Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-07-14

none Of the unhappy wretches who
cursed me and heaped guilt on
their own souls on account Of the
saloon, can say that | ever belied
them; it is simple mathematical
demonstration that there is so
much beer and whisky being made
that we cannot support the busi-
ness without becoming a nation of
drunkards and making delirium
tremens a national disease; while
we have been sleeping the rum
business has reached such proper
tions that it cannot much longer
be maintained except at the ex-
pense of every mans sobriety and
every woman's virtue. la the
year 1891 the consumption of
brewed and distilled liquors was
over fifteen gallons and a half for
every man woman and child; if we
deduct from our population tee
totalers, infants, inyalids, in
mates of prisons and asy-
lums, the decrepit and the dy-
ing, we shall deduct half; every
man who drinks takes every year
into a system already weakened by
generations of alcoholism a barrel
of proof liquor which under the
manipulation OF the jobber and re-
taller becomes, by the addition Of
water and poison, a barrel and
half; the increase of brewage and
distillage last year was a gallon and
a half per head We, in the year
1891. (of the Christian era, mind
you) increased our swilling capac-
ity a gallon per head Of our
whole population and two gallons
per head of able bodied drinkers.
These statistics are for the year
ending June 30, 1891 | am
reliably informed that an
G69aaas G699aa2ala iRerea;a ::,, o4peaEa2'" qihe ilis
shows how skillfully organized
and managed our great crushing
saloon system is and how pitiless-
ly il labors for the ruin of our pco-
pie in order forsooth that its greed
may be satisfied. If my fellow
citizens must bind me with
tyrant's chains, and | have my
choice between Adolphus Busch
and Andrew Carnegie, | say give
me Carnegie.
Now let us get back to the labor
question; the keenest intellects, the
most consummate talents, the
strongest Wills to be found in the
manhood OF America are managing
these great corporations, and they
are not going to be run" by a
class of men who are themselves
worked" by that most stupid and
detestable of social parasites, the
saloon-keeper. In nine years of
life in iron mills ought to have
learned something about the sa-
loon keeper. | believe, to do that
class of men justice, that they are
willing to let men be free when
ever the latter decide that they
must be free; the saloon keepers
voluntarily" closed both front and
back doors during the battle on
the banks OF the river but
as long as an increase of wages
means that the beer dray shall
make two trips where it formerly
made one, when a decrease OF
wages does not delay nor hinder
the beer dray, but sends the chill
dren stockingless and deepens the |
shade of blue in their pinched |
features, it is useless for the min
lister to 60 into the pulpit and |
preach to the rich charity and gem
erosity toward the poor; it is use /
less Tor anyone TO try to rouse pub
lie opinion in favor of those who .
have no mercy on their own child /
ren, and who show such a con-
temptuous disregard for their own 4
welfare.
Hereditary bundsmen, know ye not
Who would be free, themselves must strike the
blow2''
In the days to come in the beau
titul Indian Territory a non-Indian
may be eligible to honorable
and lucrative Office; in that day /
shall be found as willing to hold
office and draw salary for my
country's good as / now profess TO
be to die in the defense of her cit
izen's rights; possibly l shall be
more willing. If | were elevated
into power / would endeavor TO
secure to Carnegie's workmen a
share of the legal protection of
which Carnegie now has the mo-
/ would vote for such leg
islation, as Senator Palmer sug-
gested in last Thursdays speech;
but after that alone is done labor is
sure to need protection as much
as it does now; it is sure TO be as
much an object of pity in the eyes
of the fortunate classes then as it is
now. | would settle the whole
question. / declare, and l de-
and joyfully stake my
whole future on the declara-
ton, that | would dedicate
every power of mind, and body,
and influence, and position to the
powers that fight against the sa-
loon, for the saloon is the onlv
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