The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-06
YINcENNEs, Ind, Oct. 81,
Prohibition as a Partisan Help.


To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
There is so much good sense in the editorial of
last Saturday that its force ought not to be lost
for want of a word OF explanation and applica-
ton. The Journal makes the common mistake
that the word prohibition, as commonly used.
means ths most extreme measures ever thought
of or used for the suppression of the traffic.
With nine-tenths of those who called Prohi-
ioitionists, and who, for short, call themselves
Pr0hiOitonists, it means only some form of
law that shall put the traffic under bonds more
or less severe, as the persistent policy of those
engaged in 1t to violate all moderate measures
shah make necessary. That the Continued dis
regard Of all laws heretofore tried here and
every where may drive the people of the United
States to war OF determination is possible, but
nothing of that kind is seriously contemplated
IN the near future by anyone who has
carefully studied the subject in its sew
leral bearings. The Maine law, in Maine
itself, is not what the more judicious
temperance men would prefer If the li0uors-sell-
ers would respect any regulations less vigorous
think may say that Dine-tenths of the Proh-
bitionists of Indiana would be glad to accept
any law that looked TO the suppression of places
OF pubnc tipping, and such as be passed
under the present constitution, if the liquor
sellers would consent. The clamor for constitu-
ltlonal amendment is partly because that is the
fashion now, and partly because those who have
STUDIED the surface only imagine that If pro-
MolIlon was III the constitution peace would be
declared and the temperance army might dis
band, but chiefly because the liquor sellers defy
all regulatory laws and refuse to be regulated
Because Of this il require no prohetic inspiration
to foresee that the conflict is lrrepressible and
can end only with the complete overthrow of one
side or the other, and that side wl not be the tenn
perance side, judging from the trend of the last
third of century.
But this misapplication of terms is probably
lnevitable Twenty-Five years ago every Re-
publican in America called an Ahoit ZIONIST
and ciassed with the most extreme men known
by that name, though they sought to only re-
slavery.
not be regulated;hence they became Aholitionists
with vengence and abolished Internationally.
tnlnk this Will be the fate of the liquor traffic,
ana Wnen 1t comes it may thank itself, not the
Prohlbuonists; but nothing of that is con-
templated by the temperance men of to-day
except as "a last resort.
think You are right in your prediction of the
1ate OF the Republican party in Indiana if it
adopts prohibition as it did in Iowa. There
they put 1t in the platform, yet not a dozen Re-
publican papers in the State, AMI not one out
side of the State gave it a cordial support, and
not half OF the Republican politicians of the
state as such did, while almost TO a man the
hepunIcan politicians out of the State
kicks That policy will damn The Republican
party any where where the majority is at best
small and likely to be on the other side anyhow.
mean whlle, however; we must not shut our eyes
TO this political fact; the traffic is in earnest,
ana 1t Is unit, and it has an ally IN the Demo-
cratic party that knows no halfway measures.
That party boldly declares against prohibition,
ana then, TO cover all possible shortages it adds;
and against all sunptuary legislation" mean
ing every form of temperance laws. Whatever
the temperance men may do. or whatever the
Republican party may do, here is stubborn
TACT that we must confront; the liquor men
solid with the Democracy, yet one-third
OF the temperance men of Indiana are Demo-
Gratis. They vote their party ticket just for the
same reason that the Republican temperance
men vote theirs-that is because nobody shows
them any better ticket. Now would it not be wise
for the Republicans TO earnestly and honestly
resolve, as they did in Massachusetts few
months ago in favor of advanced temperance
legislation" without committing ourselves to
any details; only let it be the best that can be
done under our present constitution! We will
not lose a vote that has not already gone to the
Democracy. and we may enlist some from the
party that has so boldly espOused the cause of
free whisky. But if we do so resolve, we must
stand by it, and not do as we did in 18T4-re-
solve and then run away.
Again let me thank You for that editorial ex-
cept so much OF it as is based upon the miscOn-
iception of the purposes of Prohibtionists. It is
Glmely We cannot afford to indOrse prohibition
IA It's abstract sense, and we cannot afford to