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 bust
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 sohriety and
every woman's virtue. In the
year 1891 the consumption of
brewed and distilled liquors was
over fifteen gallons and half for
every man woman and child; if we
deduct from our population tee
totalers, infants, invalids, 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 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 a
half; the in ncrease of brewage and
distillage last year was 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
equal increase appears in the
figures for June 80, 1892. This
shows how skiliiully organized
and managed our great crushing
saloon system is and how pitiless.
ly it labors for the ruin of our peo-
pie in order forsooth that its greed
may be satisfied. If my fellow.
citizens must bind me with
tyrant's chains, and l 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. l 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
"voiuntarily"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 il 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, 1t is useless for the min
lister TO 60 into the pulpit and
preach to the rich charity and gem
erosity toward the poor; il 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
welfare.
Hereditary bondsmen, know ye not
Who would be free, themselves must strike the
blow7"
In the days to come in the beau
tiiul Indian Territory a non. Indian
may be eligible TO honorable
and lucrative office; in that day |
shall be found as willing to hold
Office ana draw salary for my
country's good as / now profess TO
be TO die in the defense of her cit
izen's rights; possibly | shall be
more willing. II | were elevated
into power ! would endeavor 10
secure TO Carnegie's workmen a
share Of the legal protection Of
which Carnegie now has the mo.
nopolyl | 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 il does now; IL is sure TO be as
much an object Of pity Ia tho eyes
Of the FORTUNATE classes then as il is
now, | would settle the whole
question. / declare, and de.
liberately and joyfully stake my
whole future on the declara
tion, that would dedicate
every power Of mind, and body,
and Influence, and positIon 10 the
powers that fight against the sa-