MR. STEADFAST'S SOLILOQUY.
Well, my mind 's at last made up. I 'm going against
rum, this 'lection. I 've made up my mind on that pint,
and there 's no shaking me. When I say my mind 's
made up, folks may know what to depend upon. Yes, I
go against rum. It 's time we looked about us. It 's
time the people got their eyes open to the evil, — and
I 'm one of 'em. But (stopping suddenly) the party!
— what would the party say? I did n't think of that before.
The party, of course, must be looked to. What
could we do without party? Where would the Union be,
and our institutions and what-do-ye-call-its, if it was n't
for the party, I should like to know? Party is our egeus,
our pal-pal-what 's his name. But I can't go against rum
without going against party. If I vote against rum, and
the temperance inspectors and constables and things are
chosen, where would our institutions be, and our destiny
as a nation, and the respect of people abroad, who we
don't care a copper about? And then, if I vote for party,
and rum triumphs, it would go on, undermining our moral
institutions and our physical constitutions. So, hang
me, betwixt 'em both, if I know what to do! I have it.
I 'll make a compromise between cold water and rum, and
make it half rum and the other half rum-and-water.
That 's the ticket, and my mind 's made up to vote it
When my mind 's made up, there 's no moving me!
