The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-06
Prohibitionists and the Third Party.

10 the Editor OF the indianapolis journal:
Whatever spirit Of madness animated the re-
cent Prohibition conventions of July "a, has at
least by this time toned down into
sober second thought. For one,
went to indianapolis in the interest of
a cause that for years has cost me more time
anxiety and abuse than from all other sources
combined. Not believing in the ACCESSIBILITY of a
Prohibition party, counseled against it with al
the power possessed. Now, from within the
house of our friends we are abused and misrep
resented in way that causes more discourage
ment than from open enemies. AS evil
dence, cite the Monitor-J ournal
of August 2, which casually fell
into my hands, Long ago ceased to read it, be-
cause Of the spirit of its editor and of too many
of its correspondents The spirit that controls
the MI seemed to dominate the third party
convention, and if the same animus rules here
after, am sure that under such leadership,
the triumph of this holy cause can never come
Such self-assertion, misrepresentation and bigot-
ry will utterly damn any good cause.
In the third party convention were quite
number of good and true men-friends of the
cause, true and tried--but they need to pray for
deliverance from some of their friends That
the great majority of true Prohibition
lists OF Indiana spurn and spit
upon Un6 meUnOQS ana Sp111G OF
that convention, | have not the least doubt
While some good men will vote that ticket, | am
satisfied that many sore headed and disgruntled
politicians will use it as a means of mere re-
yenge believe the great body of the people of
Indiana are sound on this question and they can
not be driven or cajoled to vote in any way to
help on the saloons So they will not vote for
st. John nor this State ticket when they can see
only one result, namely, division in the only
party that proposes to give us a chance for
ny Srhr Of
amendments The intelligent HOLSTERS are not
inclined to follow clique of men who
meet and resolve that they have
no faith in anybody, Such distrust of all parties
because of few leaders, can only beget dis
trust, Such iconoclasts may destroy, but it will
require wise heads to build up. Such pharisee-
ism is self destructive Men and women who
are true feformers do not insult and maHgn
their friends, but seek, in right spirit, to con-
ciliate, and, by council. find a common ground
upon which all may stand, Prohibitionists
united and wisely led, can elect Legislature
that would call constitutional convention, and
SO give the people an opportunity to put prohi.
bition in the organic law of the State. Divided
we fail, and meager vote for a Prohibi-
ton ticket will only make us appear
ridiculous. In Ohio. only 5000 out of
1923, 900 Prohibitionists voted for the independent
ticket That vote showed that only one in forty
Prohibitionists were chasing chimerical plan
believe the same ratio prevails in Indiana, and
this presidential year viii show even a. less num-
Der do not believe the ticket can poll over
5000 votes-most likely about 2000 mark that
take the counties of Hendricks. Morgan, and
Monroe, where there are no licensed saloons,
under Republican rule, and do not believe the
come-outers" can poll over one hundred votes
in the three counties. Now mark the fact: these
counties are overwhelmingly for prohibition So
far have only heard of about a half dozen
IN my own county, Monroe, VINO in
tend to vote that ticket. Take an
other fact there are five hundred
Methodist preachers in Indiana, and ALL by the
church law, committed to ultimate prohibition
and so far | have not learned Of over dozen
who are for the ticket. Now for two or three
hundred people to get together by call from
one or two men and presume to represent the
churches and temperance people of Indiana is to
say the least contemptibly absurd No. be-
lieve there is virtue enough in a majority of the
Republican and large minority of the Demo
cratic party that can be so led and combined--in
spite of few tricksters-as to in the near future
carry the State for submission, and then for
prohibition.
In conclusion notice the danger to the w.
G. I. u, that grandest Of organizations
to help on the temperance cause. Non-partisan
by the terms Of its constitution, by the course of
some of it's leaders it seems to be tackled on to
this third party, Personally the leaders have a
right to do as they pleased politically but within
the organization they have no more right to tack
on to political party than church organize
tions. After some years of growth and under a
change in the form of their constitution, the w
G. T. U will be grand nursing mother to some
political party that will execute their noble will
For the time being q distinct Prohibition party
can only prohibit the success of the cause so
dear to the hearts Of all Christian people.
], E BRANT
BLooM1NeToN, Ind, Aug. ..