River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-04-06
Temperance.
A National Shame.

taurants within the Exposition
grounds. They have decided to let
exhibitors sell their wet" goods.
The stipulation is, a share in the
gross receipts! Disguise it as we
may, soften it with whatever euphe-
mism, this means that the Local
Directory of this great International
Exposition has decided to 90 into
the saloon business. They are to be
sharers in the profits of vending IL
quors on the Fair grounds. They
are to be silent partnl is in the gains
to be gotten from putting the bottle
to mems lips in this high place of
the nation.
We brand this as a national in
suit. The decision is a burning
shame. 1t is a gross affront to pub
lie morality. 1t stamps the direc-
ton as mercenary; as willing to de-
scend to any depth of humiliation,
in their eager desire to swell the in
come, so that this magnificent COM
memoration of four hundred years
of history shall pay back, dollar for
dollar, what is expended on it.
What an exhibit this is of Chicago's
iberalityl What a spectacle to the
American peoplel What an affront
to the honor of the nationl The
shame is national, because the Ex-
position is by authority of the gen
eral government. This Worlds Fair
has governmental sanction and seal.
1t is no mere concern of a Local Di-
rectory. And yet the big brewers
and liquor vendors seem to have
pocketed the Fair, and to be deter
mined to pocket a large proportion
of the gross receipts.
Think of it, men and women of
this national commonwealth, enter
ing into the heritage of four hun
dred years of such history as God
and free people never made before;
here are 5000 saloons in this city,
wide open every day in the week,
Sundays included. One would
think these were enough to curse a
city with, though they do bring
S3,000,000 annually into the city
treasury. One would think 5000
saloons could satisfy every possible
desire for drink, even in the excep-
tional conditions incident to a
Worlds Fair. But no, the manage
ing directors must themselves go in
to the business, and within the Ex-
position grounds they decide to
open the traffic in strong drink, and
to be partners with brewers and
liquor dealers in the gross receipts.
Does not every instinct of good
citizenship and Christian manhood
cry out against this shameful ALI
ance? Let the hot blast of the peo-
ple's righteous indignation beat
against the men who, not content
with allowing the liquor interest to
hold this city by the throat, are
willing to enter into compact with
it for further spoils at our great
Fair. Let every independent, self
respecting press be heard in rebuke
of this national humiliation and
shame. Sure we are that some men
in the directory have no sympathy
with it, and would have none of 1t.
Let them understand that a great
host outside, who are neither fools"
nor prohibition cranks, resent the
infamy, and blush that Chicago has
the disgrace oft. We must right this
wrong. The American nation is not
calling the people of the earth to-
gether to exhibit a beer-garden. In
a jubilee celebrating the brains in
dependence, we do not want to show
how brains are fuddled. The cradle
of American liberty was not rocked
in a saloon.
1t is time to speak plain words.
Does this Worlds Fair Local Direc-
tory think it is proof against the
best public opinion? Does it pro-
pose to go on with its announced
compact with brewers and distillers,
and virtually say to the protesting
people: "What are you going to do
about it," And is it keeping quiet
about another great question as 1t
has kept quiet about this, lest, in the
words reported from President
Baker, at should make trouble and
harm the Exposition" Millions OF
petitioners have sent up their petit
tions to these directors, praying
against the Sunday opening of the
Exposition gates, and asking for i'm
mediate action on this transcendent
question so that the public mind
may be at peace. And these peti-
tions represent much of the best
brain and Drawn and moral back.
bone of the nation. What have
this little group of Local Directors
done with these petitions2 Pigeon
holed them; and thus treated th'
sacred right of petition with insult
| ing indifference and a kind of con
temptuous silence. Does this mear
that this Christian nation is to hav'
| It's brows Redeemed with the twin
shame of open Exposition gates anC
open Exposition saloons on ever
day of the week, including the Sab
both. with the local management
sweeping in the dollars from both
w, ~o.bar think this Christian ma