The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-22


TO the Editor of the Indianapolis JouInsa:
There are several classes of equally honest
people differing in their views in regard to
this question, and we shall make greater pro-
gress in solving it as we recognize this honest
difference, and thus better understand each
other. The classes are:
1. Prohibitionists who not only believe
that this liquor crime, as well as all Others
ought to be forbidden, but also believe that
public sentiment will now enforce prohibit
bition in liquor as we'll as it enforces it
against other crimes.
2. Those who equally recognize the enorm-
ity of the liquor traffic and its demoralizing
effects upon society, and desire it's extinction,
but who past experience has taught that
the espousal OF radical measures has usually
resulted in the ascendency OF the party
which is the friend of the liquor traffic,
3, Another, and 1 believe the smaller class
by far, are those who care only for party sue
cess and give no thought to the question on
its merits. This class embraces low grade
of trading politicians and those weo make
office-seeklng trade and are uncomfortable
in the influence, though vicious in their po-
litical methods.
4. The class governed wholly by greed. A
very large majority of the voters are en-
braced in the first two classes. They are both
agreed as to the desirability of putting down
the liquor crime for they are both intelli-
gent and honest and discern its enormity
Consolidate them into one class for prohibit
ton, and they would be power as effective
in the enforcement of law against this as
against any other crime, for both believe the
traffic wrong Then the question prelimin-
airy to this cooperation for prohibition is
the possibility and certainty of the success of
the party which has such convictions. Here
lies the duty of Prohibitionists. I believe
it is a mistake TO take counsel of
our past experiences and fears. The
time was when most of US rightly
did that, perhaps. But it will not do to
measure the present by the past, A new
generation is coming to the front who have
had better lessons taught them from their
youth than some of us.
Now as to the work before us in the con-
crete. Carlisle says: He is true reformer
who first begins and perfects reformation on
himself" We may talk till doomsday about
what the party ought to do, and it may end
in talk, No man ever prayed half
his lips. OF course, / understand
that this question can only enter
into the election of some candidates for State
and legislative offices. 1t is the chief ques-
ton effecdng our social and economic rela-
TONS Other questions will determine ma
tional elections, There is a very large part
of the Republican party honestly adhering
to the belief that prohibition ought to come
now. A smaller portion of the Democratic
party believe the same thing Now, if all
these would organize q am glad to know
that is being done in many counties) on the
Of S,,to
clubs, with stated meetings, and when the
time comes attend the primaries county con-
ventions etc. of their respective parties,
they would solve the question of the posi-
ton of their respective parties, and their leg
islative candidates, and leave little of that to
talk about. If the counties of Indiana
having large cities could have controlled it.
the last Republican State convention would
not have favored the submission of the pro-
hibition amendment to vote of the people
But the other counties poured in a class of
delegates who held to other views, and
overwhelmed the opposition. The same
counties can as easily again control the ac-
ton of the party.
l believe in making this fight as on all
other questions, inside of the party. 1t would
be ruinous both to the best party in exist
ence, and TO the temperance cause itself, to
divide the forces holding like convictions,
and only differing in judgment as to the time
All the achievements that have been made in
the temperance cause have come through ex-
listing parties. In Maine Kansas and Iowa.
through the Republican party; in Kentucky,
Georgia and other States, partial prohibition,
through the Democratic party. strong
prohibition party, indeed separate and
distinct from either of the existing parties, is
what we want, but not with the appendage
of candidates; for it would be ridden to
death by mountebanks. Such an organiza-
ton, with its ramificatons In every town
ship in Indiana, would soon settle what the
position of the parties would be.
Now, the way to become true reformer
on this question is to be at the place of duty
in primaries and all other conventions of
the respective parties, and elect delegates
and candidates that hold the views we main
tain on this question. Fight it out inside of
the party. 1t is the way OF all experience
1t is the way majority was elected to
the last Legislature OF Indiana
who voted for the prohibition
amendment-the way that large minority
of the Democratic members of that body was
nominated and elected to vote for the prohi-
bition amendment 1t is idle for any one to
say the Republican party will not do this or
that The Republican party does whatever
a majority of its adherents, availng them
selves of all their privileges in primaries and
conventions, tell it to do. The people who
vote the Republican party. The large per
cent. ofthe party who believe in the Now
can easily influence those holding like CON
victions, as to the merits of the ques-
ton, to try now. We need not so
much concern ourselves about what
position the party should take next
year. We can all know what position that
will be on the liquor question, if all who
have decided convictions aid this winter in
organizing an immense prohibition party