The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-03
THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL
PROHIBITION AS A PARTISAN HELP.

Toby found room sufficient for himself and
the fly, and it will be we'll if we can recognize
the fact that all wisdom does not center in
as, neither will the sun, moon and stars die
out when our earthly careers are closed. 1t
must be recognized, especially in govern
mental affairs, that it is not the ideal best,
but the practical best that must be had and
that the real foundation of popular govern
ment is the greatest good to the greatest
number In the discussion of the several
phases of the temperance question, particu-
larly, the greatest charity is needful, and the
wisest apprehension of the truth that
while we may not be able to attain to pre-
cisely what we wish, because the majority of
our fellow-citize2s may not agree with US to
the fullest extent, it is still the part of wis
dom to meet upon some common plane, if it
can be found, for present and practical work,
abating nothing of individual judgment and
compromising not whit.of individual con-
science. The Journal has no words OF I'M
kindness for ProhiDitionists even for those
extremists who openly announce that they
prefer unlimited and unrestricted traffic in
intoxicants to regulated and restricted SALE
But we do have decided objection to the prac-
teal working of that Prohibitionist who, a
Republican in all that distinguishes
the Republican from the Demo-
cratic parties on the issues upon
which the parties are at present divided,
will shut his eyes to conceded facts,
and force an alien question into partisan
ship, to the detriment not only of real
temperance reform, but to the sacrifice of
every other thing the Republican party
stands for. Let US not be misunderstood.
The Journal has repeatedly said that the
the line of prohibition. No one doubts this.
1t is conceded that 100000 Democrats in
Ohio voted for the prohibition amendment,
but did not vote the Republican State ticket.
In our own campaign in 1882 the naked
question of submission, as shown by the
legislative VOTE received a popular majority,
and in the Legislature which resulted, the
proposition had a clear majority
in the House, and was only defeated
in the Senate by the adverse vote of mem
Der who was not before the people in the can
vass, but held over by virtue of a previous
election; yet the Republican State ticket was
defeated. These facts show that the issues
unon which +ha noIitioa1 partiae ora ration
ally divided are stronger than prohibition
even with Prohibitionists themselves Until
this shall be different we hold it to be the
extreme of folly to try and force prohibition
into partisan politics. This the Journal.
said during the last campaign; this it says
now, and, as it seems to us in all candor, no
man is wise friend of real temperance re-
form who would make it partisan question
and arraign the full, active, bitter opposition
of either one of the two great parties against
his theory. 1t certainly cannot be
possible that any man will believe
that prohibitory amendment, forced into
the constitution in the face of a partisan
opposition only little less than a majority
of the whole people, could be anything than
a dead letter, except that it would be active
in inaugurating in certain localities an era of
free and unlimited liquor trafficking, such as
has been enjoyed (?) in Ohio for thirty years
under prohibition constitution.
But we are told that the Republican party
took firm stand on the prohibition question
in Iowa and in Kansas and won while it did
not in Indiana and Ohio, and lost. By an easy
syllogism the conclusion is reached that all
that is necessary to Republican success in the
latter State is for the party to follow the Iowa
and Kansas examples Without stopping to
note the differences between the conditions
in the States named, it may be set down as
an indisputable proposition that if the Re-
publican party is to succeed in Ohio and in
Indiana it must make advances in its vote
Has the Republican party made advance
that better conditions give it over Republic
anism in the evenly balanced States of Ohio
and Indiana? Let US look at the figures:
In Iowa, in 1879 Governor Gear had 72,515
in 1880 General Garfield had 49,
406 plurality; in 1881, Governor Sherman had
b9, 928 plurality and a majority over all of
3D. 72 In 1882 the Republican plurality
was 81, S71, and III 1888 Governor Sherman
has plurality OF less than % 900, and ma
jority of less than $500. A decline in the
plurality on the same man, in two years,