Backbone. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. ;) 1897-1906, 1897-07-01
UNCLE SAr1'S DILEr1rlA.

UNCLE SAr1'S DILErlr1A.
A few days ago Uncle Sam was sitting in the ro-
tunda of our National Capitol in Washington medi-
tating on the sad condition of the of peo
pie because of legalzed wrongs in national af-
fairs At the same time two men came in from op-
posite directions. The first was Gospel Minister
with his Bible in hand The second was a Saloon
Man with his U. S. License in hand, whereupon the
following conversations took place.
Uncle SAM to the Gospel Minister
Are you in favor of our government licensing the
business of liquor selling for beverage purposes?
Gospel Minister.-No it is the greatest evil in our
nation, and should be wiped off from the face of the
earth. Our churches declare against tax and Ii
cense and say The liquor traffic cannot be legalized
without SIM
Uncle Sam-Do you always vote with parties
which are opposed to the liquor traffic?
Gospel Minister.-Well, no. not exactly Ny party
is not yet educated up to that point, and you know
it is hard for me to oppose my dear old party.
love the historic old party.
Uncle Sam.-Are you willing to forsake your politi-
cal party if it will not take up this liquor question
you desire, but continues to champion license laws?
Gospel Minster.-That is a hard question to an
I will continue to talk and preach temperance
wherever can and hope to get my party educated
up to that point. But as the best men in the nation
belong to it, and as do not like to throw my vote
away and could not win' at any rate 1
think should Choose the least of two evils'
Uncle Sam to the Saloon Man:
Are you in favor of legalzing the liquor traffic by
license laws: both in the state and in the nation?
Saloon Man.-Yes for by paying tax or IL
cense fee, we secure the protection of govern
ment.
Uncle Sam.-Do you always vote for license
party?
Saloon Man.-Yes, and for no other. I would not
for moment think of voting for any party that op-
pies every time
Uncle Sam-Would you forsake your old party if
it refused to further uphold the egazation of the
liquor traffic?
Saloon Man.-Yes, my principles must be upheld
by any political party that expects to have my ballot
That is what ballot is for, to vote for what we
want and expect to get by thus voting. We do not
belong to any party; the license parties belong to
us, and they know it,
UNCLE SANS MEDITATIONS
Well such talk as I have had with the Gospel Min
lister and the Saloon Man, puts to thinking more
than before Here are two of my subjects, who
want directly opposite things The saloon and
iquorselers of all classes throughout the country
vote only for license parties. Gospel Ministers and
their associates want the saloon business abolished,
but up to this time 95 per cent of them vote just the
same ticket that the saloon votes, VIZ for Ii
parties and the result u.s. that such parties
kept in power This is a government of the people,
by the people, and for the people; king, or
monarch, to take the law in my hands against
the expressed will of my people, declared by their
ballots AS long as Christian voters, and good cti-
zens talk and preach against the traffic. but continue
to vote for the traffic, cannot change my present
policy of legalizng this evil I make it my business
to carry out the will Of my people expressed by
their ballots, on all questions Up to this time Ii
cense parties have been kept in power by large ma
jorities.