The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-10-06
THE SALOON In POLITICS.

Father NcD owe1l, of Orange,
the Evil in q Manly Manner.
The Rev. Father j. w. Mcdowell, OF
st. Johns Catholic Church. Orange, has
written a manly letter upon the evil in
f~iuences OF the saloon in politics. We re-
produce the letter below, as it is as ap-
plicable to Hudson county as it is to Es-
SEX
l call your serious and earnest attention to
the actions OF a certain element made up OF
saloon politicians which works at present
within the lines Of the Democratic party and is
highly offensive to all good citizsns. This OBJ
lsctiona6le element Is oent upon thrusting on
encs and preferment, a candidate who is bound
by sympathy and associations to further its
interests and promote its work. Now there
has been and still Is amongst us a healthy,
active public sentiment which forbids the ele-
walton Of any such candidate to an Office in
the peoples gift. This unwritten law declares
that the saloon party must seek or receive no
recognition in politics. 1t is a law which COM
mends itself by its very nature to all good
citizens. 1t was passed by the people, who are
sovereign, to whom the making of law justly
pertains. 1t is their will. Now a hardy and
outrageous attempt is being made to violate its
provisions. The saloon party is determined
to force upon your ticket a saloon keeper for
the position of Freebooter. It is upon this i'm
pudent defiance of popular sentiment that /
wish to focus your attention, and in so doing l
OAQ btCAutJ lOO W pOkitiC5s L uiStAatul tul-
phatically any relations whatsoever with them.
I am actuated solely by a sense of loyalty to
the interests of the community and the we'll
being of my trust. ! am not a politician, but /
am a teacher and guardian of public morals. l
act in that capacity. As such, therefore, l, W it'll
every good citizen, recognize in saloon repre-
sentation q menace to pubic ord er. place be-
fore you on this point the public assertions of a
great authority, q giant intellect of the West;
assertions which no saloon politician dare to
controvert. Saloon influence is deadly to
morality; it destroys respect for law; 1t is
openly and secretly defiant to its every pro-
vision; it is lawless; therefore l protest against
nefarious attempt at its introduction; against
the effrontry of it, which, once rebuked, again
insists on defying public sentiment; against the
aims of it. which are Injurious and immoral and
subversive of good order; Iprotest against any
attempt to play upon your sympathies or to
steal away your Judgment. Principle and your
interest are at stake.
They are first and paramount. They demand
that the present saloon movement be rebuked
so sharply and severely that any further one In
our community shall be- discouraged. We have
the reputation Of being law-abiding and order
loving. Let us keep it. Iassert, and In SO doing
! voice the sentiments Of every right-minded
any public office here 1t will be a matter for
deep and permanent regret. Now, then, / ask
you to throw your influence for morality. ask
you to use conscientiously the God-given
privilege of freemeD, the casting Of the ballot.
Write this law again and trace 1t in such bold,
incissive characters in the statute book of public
sentiment hat the saloon politicians reading it
will not again dare to defy the peopl's will. mo
saloon keeper, no matter what party claims
him, owns him or strives to make a tool of him,
will ever be elected to any office in this com
munity." ]. W. MCDOWELL