The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-15
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
Temperate Temperance People.
~ Ird;+or OF the IndiananoIia TouTuaa:

As a prohibitionist who for more than
thirty years has neither taken off his armor
nor beaten retreat, nor sought an ambu-
lance in the battle for temperance, l wish to
indorse the editorial wisdom of the Journal
in demanding of the present General Assem-
bly, some honest, more restraining legislation
upon the liquor question, and in rebuking
somewhat sharply misguided extremists,
who prefer free whisky as the only alter
native to prohibition.
The influence of this latter class of unrea-
soniHg and unreasonable men always
wrought disaster to the cause of tenn
. perance, and subjected its more rea-
sonable advocates to undeserved rdicule.
Now that Democratic grannies have pro-
cured an amendment abortion upon the
clerks of the last assembly, and that the
postmortem reveals a clear case of too much
previousness on the part of Democratic doc
tors in the "bornin'" stage, and the unfor-
tunate founding unwept, unhonored and
unsung, only awaits quiet interment at the
hands of prepaid Democratic undertakes
one may say what one could not have SAID
during the late campaign, namely: That we
prohibitionists keep too many dead beats"
and self-styled Solomons in positions where,
in crisis, they may do more harm than good
to the cause. To illustrates: Last summer
and fall, the writer received several letters
requesting that appointments for temperance
speeches be made for parties who had pro-
cured recommendations from the State Tenn
perance Association, but who, as it was dis
covered too late to be remedied, sought this
method to raise money enough to defray
the expenses Of their own liquor bills
Another instance is that of certain
called official temperance organ, which dur
ing the campaign kept up it's violent attacks
Z uSino
all their wisdom and ability to secure an
honest and fair submission of the amend
ments to popular vote.
The attention of temperance men, esreci-
ally of Temperance Republicans is called to
these facts that they may think at least
twice before running off with these selfas-
sumed Solomons who howl prohibition or
or nothing" while the free traffic iE intox-
cants deluges our homes with an increasing
tide OF devastation.
Moreover, there is a humanitarian as we'll
as doegedly dogmatic, not to say fanatic,
side to this question.
'' Government and laws are for the protec-
ton of our homes and property, and shall
we refuse all protection simply because we
cannot get precisely the kind and form of
protection we desire? This is the act of mad
men. This is abandoning our homes and
our children to the rayages of ruthless foe.
The amendment which cost many of us
so much time and labor and anxiety is dead.
and there is no hope of its successful
entrance into politics for four wears and no
possible hope of its adoption for eight years.
Shall we for eight long years tamely submit
to the present practically free-whisky law,
because a set of political trlcksters have
thwarted the will of the people and prevented
the further progress of the prohibitory
amendment?
But is it true, say you, that the question
cannot enter politics for four years? Yes,
demonstrably true.
l. That the present Democratic Legisla-
ture will agree to any prohibitory amend
ment is absurd at sight, for it was elected for
the express purpose OF killing such amend
ment, and the blood is already upon their
hands and the slain victim is still upon the
. cooling board" of the lower House.
2. The Democratic party are under bonds
to the liquor leaguers for all time to come to
slay Tire monster prohibition wherever he
may raise his hydra head or wag his venom
Gus TAIL
So temperance people can hope for no good
thing from the party that has in the past
been on the wrong side of every great ques-
ton, and has given, in advance, bonds that
in the future it will be found ready to join
any conspiracy against the people.
3. AS temperance men, and as loyal citi-
Xens we ought not to seek to complicate the
Republican party with the cause of prohibit
ton, two years hence when the very life of
the nation will be in the balance, and our
wrong way.
But we will set up a prohibition party,
and bring the Republican party to time, say
some.
In reply to this it may be said first that
the Republican party has too fearful mis-
sion to perform to stop and fool with such
madoaps; and secondly, the success of such
q movement would only place the State hope
lessly in the power of the Democratic party,
whose leaders now, in one house of the Legis-
lature. are Haunting their treason and murder
of twenty years agoin the face of the people
and sneeringly asking What are you going
to do about it?'
Let me say to all honest temperance men,
'let us do nothing in our zeal for prohibition
that may defeat the only party through
which we can ever expect to secure pro-
hibition and turn the government over to
that party in whose ranks alone treason
found moral and physical support in the
dark days of the rebellion" But, rather let
us join with those journals which are asking
the present Legislature to give the people
some honest, definite, unequivocal law upon
the liquor question. re.
Temperance Conservatism.
To the Editor of tho Indianapolis Journal
was pleased with one of your short
editorials the other day, on the right of prl-
yate opinion as to the best methods of tenn
perance reform. This is a good time to
reflect on your suggestions. Let us run up
flag of truce-not to surrender, but to go
get our wounded and bury oar dead. The
sight of a flag of truce makes both sides con-