The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-09
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
Letter from Judge Buckles.

In the article OF to-day & issue OF the Journal
written under the caption, "Hon. win Cum
back" the author says: '"The Republican party
came into existence because the then existing
parties were not true to liberty, and were OPP
posed to human rights" The records disclose
the fact that eighttenths of all the criminal Of
lenses of the State grow, directly or indirectly.
out of the rum traffic. Allow Inc to ask upon
what ground any party bases its claim to be
standing as a bulwark of defense to liberty, hui
man rights and the best interests of the people
so long as it positively refuses to directly
onize an acknowledged evil OF such gigantic
proportions; the avowed enemy Of every home,
every boy and every trne interest Of the Stateq
refuse to recognize any party, by whatever
name it may be called, as being my
true friend which positively refuses to
interpose the strong arm of its influence and
power between my Rome and this deadly, heart
less enemy. What are parties for II not TO Sc
cure, through the influence of party organiza-
ton, the safety of the citizen and the protection
of his home and his interests2 In what possible
sense is this done by pandering to the rum
traficl 1t is asked: Had the charter mem
hers given notice at that time that so soon as
the party obtained power, it would take on pro-
hiDition, how many of the nberfyloving Ger
mans would have east their lot with it2" In re-
ply, I would ask; Had the charter members at
that time given notice that, SO soon AS the marty
attained power, it would take on Ahoitiouism,
how many people would have rallied to Its
Standard" Built did take on Aboitionism,
was saved, and the party secured in power
until the present. 1t was no more the
original purpose of the "charter members" to
directly antagOnize slavery than it was to
oppose the rum power, hut 1t did fight slavery to
its death. And now WIN do men hold up their
hands in holy horror at the mere suggestion
that the party shall now antagonize the whisky
power in the same waya Great as were the
evils OF slavery, they were very limited as COM
pared with those of intemperance.
Again. The writer says that the party "was
not organized TO interfere with any lawful bust
ness carried on under the authority of the State
legislature" Was not slavery recognized by
national law and carried on under the authority
of the State I,eeislature9 And did not the Re-
publican party most heartily inderse the eman-
cipaton proclamation, and then proceed to en-
franchise the slave, who had been dtsenfran-
many things in the several States, existing un-
der legislative sanction, nevertheless been made
issues before the people by the parties?
Again: The author says: "But while men
are horn with the appetite for stimulants, they
will find way to crafty it."
To assume that men are so born, is assuming
what but few will admit to he true. That many
are born with taste for intoxicants, just as
they born with taste for peaches, none
will deny. But the appetite is abnormal, and is
only created by the frequent indulgence of the
taste. But admitting the truth of the whole
statement, therefore, as long as men are . horn
hearts, they will continue to commit murder,
incest, and theft, hence "There is bat one thing
left tor us to do, which is to burden these
crimes with such tax will, in come degree.
compensate the public for the loss it sustains."
Compensate, indeed! In the name of reason
what difference can it make to me whether the
man who ruins my boy, and so forever biights
my home, pays thousand dollars for the pFivi-
lsSs or pays Snt fifty sn esHSs' Trdsr man In
what possible comfort or compensation
would his family derive ioe from the
81 900 for the privilege of making the man
drunk and hence murderer The successful
workings 81 yiae Scott law have been very highly
cd II 4 N W
Scott law is q temperance law. 1t may be- and
doubtless is, success as revenue law, but it
has neither restrained the traffic in intoxlcaRts
nor lessened the evils Of intemperanee, nor viii
or can it do When the whisky leagues of
Ohio and Indiana announced their determine
tion TO stand by the party that wonld stand by
them, the Democratic party said: 1--WE accept
the conditions" and at once resolved against
all sumptuary laws But when the multiplied
thousands of temperance men announced their
purpose to stand by the party that will stand by
them. by their homes and their interests, they
are loudly and vehemently denounced as a set
of crazy fanatics and enthusiasts and it is de-
clared 10 be unwise, imPelitic and really suicidal
for any party to espouse the principle
for which three hundred and twenty-five
thousand conscientious men voted in single
State. The Commercial Gazette practically adj
vocates the policy of shaking of the temperance
fanatics. 1t says, in a recent issue: 'That here
after the Republican party will announce its own
principles. and conduct its campaign in its own
such as sympatfize with its views. have sue
eeeded in shaking off the two hundred ard
of the State, what will they do NEXT But did
not the Republicans of Ohio declare their own
own wayY They resolved in favor of high Ii
ceuse conducted their campaign on the basis OF
the Scott law. They did not furnish single
speaker, or make speech in the Interests of the
second amendment. The temperance people de-
clared in faver of prohibition, furnished their
own sneakers nut them In every part of the State,
and paid every cent of expense incurred in
conducting the campaign in the interest of the
second amendment. There would have been
lust as much reason in denouneing the Demo-
Gratis of Ohio as traitors and assasslns for not
supporting the Republican candidates as there
is, under the circumstances, of so denouncing the
temperance people. Every sneh charge and de-
nuneiatien has but inst one tendency, and that
is to entirely ALLEVIATE these thousands of con-
BcIentious men from the Republican party.
also am "eharter member" and l am
sick and tired of the vile epthets which have
been heaped upon, and the bitter inuendoes
which have been, and are continually being
hurled at the conscientious Prohlbitinnists by
nearly every leading Republican paper in the
party.
ond amendment in Ohio stand the peers of any
men in the nation in education, culture
and breadth OF intellect, hence the
indecency and absurdity of such epithets
being employed. OF course / belong to the
crazy fanatics and fools; but if the Democratic
party strands by the Liquor League, the Repub-
lican party will either stand by the temperance
people, and the aggressive temperance senti-
ment of the day, or il will go to the wall Mr.. B.
and those who are OF his thinking have been try
ing for many years in Indiana "to make the
horse drink" by all the help they could secure
from all kinds of license laws, and have most
signally failed. Amt now we simply ask the
privilege of leading the animal to water and see
it, by such help as we can secure from prohib-
1tory law, we cannot make him drink, and if we
should FAIL we will have done no more than they
have done. They have tried, let us try.
GREEECASTLE, Nov. 6. L. @. BUCKLES.
Another Letter from Colonel Cumbaclx.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journai
I read my friend NJ. L. Bundy's letter in to-
days Journal with interest. l recproeate all
his regard and esteem.
Bundy seems to have the same trouble with
the other poiticians-he is afraid We will be
beaten if we make an open fight with the
saloons.
If the Republican party had been organized
for no higher purpose than to carry elections, it