balls of living fire so like rampant lion
Ii m blood stirred up.
Alerius: Enough, Abenius, let US grasp the
knife
And with whoop cen as wo once didst give,
Leap forth to save the state from sore defeat
Such as the killing of our board wouldst bring.
Alb. good Abenius,-when l do look upon thy
form
And see Its full magnifcence and splendor,
And when into thy Roman face gaze
oouldst full weep at thought of thy defeat.
4benius: Aye, wise Alexius. and when see
Thy giant frame, and think how it has
Stood for four long years to battle for the state
I caust not bear the thought of thy decapitation.
And looking in thy face with it's fierce beard
Which like conhagration in the sunlight plays,
I swear by all the gods of peace and war
That we shalt live, or there shall be no life!
Oh! trembling Mars! gaze now on thy Abenius
And see the planets rock when in his rage
He doth a move get on!
Alerius: On! Abenins. On!
No power shall stop or stay us.
Bot like maddened whirlwind will we sweep
Through ranks of all the foemen in the field.
Now, by the gods, let every man stand firm.
And bring M forth the tomahawk and cofkscrew.
[Exeunt, snorting.l
Scattering Shots
Mr.. LOGAN of the house has not made
many speeches during the session, but he
knows nail when he sees it, and he
usually hits it square on the bald spot
which adOrneth its head.
We ARE pleased to observe the profound
respect with which the old-time orators of
the house address the r0tund Roger since
that gentleman opened up his batteries
Monday afternoon.
By the way, if the legislators desire the
opinion of the supreme court on the con-
stituti0nality or expediency of bill under
consideration, why do they not submit the
bill repeating the law apprOpriating money
to defray the judges travelling expenses
The Samoan war may think it is cutting
some figure. but if its staying quality is it's
chief attraction, it pales into insignifcance
before the normal school war between the