The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-21
TEMPERANCE AND POLITICS.

IbmIhhANOh AMI IOh1 11OO.
1t will not be necessary for the Journal to
call attention to the document printed in this
impression discussing the question of prohibit
ton in its relation to partisan politics. INDIE
pendent of its authorship, the argument is one
that will command respectful attention, to say
the least and we commend it to the careful,
unbiased reading of all the people. We think
it clearly and properly defines the attitude of
the Republican party during the last campaign,
and the fundamental difference there was in
the position then assumed to what there would
be should the party now declare in favor of
the submission of prohibitory amendment to
a vote of the people, and make that PROPOSE
ton part of the platform upon which ma
tional campaign is to be made With all the
ability and earnestness it could command
the Journal did its utmost for the
maintenance of the principle in
volved in the campaign of 1882
and under like circumstances would do the
same work over with unabated zeal and with
undiminished belief in the correctness of the
party position. The basal idea of the cam
paign was to absolutely dissociate the prohibit
ton question from partisan political action.
We Endorsed that idea to the fullest, believing
it to be the best, not only for
the future of politics, but also for
the principle to which the temperance
people, distinctly so-called, were devoted. AT
that time every temperance worker in the
State was perfectly satisfied with the attitude
of the Republican party; yet, strangely
enough, there are some who stood squarely
and gladly upon that platform who now de-
sire the party to take such action as would
precipitate the question directly into parti-
san politics, to the confusion of the party, the
ignoring of the great national principles upon
which the party is based, as well as to the un-
questioned injury of the princi-
pie of prohibition, if not of all
possible restrictive temperance legislation.
The Journal believed the position of the
Republican party in 1882 to be sound, i'm
pregnable, just alike politically and morally
Events have proved and are proving, the
wisdom and foresight that led the party to the
conclusion it so well formulated in the last
platform upon this question. We believe it
to be to the last degree unwise and dangerous
to ally the question of temperance reform
or of prohibition with partisan politics-ar-
raging one party in favor of it and another
party in opposition to it; This was our
judgment in 1882, and the Judgment of the
Republican party as expressed in State con-
vention after the widest and freest discus
sion of the question
But we do not propose TO enter. upon any
discussion here; but to ask unprejudiced con
sideration of an argument which, to us, seems
! to be conclusive and unanswerable, and so
stated as to appeal to the judgment and con
science of every Republican voter in the
State. This document will certainly attract
the widest attention in Indiana, and it will be
received with the deepest interest all over the
country, for it discusses question the most
pressing and vital to every State and COM
munity.