Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-10-02
Hands ashing Politics Again.

Mr.. Editor: A critic comes forward
in your columns and scores prOhibi-
tionlsts aud Rev. Morrow, who "ad-
vised the upright, moral voter to
wash his hands Of any doings with
the great national parties"
Pray, Mr.. Critic, what right has the
Democratic party to the vote Of the
moral, upright voter? Does it repre-
sent him? Can he consistently or
conscentiously cast ballot for that
ticket? | say No. The only place
that the upright, moral voter can
register his conviction against the
liquor traffic, with its greed and cor
ruption, is at the ballot box on cleo
ton day with the Prohibition party.
Greed and corruption have nullitied
the police powers expressly reserved
in the states under the constitution,
by granting permits to sell liquors
where the state authorities had out
lawed it. They have taken the flower
Of American manhood from Christian
homes and after multiplying a law
which was the clearly expressed will
of the people, compelled them to act
as bar keepers in the army cahUeen to
debauch their comrades. They rejoice
when Clarkson attempts to bride St.
John, and afterwards when he com
mits larceny, in the interests of his
party, instead of serving time in Sing
Sing, they make him Assistant Post
master General of the United States.
They put drunken sailing master in
charge Of the Charleston, and what
Spanish guns could not do, they did
seat the first of the new, white navy to
the bottom of the sea. They buy up
the press to deceive the voter, license
and superintend vice among our sol
dicrs and recommend through Rev.
! Chancellor Andrews the adoption of
this system in American cities.
While you are enjoying your grand
banquet seated hand in glove with
your confrcres Greed and Corruption,
/ look into the dining room and there
floats out too much of the odor of
ancient fish and cmbalmed beef, and
] decide then and there that as for me,
| will with clean washed hands on
clean linen be thankful and accept the
plain, humble fare set before me,
knowing that such conditions rs exist
in St. Louis, Chicago, New York and
other cities do not exist by my vote.
With Hale Johnson ! say, "If they
say to us Men will have it, we can
answer, Not by my vote if another
says Men will sell it, again we reply,
Not by my vote | am not bound to
abolish the saloon, but only my inter
est in it. My vote may not hurt the
saloon, but | am bound to vote right
all the same. Saloons may go on
like the brook. Men may die in them
like flies and hell grow fat on drunk
ards. Girls may be betrayed and
boys baited hellward. Faith may be
wrecked and character dismantled.
Homes may be destroyed and women
and children beggered. Soldiers
Homes may still sell drinks to the old
veterans, aud army canteens debauch
the young ones. Our national CAPT
tol may have saloon at either end.
Senators and representatives may be
drunk on the floors of congress, but
mot 10y our votes"
"Who is the better man, " Noah or
his revilers? Lot or the Sodomites?
Daniel or the Babylonian princes?
Christ's little band of followers or the
great majority that outvoted them by
crying "Crucify Him"y
We come before the judgment hall
OF American politics the ballot box
and doing our duty rs we conscieu-
tiously see it,, we wash our hands Of
all partnership in this crime against
God, home and country and say, III
you will sanction this evil, it shall b Z
not with my vote " Let us stand
"For the truth that makes men free
For the love that shines IN deeds,
For the life which this world needs,
For the church whose triumph speeds
The prayer Thy will be done
For the right against the wrong,
For the weak against the strong.
For the poor who We waited long
For the brighter age TO be.
For the faith against tradition,
For the truth gainst superstition.
For the hope whose glad trultiou
Our waiting eyes shall see
HANDS WASHER
but not OF the PLATE sort
Carload of Pears.