The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-17
Reflections on the Late Election.

To the Editor the Indianapolis Journal:
There can surely be no greater error than
that the change in favor of the Republicans in
Cincinnati and Cleveland was the result of
practical business men voting that ticket
This would mean that there were business
men-Democrats-who left their party this
election. Now, is it not more probable that the
gain came from the saloon interest? The Re-
publican managers did everything in their
power in those cities, particularly in Cincin-
natl to win and hold the saloon Interest. The
ticket nominated in Hamilton county was
made from head to tail with that OBJ
The Commercial Gazette took delight in
insulting and ridiculing temperance men, and
did all in its power to drag the Republican
party down to the Democratic level, and
made no effort to win any other vote. Its
leading editorials were written to encourage
all engaged in the liquor traffic to resist all
laws that did rot foster their business. The
Scott law is the greatest victory the saloon
interest ever gained in Ohio. It's author
and supporters may be temperance men, but
they have most signally surrendered strong
fort to the enemy. Taxing or in any way
laying burdens on the traffic, that throws
trenches the business, for the country at last
foots the bill.
Does it lessen the evils of drunkenness to
drink licensed or taxed beer and whisky?
Would it be a matter to rejoice over, if the
libertine could get the parents to accept
money to satisfy them for a ruined daugh-
ter? 1t is equally shameful when good men
can rejoice over the taxing of Saloons there
by to some extent at least making it legal
business.
Democratic politicians are not the only sim
ners in being owned and controlled by the
liquor traffic, and that infamous business is
now in politics everywhere, and exerts as
corrupt an influence as ever did the slave
power The Democratic party, as represent ted
by its leaders and managers in the North
East and West, are in alliance with it, ana
will do its bidding, and Republican poll
tcians show their lack of good sense and
manhood to be whining around brewers and
saloon-keepers to get their votes. Let them
go. The Republican party will ultimately be
the gamer
The Commercial Gazette said during the
summer that the Republican party in Iowa
would need voters this fall, meaning that be-
cause the party there espoused the cause of
the people in claiming the right and the
power to suppress tipping houses they would
| be defeated But they have gained a great
victory. In Ohio the Republican press and
polltlSAtllio men anu IlNAl-
culed prohibition principles and still they
lost the beer and whisky vote and won little
or none from the temperance Democrats
The saloon-keepers and brewers know that
the Republican lawmakers dare not grant
much favor to them, hence they have gone
to stay. What few stragglers are left will
| soon JOIN the majority. Sensible men who
have the good OF the country in view, dom
want to make money out of great curse like
the liquor traffic, and nothing is further
from the truth than the claim that license
and taxation lessen the evils of the saloon