The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-22
Letter from W. H. rrammel.

TO The Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal:
As a Republican and as a Prohibitionist,
we have OF late been reading the correspond
ence and the editorials of the Journal with
decided interest Neither seem 10 under
stand the temperance sentiment of our State
as we do. We do not understand that there
is any desire on the part of the temperance
people generally that any party should di-
rectly and decidedly, as a party measure,
champion their cause. All they ask of the
parties is to give them an equal chance with
their opponents, the rum power This they
do not entreat and beg for but they demand
it as their absolute right If this is done
you will hear no complaining from the
honest and intelligent Prohibitionists of the
State They have implicit faith in the virtue
of their cause, and if their opinions, as free
men, are respected on par with their oppo-
1ents, it is all they ask of any party as
party. This is certainly modest as we'll as
fair, and should not be denied, and will not
be by any party which respects its voters,
their opinions and their rights They also
believe that prohibition of the man ufacture
and sale of intoxicants as a beve-
rage should be as non-partisan
as the prohibition of larceny and all
similar wrongs, Beverage drinking in any
form of intoxicants is monster wrong
which is now opposed by large majority of
all good people, and at no very distant day
will be opposed by all parties. To-day the
fast friends of prohibition are found in all
religious and moral societies of almost every
shade OF belief and what we who are work
ing for prohibition success desire above
everything else is to adopt plan by which
we can effectually unite this entire senti-
ment. Unity and not division of the great
prohibition army is what we are after. Every
move which tends to divide the same we bit
terly oppose. Twenty-Five, ten or even one
per cent. cannot be spared for any purpose.
At present there seems to be q great deal of
enthusiasm for the cause. Many of the
Journals correspondents have very recently
been stirred up to its interest. We welcome
them with outstretched hands. But there is
a cause for this. Something has induced it.
Whatever it is that has given the cause
at present so much prominence will increase
the same if continued in. II has been done
by. bringing the liquor question
before the electors of other
States in such q manner as they
could express themselves upon the question
without in the least interfering with their
party feelings or their views upon other
questions of national or public interest. The
late Ohio election shows this fact conclu-
siveiy. In that State there is great grand
army of over 323,00 Prohibitonists all of
whom, except between 5000 and 5000, voted
either the Democrat or Republican ticket.
They failed, but they showed their courage
and their strength, which they would not
have done under any other circumstances.
The third or prohibitory party, cut no par
ticular figure with them, and certainly
teaches the utter folly of such course The
man does not live who can show any good
that little tiny party did, and while it did
but little harm, we seriously object to Pro-
hibitionists making simply naughts out of
themselves We want them to so act as to
always count, and thus make themselves
felt The same election, as we'll as the Iowa,
shows that party adoption will do no
good. Indeed, the Iowa election
.sshows it does harm. Prohibition carried in
sshat State by about 10000 majority, and
when it is practically adopted by the Re-
publican party it only carries the State by
about 25, 900 plurality, and only by about
rieM majority. Had it not been for var
to another heming majority in tt ate
who canduh would have been bur I, Aot