Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1882-08-11
Friday Morning, August IL. 1882.
THE INDIANA REPUBLICANS.


A few days ago the Indiana Democrats held
their State convention and attempted to
''straddle" the temperance question. They
succeeded in displeasing the temperance wing
of their party, and the liqu men were not
made very enthusiastic by the proceedings.
Still, as the only hope of the liquor men
was in the Democratic party they accepted
what was offered them gracefully as posi-
bic, and agreed to stick by their friends.
The State convention of the Republicans
which was held in Indianapolis Wednesday,
did, as was expected it would, much wiser
work than the Democratic convention. 1t is
said that the convention perhaps the
most representative in character of
any ever held in the State.
And, in addition to the 1857
delegates, there were in attendance hundreds
of leading citizens of the State, who desired
to express by their presence and influence
recognition of the fact that all questions
which virtually affect the interests of the
people should be submitted directly to the
people The plank of the platform referring
to the prohibition question was the result of
repeated conferences of the leaders, and, as
one of them remarked, was 'sths child of
many prayers It is as follows "Resolved
That, reposing trust in the people as the
fountain of power, we demand that the pend
ing amendments to the Constitution shall be
agreed to and submitted by the next Legisla-
ture to the voters of the State for their de-
clsion thereon. These amendments were not
partisan in their origin and are not SO in
character, and should not be made so in vot
Iprr hat
the people are divided in sentiment in regard
to the propriety of their adoption or rejec-
ton, and cherishing the right of private
judgment, we favor the submission of these
amendments to a special election, that
there may be an intelligent decision thereon,
uninfuenced by partisan issues"
The spirit which animated the convention
was indicated in the speech of Attorney Gen
eral Baldwin, who said Last week the
Democratic convention registered the de.
crees of the distilleries and saloons of this
State. We, the Republicans, propose to give
our schools and churches chance to try con-
illusions with them. The Republicans of In
diana propose this fall to see whether that
section of our constitution which reads 1.-The
people have at all times an indefsasible right
that section which forbids the passage of any
law restraining the inhabitants of this State
from instructing their Representatives, mean
anything or not, or whether these great con-
stitutional rights are to be stifisd under the
juggling of a political platform written to
mean nothing and to conciliate two warning
factions without committing itself to either.
The contest thus started in Indiana will be
watched with much interest. At this time it
seems almost certain that the Republicans
will be victorious They will lose some votes
in the cities, but they will gain many from
the temperance wing of the Democratic par
ty. They will have the hearty support of
the best people of the State, and of many
who do not usually take an active part in pol
itics. 1t is probable, too, that the good wo-
men of Indiana will make their influence
felt in the fight