Backbone. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. ;) 1897-1906, 1897-10-01
BACK BON E.


then called the Anti Dramshop ticket. But this was
in the midst of the war; when its outcome doubt
full and our father said: Zone thing at time Let
overthrow the rebellion and free the slaves and
we will then take up this question So generally
said and think wisely the enemies of the saloon
in the North. The slave freed. "Now," said
the enemies of the saloon take up the liquor ques-
ton.' mot yet,' replied the leaders of the Repub-
lican party. I'VE must complete with the bal
lot the work which began with the bullet we
must reconstruct the South" This cry and the
bloody shirt carried the Republican party through
several campaigns, although there was not thing
which the national organization could do to hasten
the South's reconstruction After some years we
said again, "Now take up the liquor ISSUE" mot
yet" said the adroit politicians "The tariff issue
is upon and the commercial life of the nation de
ponds upon it's right settlement" Twelve years
more passed by, with the of anti-saloonists
held in the party ranks by this plea. "Now," said
the lovers of the home although in decreased num-
bers and with less spirit ''take up this burning is
sue' ''Not yet" said the supposed patriots who
run the Republican machine "The money issue is
in the air and must be settled first" Again were
patriots appealed to vote the old ticket 'just this
once" in order to save the nation once
How long shall this farce go on? Everybody
knows ought to know that there is little sincerity
in all this talk about the great principles which
parties could more safely win its way to power or
retain the power already gained by changing it's
position on the tariff money question, it would be
done in the tWinkling of an eye. AS 1t is, large
numbers of voters ate crow in large quantities last
! fall in order to stay with their parties Leading
| politicians occupied position upon the issues OF
the campaign exactly opposite to that held by them
in recent years. The party press performed most
wonderful acrobatic feats And all this to save the
| nartv nd To keen themselves
and in the line Of official or party preferment
Are the people blind? Do they not see how they
are being enslaved, humbugged and sold out? Other
campaigns are coming Ambitious leaders are
already lying low in order that they may know what
to believe in order to have the high privilege of
leading patriotic charge in support of holy prnci-
pies for which they would die-in a horn Tariff
may be the next issue. 1t probably will not be-
/ Money will probably again come to the 'front.' al
| though in different form from that of the cam
paign of 1896. Men who in the last campaign de-
clared impetuously that must choose between the
immediate reconciliation of silver and the death
Of the nation, will solelnnly point out some other
economic wrong the real pague-spot in the ma
TONS life And when the enemies OF the saloon
urge that the prohibition question is of greater i'm
portance than their new-found issue, as it was OF
the issues which brought to the front in prevl-
Gus campaigns, they will be accommodated and
tickled and humbugged with a cheerful assent to
their proposition But it will be added that although
prohibition is the great question, this other issue is
the in which the people just now most deeply
interested, and their minds so set upon It, that
it is useless to urge any other, however important
until this one is settled and put out of the way.
And orators will strut and. sweat and tear their
hair, and the press will appeal to all men of patri
otto impulses to lay aside their partisan CD preju-
dices Just this once and save the country by put
ting their absolutely unselfsh candidates in power
Some self-sacrifcing patriots will hire brass bands
which will play the pieces which led the ar
mics of the Union to victory. Torches will flame
gold or silver bugs other kind of bugs will
for what it will bring them faunt banners and raise
.l,o. ,inlzir Will he