The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-13
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
The Republican Party and Temperance
Legislation.

The Republican Party and Temperance
Legislation.
To the Editor Of the Indianapolis JOuruaE
The opinions of so humble an individual
as myself are perhaps of little consequence
to the public, but as the subject of temper
ance is again being discussed in your col
umns, I beg the privilege OF saying few
words with reference to the position the Re
publican party should take in the next cam
paign. 1t has been a universally conceded
proposition for hundred years or more that
the traffic in intoxicating drinks is so hurt
full to the morals and so deleterious to the
peace and prosperity of the people that it
should be kept under constant control of the
lawmaking power. This has been, and now
is, the common judgment of the people, not
only of this country, but of all countries,
and there is not nation on the globe to-day
where the traffic in intoxicating drinks does
not become a subject of legislation almost as
often as its legislature is in session.
What good, then, is to be accomplished by
reiteratIng the falsehood that the temper
ance question is net a political but moral
question. Whatever question provokes po-
litical discussion and the action of Legislative
voked more political discussion and more
legislation in the last thirty years than the
liquor traffic? Surely none-not even slav-
cry itself. 1t has been, and is, the one sub
ject above all others that consumes the time
and engages the consideration of every legis-
lative body on earth, from the British Parlia-
ment down to the board of trustees of the
smallest municipality. And it must be aD-
parent to all who will give the subject mo-
ments serious reflection, that this discussion
will continue till some legislation shall
be devised that will mitigate, if not entirely
overcome the evils of intemperance. There
is no power on earth that can keep the peo-
pie from discussing methods for getting rid
OF great evil in their midst and any party
that attempts to ignore such evil will
be itself ignored by all earnest, conscien tous
voters who estimate good order, good morals
and the prosperity of the community above
the mere spoils of office. As lifelong Re-
publican l. therefore, insist that the Repub
lican party should take some position on
this subject and there is none it can take
but one of thorough hostility to the further
rule OF the whisky ring in our State. do
not insist on prohibition as a battle-crv. The
inscription on the banner under which [
would like to see the Republican party rally
in the next cam paign, so far as local issues
are concerned, is simply death to the politi-
cal supremacy of the whisky ring in Indiana
politics. 1t is not creditable to our State
the liquor traffic should be dictated by the
saloon-keepers; and it is far from creditable
to the Republican party that it suffers such
a course of things without an earnest,
manly effort to prevent it. And now,
what / think ought to be done is this: Let
the Republican party meet in convention
and take such a decided and unequivocal
stand as will satisfy the average temperance
sentiment of the State. If an earnest pro-
test is made against the rule of the whisky
ring and If an equally earnest purpose is in
dictated to favor such legislation as will miti-
gate the evils that result daily from our
thousands of saloons, the temperance people
of all shades Of opinion will have the good
sense to rally on such platform and work
for the success of the party The temper
ance sentiment of Indiana has never been
fanatical, but it has been earnest, and will
remain earnest in the future 1t is folly to
say we cannot devise any legislation to miti-
gate the enormous evils of the dram traffic
The whole trouble is that all our LEGISLATION
is framed by the whisky-sellers. There has
been no earnest purpose in the work of the
Legislature to restrain the sale of whisky
With very few exceptions ali our legislation
for the last thirty years has been framed, by
all rites, with view of avoiding offense
TO the saloonkeepers. a very large number
of intelligent voters in In1iana, of all par
ties, are not in humor to have this course
of legislation continue for another decade
The sale of Intoxicating drinks is practically
without restraint here, and the rufIian classes
are multiplying with such fearful rapidity,
under the evil influences OF our almost num-
berless dram shops, that the people are be-
coming alarmed and will insist on some
earnest opposition to the further supremacy
of the liquor interest; and if the Republican
party has lost all that splendid moral cour-
age which actuated it in times past, and
gained for it the applause of the world, and
has determined to become a mere seeker
after spoils, it will be superseded by party
that will undertake. in earnest, to preserve
our institutions from the evil influences of
the dram-shop. P. S. KENNEDY
CRAwFoRDsvnLF, Nov ~, 1888.