The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-06
POLITICS AND CAMPAIGNS.

in the proceedings. Our local columns give
the resolutions adopted, from which it will
be seen that the determination is to take an
advanced step in the movement against the
domination of the liquor traffic. That the
arrogance of the anti-prohibition league is
the public there can be no doubt, and it is
precisely what the Journal predicted would
be the result if the attitude taken by the
league and the Democratic party should
be carried ont by the last Legislature, These
same men met year ago and asked simply
that the question in which they take so much
interest should be sent to TIE people for a
popular vote at special election, so that it
alone might be voted Ihpon apart from any
entanglements witk party questions. But
the liquor league would allow nothing of
the kind, and finding willing tool in the
Democratic party, they strangled the pro-
posed amendment in the Legislature. Last
year all that was asked of the political parties
was a chance to vote. To this request the
alive answer, and made the canvass on that
ISSUE not expressing any opinion whatever
apon the merits of prohibition. But the Dem
Ocrats, with their accustomed duplcty, gave
an evasive assent to the proposition to sub
nit the question to a vote, yet making COM
mon cause with the liquor league, planning
all the while to defeat the amendment in
the Legislature, and thus not to allow pop
ular expression.
1t will be seen by the proceedings that the
conven1cl. yesterday, adhering to their de-
end for prohibition, expressed fear of both
she existing political parties, the one for &C.
tive and the other for passive opposition and
indicated its purpose, if no distinct avowal
in favor of prohibition was made, to take in
dependent political action, or in the
words used, work out their
own salvation" One speaker face
tously said that, with a prohibitory league
double the membership of the anti-prohibt-
Dry league, he expected the Democratic
party to swap of the "antis' for the prohi-
bitionsts. 1t would require no great de-
parture from ''their time-honored principles"
for Democrats to become the most blatant
prohibtionists if thatappeared to be the win
ming side; for they can be all things to all
men without any strain upon precedent.
The last campaign was a costly one
to the liquor men. They were merci-
lessly bled and swindled by the Democratic
party, whose leaders confessed they were
proposing to avoid the merits of the ques-
ton and kill the amendment upon techni-
cality. Paying roundly for something real,
the liquor league was put off with the veri-
est sham. The people and the league both
we're cheated, and, of course, neither party is
7atisfed with the status of affairs. The
Journal urged that the best and only
way to at all quiet the question
was for all parties to permit the issue to be
tested at the only competent tribunal for
such questions-a vote of the sovereign
people. That was not DONE and the ques
ton returns, and will steadily return, to
plague political trimmers, until the oppor-
tunity is granted to vote directly and une-
quivocaly upon the proposition.
The Journal believes earnestly and sin
cerely that the question of temperance regu-
lation is not one that should be mixed up in
party politics. The men who insist upon
that course work harm to their cause,
as it seems to us, whether they be
liquor dealers or prohibitionists. Political
parties in this government are aligned upon
other issues, and no matter how important
prohibition may be to its advocates, it has
not yet reached that overshadowing prom
inence that puts it above the vital matters
upon which the parties are and will be di-
vided in the next campaign. There is too
much division of sentiment among the tenn
perance workers themselves as to methods
and means to warrant the prohibition wing
of the army in making themselves believe
they can compel either the one party or the
other to take q defnitive stand
in favor of that particular measure. 1t
is folly for them to presume upon such a
thing, in view of the fact that the next CAM
paign is national one and that the ques-
tons upon which it will be fought are ones
which cannot now be overridden by any
particular phase of the temperance problem
The Democratic party is the party of free
whisky, ii IS the party of social disorder and
public immortality. The Republican party is
the opposite of this in its broader character
lstics and general tendency. These PROPOSE
tons are political axioms, and it would
be an insult to Intelligence to
stop and argue them. Those who
aornast1v apd eiDcaralv in