The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-20
His Speech Devoted Entirely to the Republic
an Proposition FaYoring the Calling
Of Constitutional Convention,
Which Is Vigorously Denounced as a
Revolutionary and DespOtic Scheme.
A Glowing and FuIsome Eulogy Of the Wis.
dom, Patriotism and Statesmanship Of
the Democratic Leaders Of Indiana.
rnE rERRE HAUrE MEETING.
An Audience of Two Thousand Persons Ad
dressed by Senator voorhees,.

An Audience of Two Thousand Persons Adj
dressed by Senator voorhees,.
TERRE HAUTE, Aug. Ex-senator Voorhees,
opened the Democratic campaign here tonight
by addressing 1000 people on the plank in the
Republican State platform favoring constitu-
honal amendment convention The demonstra-
ton was enthusiastic and many Germans were
present Senator Voorhees, said
In discussing the issues of the present political
canvass propose to begin with the one nearest
home. An issue of great magnitude has again
been thrust upon the people of Indiana, involv-
ing their capacity for elfgovernment in mat
ters of personal and domestic concern Pro
hlbition. as applied to the manufacture sale. or
keeping for sale of spirituous, Yinous or malt
liquors, or any other intoxicating liquors in
Indiana has again Stalked to the front under the
auspices of the Republican party 1t wears a
familiar look; we have seen it before. 1t came
into existence at the birth of the Republican
party. and has manifested itself as a political
element In some shape or other from that time
to this, whenever and wherever that party has
had the aseendency. 1t first masaueraded in
Indiana, and IN many other States thirty years
ago as the Maine law, and made fierce cam
palgn. hand In hand with It's twin brother Know
nothingism. These were congenial com
panlons and their ideas were harmonious
They belonged to the inquisitive meddle-
some school of politics They were not
content to mind their own business but felt a
high call to attend to the business Of everybody
else. Prohibition invaded the privacy of homes.
denied to the people the virtue of self control
dictated to them their domestic. personal habits.
and assumed complete guardianship over the
consciences and liberties of man. woman and
child. The spirit of Know nothingism struck
boldly and auGaciously at religious freedom and
denied the rights of citizenship to people of for
elgn birth These two evil principles, both at
war with the natural rights of man both seeking
to subyert the fundamental doctrines Of self
government, were the original and the strongest
inspirations of the Republican party and they
are yet to be found IN its organization and in its
legislation wherever it dares to disclose its real
purposes In Massachusetts, Rhode Island and
elsewhere the foreigner is disseminated against
while in Maine, Kansas and Iowa prohibition has
reared its banner and threatens to carry it into
Indiana Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin and all the
other States
Many attempts have heretofore been made to
induce the people of Indiana to submit to an in
quisitorial invasion of their domestic customs,
habits and manner of living, but none have been
successful The Maine law, with its instru-
ments of search. seizure and eonfscation, was
once for short time fastened on our people and
then was swept away The Baxter law had a
brief, ingioriOus career in our midst and was
then repealed and cast aside by the Democratic
party insult to an intelligent and virtuous
people, notwithstanding the present Republican
candidate for Congress In this district Mr. Johns
tons then in the Senate of Indiana, with an as
sumption of superior knowledge and virtue de-
clared its repeal would lead you to vice and i'm
morality In the place and stead of the Maine
law the Baxter bill and all such measures Of
prohibition and prying interference with private
rights, the Democratic party enacted nearly ten
years ago, the present license law of the State
That lawis comprehensive, and is sufficient safe
guard, if properly enforced, to the weak and
helpless and TO the peace and good order of COM
munities- 1t Furnishes all sales to minors
to persons intoxicated, and to persons
in the habit of becoming intox-
icated- It does this on the ground
legally incapable of controlling themselves, and
their own interests The present license law of
Indiana also provides that no sale of Intoxicating
liquors shall be made on Sunday or on election
days; and it gives the right faction for damages
to any wife, mother, father, sister, brother, or
any one else, who may be injured by the sale Of
such liquors 10 those whom they may be de-
pendent for support And to secure the faithful
performance of all the conditions Of this Law a
good and sufficient bond is required from the ap-
plicant before his license is granted These
ample provisions. however were not satisfactory
to the honest but mistaken theorist and dreamer
on tire one hand, nor to the political huckster on
the other, who for the last forty years in
Indiana, and everywhere else, has hawked the
temperance question In the open market as part
of his political wares and merchandise.
THE AMENDMENTS OF 1881.
When, therefore, four years ago, the Repub-
hcan party elected Republican Legislature in
this State, the opportunity was at once improved
TO obtain, If possible absolute control by law Of
the usages of the people in private life. That
body. convening in January, 1881, made haste
to adopt several proposed amendments to the
Constitution of the State, the most important
one being the well known amendment in two
sections providing as follows:
Section 1. The manufacture sale or keeping for
sale OF spirtuous vinous malt liquors. or any other
Intoxicating liquors, except for medical, scientific
be and is hereby forever prohibited in the State Of
Indiana
diana shall provide in what manner by whom and at
what places such liquors shall be manufactured and
sold for medical. scientific mechanical and sacra-
mental purposes
This unwise. unconstitutional measure look
ing to the confscation Of millions in value of tax
paying property and the creation of new State
officials to manufacture and sell by State author
ity under the second section was referred by the
terms of the Constitution itself to the General
Assembly to be chosen at the next general cleo
ton, ,andi therefore became aleading and absorb
ing issue at the ballot box in 1852 In choosing
members of ths General Assembly in 1882 the
nam question before the people OF Indiana was
the proposed amendment to their Constitution.
The Republican leaders tried to evade the real
issue by discussion Of its incidents rather than
its merits but the common sense of the people
triumphed; they understood the object aimed at.
and crushed it at once 1t might have been
thought that majority Of nearly twelve thou
sand against the fanaticism and folly Of such a
measure would have taught the managers Of
Republican politics in Indiana lesson of Wis
dom. 1t did not; it simply taught them species
of prudence better described as mixture Of
cunning and cowardice When the Repub-
lican State convention met at Indianapo
lis in june last no old-time temper
anee resolutions were offered, much less
adopted; no hafangues in hold, defiant tones
were heard in favor Of prohibition; the Veterans
Of the cause were there but they were silent
They knew they we're to be COMPENSATED 81