Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-04-24
JEREMIAH AND HIS PA.

Tho Boy Seeks Some Information Concern
ing Politics.
BY TALLIE MoRGAN.]
How many voters are there in this
country, pa?'
"Well, in round numbers, about II, :
0OO, ,000."
"How many are in each political par
ty, par
There are about 100000 Republic
ans, 100000 Democrats and 1000, ,0OO
Prohibitionists, Mugwumps, ETC."
Nov, pa, if these 100000 voters
would vote for or against having saloons,
which side would carry?'
"All candid people are willing to ad-
NIT that there are $500, 900 Republicans,
$500, 600 Democrats and 100000 of the
remaining 100000 in favor of prohi-
bition. That would make 6,s00,0O0 out
of the II 900, ,OOO."
whats the reason, pa, that these
$500, 900 people do not join and vote all
the saloons away"
Because the temperance people are
too bigoted and prejudiced to join the
Republican party. Party love with them
is more than principle, and under the
circumstances l am in favor of letting
the states decide the matter for them
selves"
''If the Democratic party would favor
prohibition, would you vote with that
party, pa:"
Jeremiah, you are insensible to the
solemnity of the question. You are ask
ing your father, minister of the gospel,
if he would become traitor to his party?
You are asking your pa if he would vote
with the party of slavery, the party that
brought on the war, the party that killed
Abraham Lincoln, the party of the
slums, the party of the three Rs and the
party that got up the Wilson bill. Rath-
er than leave my party I'd let the liq-
uor traffic go ON forever! jeremiah,
want to impress on your young mind
this solemn warning: Never ask me that
question again, or will not be response
BILE for results!'
wouldn't the temperance Democrat
be a traitor, too, if he would join the
Republican party, and wouldn't he"-
mo, he wouldn't! He would only show
little more than average common sense
in leaving that corrupt party. But it is
useless to talk, jeremiah, since the tenn
perance Democrats are too bigoted and
narrow minded to join the Republican
party. The only thing to do is for ev-
cry state to settle the saloon question
for itself. There is doubt in my mind
anyway about interfering with the
rights of another state. If one state
wants prohibition, another local option
and another high license, all well and
good. The only remedy for the evils of
the liquor traffic is high license, and
there l stand"
Five minutes silence.
you are against the Mormons, amt
you, pa?"
'Mormonism, or polygamy, is the
twin relic of barbarism, and it must be
wiped out of existence in order to save
the honor of the nation"
"Isn't there law against polygamy,
pa?"
eyes, jeremiah, there is, a severe law. "
"Well, pa, since the law doesn't prohib-
it polygamy, why not license it, only put
the license high?"
Because we have no right to license
wrong at any price"
Shouldn't the people of the States
leave the people of Utah settle the mat
ter for themselves"
mo, sir! They would settle it in the
same way the south would settle the
IL LOT l,o
fair name of America, and it must be
wiped out"
"Well, look here, pa. You say the
liquor traffic is a curse to this country,
but because you say it can't be prohibit
ed you are in favor of high license and
in favor of the states deciding the mat
ter for themselves. And, again, you say
that polygamy is a curse to the country,
but you want to prohibit because we
have no right to license wrong. Now,
pa, wouldn't high license place polyga-
my in respectable hands, and wouldn't
the government derive vast revenue
from it, and shouldn't you preach in fa-
vor of high license for polygamy as well
as for liquor
"Bless my soul if the boy hasn't gone
daft! Clear out of my study before L
go on and don't show your face in here
again! I don't know what's the matter
with jeremiah. He is forever asking
questions and then drawing compari-
sons, which tries my Christian patience
to the utmost. l thank the Lord, though,
that have grace enough not to lose my
temper. Now must complete my SER
mon"
When the workmen in our foundries
are doing their heaviest tasks, they drink
nothing but oatmeal water. When Cap