New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-25
TIE SITUATJON ~ INDIANA.

The blunder capacity of the Democratic
party is strongly displayed in the Indiana can
vass this year. A letter from our CORE
spondent in Indianapolis printed in another
column, brings ont this fact very clearly. The
party has, as usual, got itself into trouble
needlessly. The temperance question was
outside politics. and would have remained
there if the Democrats had had the sagacity
to let it alone But they thought that by fore
ing the Republicans to take position on
the side Of temperance they could gain the
support of the liquor interests and thus in
crease their own strength They proceeded on
the basis of their paIty's policy everywhere.
They believed that by addressing themselves
to the bummer elements" they could outvote
the respectable people Of the State. They are
likely to find ont their mistake. The liquor
vote is proving much smaller than they
calculated it wodId be, and is not likely to be
equal to the votes they will lose by the deser-
ton of Democrats to the Republican SIDE.
The Democratic position is as untenaDle as it
was unnecessary. The question was not
whether a prohibition amendment should be
adopted, but whether the people should have
an opportunity to vote for its adoption. The
Democrats by their headlong zeal TO catch the
liquor vote have put themselves III the position
of denying the people tins opportunity. They
say plainly: 4" We are against prohibition, and
we are in favor Of dcpriying the people of an
opportunity to vote on the question" This
was really the attitude of the Democratic
State Convention, although it was thinly dis
guised by the stradde which the agile Mr..
Hendricks executed on the issue lie sub
seQuently revealed the true spirit of his party
by saving that it was the Democratic purpose
to smother the amendment i'll the Legislature
and never allow it TO reach the people at all.
The stupidity of policy like this is remark
able. As if any party could obtain popular
support by telling the people that they could
not be trusted TO vote on question which
profoundly concerns their families and their
homes. The Republicans have taken the only
position possible for rational man to accept
They do not declare that prohibition amend
mcnt is wise, or that they are convinced OF
its desirability, but they say simply that the
people have an unquestiOnaOle right to decide
the matter for themselves. 1t is not strange
under these circumstances that the Republicans
have a good prospect OF carrying the state.
In Indiana, as in Ohio, the Democrats have
put themselves needlessly intO IN embaIrass-
ing and unfortunate position. They have not
waited for so radical All issue as prohibition
to be raised, but have FASTENED to say that
| they are against temperance measures CT all
kinds. In OHIO they are Fl Ehting against both the
taxation and the restriction OF the liquor traffic
In Indiana they are fighting against lhe right
of the people to vote nIon the question Of
prohibition. Il is clear that this blind haste
to defend the liquor interests i'll whatever
Iolcy they may ABORT las done more TO
Trecip,ate the temperance issue into politics
| than ten years Of agitation 10y temperance ad-
vocatcs could have accomplished. Thousands
of voters who have honest doubts about the
wisdom of prohibition viii be driven into the
ranks Of the Irohibitionists by this open and
! shameless avOwa Of the Democrats that the
Iumseers should be allowed TO 90 as they
! please, untaxed and unrestricted, and that
the people shall not even be- allowed to vote
on the question. The Democratic party has
done many stupid things during the past
quarter Of a century, but this performance of
| Messrs. Hendricks aud English in Indiana
heads the list. Whatever may bc said of the
Democracy elsewhere, in Ohio and Indiana
| it is undenlably the party Of Free Rum