The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-06
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
How Prohibition Works in Politics.


Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
COMMITTING the prohibition business, Daven-
mort Ia, is Republican by 1,500 majority. Last
wear the Democrats carried the county by 400
majority This year, owing to the action of the
State Republican convention, the Democratic
ticket is estimated to receive 5000 out of 1000
votes Ex-Governor KirkWo thinks the Re
publicans acted unwisely. The convention was
hacked with eXcitable people, who had wild
notions about doing everything right away. 1t
will be interesting 10 note in the returns OF the
fan elections the contrast between Ohio and
Iowa"
To the Editor of the Indianapolis JounSl:
On the 3Oth of last June l cut from your pa
per and placed in my pocketbook the above slip,
intending to keep it until after the fall cleo
tions. had forgotten it, but last evening ac-
cidentaliy came across it, and find it "interest-
ing" in Just the way 1 anticipated. The Com
mercal Gazette may find it interesting to read it,
and noticed how 1t helped to weaken good
cause and along with prohibition defeat the
Republican party in Ohio.
It will not do for the Commercial Gazette to
curse and blame Prohibitionlsts for the defeat of
the Republican party in Ohio. If there was
guilt in the matter it was one of the guiltiest
parties itself. 1t took position which compelled
thousands of the most conscientious and best
men in the State OF Ohio to vote in third party
in order to vote in way their consciences would
approve. 1t does good for the CONNER
oial Gazette to say ''If we had received the
votes the Prohibitionists cast we would have
elected our ticket" After utterances similar
ITO that at the head of this letter, those Pro-
lhib1tionists votes we're inst as much out of the
reaob and just little belonging to the Re-
publican party as an equal number of Democrat
votes. The ProhibitOnists to-day hold the bal
the only question OF any proportions in politics
to day. They have eternal right on their side,
too. They are not voting and working for pro-
hibttion for fun, for fame, for gain for eXped1en
cy but for right; and, call them what you will,
they not the kind of men to be driven from
their position by all the abuse in the world
They will adhere to it, holding the balance of
power in the State, until a party-it may be
from expediency, for votes and for an issue
gathers around it, and the party that does so
will win and have twenty years lease on life.
There is just such party in Indiana
to.dayEsuch .., class OF 90. people. They \,
''excitable," but they are determined to vote for
ticket that means and says prohibition. They
hold the balance of power. If they are driven
to vote third ticket the Republican party will
be beaten in Indiana in 1884 just as surely as
the sun shall rise on election day. They do not
they want TO vote with one of The two parties,
but that if prohibition is not ind0rsed by one of
them, third ticket will be put in the field.
That third ticket Will be defeated. 1t VIII have
several thousand votes, however. These votes
will be lost TO one or the other of the two old
parties.
General Foraker might have been Governor of
Ohio had it not been for his own words and the
words of the Commercial Gazette in opposition
Tended the whisky league Instead of boldly
making fight for the homes of the people they
sought to conciliate the league by abusing the
ProhibtiOnists. The league accepted no such
proffers of friendship, and the Republican party
in Ohio was caught between the devil and the
deep sea.
Now, the Republican party in Indiana may
follow the examples set in Iowa or Ohio To
follow OHIO means certain and absolute defeat
i'll year when they can i'll afford to be defeat
ed To follow Iowa means success, and the party
is wise tnat succeeds in getting that vote in In
diana which VIII be given to the party Indoors
ing and fighting for prohibition, even If il has
to be a new and third party.
What these few thousand people from Ia, 900
TO 100000 want is the opportunity of voting for
ticket on which the whisky league is squareiy
defied and promised war to the death.
do not know that these ProhihitiOnists die
tate any terms to either of the two great political
parties. They simply say: "Gentlemen. these
are our conscientious convictions We will vote
with the party that stands right this ques-
ton. If neither party shall be right, We will or
game one that will be-"
There must he a square, fair fight on this ques-
zion III Indiana. Is the Republican party pre-
pared to defend the home interests of our State,
or does it prefer defeat?
EDWARD P. WHALLoN,
VrN-C,FSNEc Ind Oct