The Indianapolis journal., 1884-08-20


for the purposeaof amending the Constitution of
Indiana. This isa plain, naked issae IN Favor of
changing our present form of State government
and Involving expense Of over $20Q COB to you.
It was thought, no doubt in certain quarters
that in the excitement Of a presde1tial election,
and in the discussion of national affairs this
local question might escape serious observation,
and members of the Legislature be chosen with
out reference to their views upon it. While the
battle ragged along another line it was the inten-
tion of the managers Of this movement to steal
as'silantly as possible into the citadel Of your
State government, take permanent possession,
and remodel it to- suit themselves This policy
of stealth, however, is impossible now. The
alarm has been sounded and every voter
in Indiana will know. when he casts his
ballot in November. whether he is voting for
member of the Legislature who will 60 to In
dianap0hs to destroy or preserve our present
Constitution Circumstances have also occurred
amongst the Republican and Prohibition leaders
which have disclosed the plot contained In the
Republican State platform. Dissensions have
taken place in the ranks Of the Prohibitionists
and Republicans, leading to revelations not at
first intended. One faction of the Prohibition
lists has gone step further than the other and
has nominated full State ticket while the
other faction declares its purpose to act in har-
mony with the Republican party in securing the
Legislature. There is no doubt that both fac
tions whether in friendly concert not, viii
aim at the same object, so far the Legislature
is concerned and will concentrate their forces in
the election Of members pledged to a convention
the ultimate point towards which all their ener-
gies are bent A recent editorial article in the
Indianapolis journal also shows that the Repub-
ican managers have been compelled to break
cover and come out into daylight on this subject
The organ of the Republican party in Indiana
says
1T would be a. singular aspect of the tsmpeHanee
reform in this State to attitude of oPposi
tion to the only party which ever could be relied on
fer reform on this question. A Republican Legisla
ture in 1881 passed the amendment asked for by the
temperance people of the State and stood by its
representatives in the subsequent LegisatTe and it
was the Democratic party which defeated it in 1888
The two parties have spoken in their State platforms
for 1854, the Republicans proposinga constitutional
convention by which this and all other questions of
State policy may be settled. and the Democrats
solving against convention for this purpose and
stouty adherng to the policy adopted BY their last
Legislature of denying the people voice N the
a3qeeonenp OF uner organc Jaw y llusS ps PAn V
ties will into power at the nest election No one
doubt what the Democratic party will do if it trE
base instincts The Republican party has always kept
its pledges. and it will continua tado so.
THE PROHIBITION AMENDMENT ASSOCIATION.
1t was in harmony with the suggestions of
this article and relying on the full corporation
df tho Republican party throughout the State
that Governor Cumback and a large number Of
ether prominent Republicans called conven-
zion on the 18th of June, created an organization
styled the Constitutional Pr0hibition Amend
ment Association, designed it as a powerful and
open ally of the Republican organization and
adopted the following resolutions
II That regarding this question as paramount IN
State policy will vote at the coming eleetion
for such candidates for the Legislature only as will
pledge themselves for constitutional and statutory
prohibition Of the liquor traffic in Indiana
That this convention appoint committee
consisting of one member from each congressional
district for the purpose of organizing the temperance
voters into leagues m the several counties and legsIa
tive districts for the purpose of throwing votes
for candidates fDrthe Legislature as proposed in the
Foregoing and TO carry the next Legislature for pro-
hibiton-"
The principles here announced and the plan of
action here laid down by which to- fasten pTohi-
bition Gn Indiana meets the unqualIf dapproEal
Of the Republican press and leaders of the State.
have seem not a line of cEirieism on the action
Of tins convention IN BepUblican paper, nor
heard avTord Of dissent from those who are aecus
toned to speak for that party. On the contrary,
to carry the next Legislature inorder 10 secure a
convention in the interest Of prohibition is the
common object of all factions Of the Prohibir
tiDnists and of the entire Republican erganizar,
ton ON this point there is; unity of pnrpose,
whatever differences there may be in regard to-
Snate tickets. j find also appeal to the, pe0.
ple Of Indiana on this subject signed by Cum
back Goodwin and ether conspicuous leaders Of
the Republican party, dated July Is, and pub
hsh6d approvingly IN the mdianaPGlis journal
It's significance, when viewed in. connection with
the, platform. of the Republican State c0nvenA
tinm is too great to be overlooked In that ap
peal or circular the following statement is made
in behalf of united action for given and spec
ifed purpose.
Without single exception the success Of Prohibf-
tom IN the States thus far has through existing
party erganaatiOns in instance through separate
and distinct party organization and candidacy.
Now it is to the Legsatura asRn wemStlook this
question We do not want to fritteR away strength
by antagonizing party candidates who have not and
can have nothing to do with this question We have
none TO lose in that way The Legislature should be
single objectiYe point. We carried that m the last
sarnpaign and do it again
LED toit that the canddatesO of all parties for
the Legislature in all the counties are pledged tous
and and SO throw forces and votes as to
defeat all such viii not be so pledged Here is the
vital point. Here is the source of strength Let
strong State organization be the result of com.
ng convention and that be followed by equally effect
I'VE organization in every county in Indisna and the
next Legislature VIII be ours.
Let it not be lost sight Of for a moment that
the avowed object Of this circular appeal and Of
the Republican State platform is one and the
same thing 1t Is to secure Legislature which
will call constitutional convention for the
amendment of the Constitution. The plans and
purposes of the ProhibftioniSts and Of the Re
publican leaders of Indiana in regard to the next
Legislature are as identical and as closely
linked together as were the SiaIpese twins when
ON exhibition. They are moving together wher-
ever they CO. They are working together this
moment, whether in the daylight or IN the dark
The point they aim at is distinctly understood
and cordially approved Their schemes for the
capture Of the Legislature arel laid harmoninusIy,
and their energies. and means are consolidated
And in order to leave not the shadow Of doubt
Is to this alliance between prohibition and the
Republican party in Indiana and throughout the
whole country, submit an. extract from an
address recently Issued In this State. 1t reads
as follows:
For the past twenty years all the tracts Of the
American Temperance Society which have discussed
value and success Of prohibon legislation, have
contained letters Of testimony from Hon. James G.
and for than twenty years Mr. Blaine has sup
ported that legislation In his own State.
Signed VIII Gumback Greenaburg E. b Rey.
Aolds, Warsaw Isham Sedgwick, Richmond; w. H.
Lsud Princeton; = D. MITCHELL Terre Hautei ]. b
Gsrrsoa. MarFinsvs. !. III HodaDn Sa~mo,,r. 81
Conner, Indianapolis.
THE DEMOCRATIC ATTITUDE