Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-04-21
OUR TRUE POLICY.
We have received several

nbNC iCJOiNCQ cSNNi0l
nications asking our opinion in regard
to the kind of law we shall want, we
mean in the relation to the law in de-
tail. Now we beg leave TO say that in
our opinion, it would be bad policy to
agitate this matter at the prest time
We see no good to be gained but much
harm may be the result. The first
thing to be done is to elect legisla-
ture who are heartily in favor of entire
prohibition; and this we shall fail to do
without the greatest care on our part.
Events are transpiring every day which
we shall do well to notice, and from
which we should learn practical les
sons. The friends of prohibition have
frequently been defeated by the very
men elected by themselves. In New
Jersey, the last year, the first, and al
most the only member to speak against
prohibition was Mr.. Day who repre-
sented one Of the strongest prohibltory
law districts in the State, and so in the
Pennsylvania legislature this year. The
members from the strongest temper
ance districts in the State where there
were strong majorities for the law, have
defeated the measure. This is true of
the members from Chester, Washing
ton. Lycoming, and other counties,
while they were the most, if not all of
them pledged men; otherwise they
could nc have been elected This is
also true of Eli X. Price and Patterson
who were elected fcom Philadelphia
There have been similar cases in every
State in the Union, and il may prove
in Indiana, without great care is used.
IL will never do for us TO support any
man unless we have the fullest nssu-
rance that he is right. We must have
men who are not in the market-who
cannot be bought. Our political friends
must excuse us in this matter. We
have had sad experience on this sub
ject in almost every state where our
issue has been made. Witness the re-
suit in Wisconsin The friends were
told there you must not make the is
sue at the ballot box in the election but
submit the question to the people. and
u II majority vote yea, then the legisla-
ture will feel instructed to pass the
law A large majority voted yea; but
have they got the law? We answer
No. Nor can they get it this year. If
our friends in Wisconsin instead of vo-
ting on the naked question. had elected
none but true men, the result would
have been different. They no doubt
viii profit by experience. Happy will
it be for us in Indiana, if we profit by
il, also. We repeat, then. the on
Ely thing to be done by the friends
OF prohibition in this Stateis, to elect a
good legislature; and this we can do.
and this we are bound to do; and if our
parties want our votes they must put
in nomination such men as indicated
above. Ii they do not. we shall put
them in nomination ourselves in our
different localities. Doubtful men won't
answer, we must have tried men.
We counsel our friends all over the
State to be firm. Make no entangling
alliances with any party, unless, be-
yond all question, the candidates are
reliable. The great question now be-
fore the people is the entire prohibition
of the liquor traffic. This issue, We
believe, is more important than all 9th
er questions combined; and in view of
it, the friends Of temperance should act
consistently; and we have no doubt
they will; at least, SO We are advised
from every quarter. For this one OBJ
iect, then, let the armor be buckled
on. Remember, friends, the work to
be done is to educate the people; tell
them what prohibition is, and what it
wall do, and you secure their influence.
Call meetings in your churches and
school houses, distribute tracts and pa
pers in all your families--let your mot
to be agtate, ogitatc. Asto the best
manner of securing such legislature,
we shall have occasion TO speak often,
of course. In the meantime we warn
our friends against any and every issue
rendered, except the voting for good,
true and reliable prohibitory law men.
Depend IN it, this our only, only hope.
Temp. Union.