The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-21
SENSIBLE TEMPERANCE MEN
Hon. Grant Goodrich Shows the Duty
of Honest Temperance Men.
Earnest Words from the Most Prominent and
Reliable Temperance AdvOcates-VOt-
ers Must Not Aid the Democracy.
HON. GRANT GOODRICH.

Letter in Northwestern Chrlstian AdNocate
understand it to be conceded principle OF
the moral law that one who has the known
power to prevent crime private or public
wrong and refuses to do so, is regarded as re-
sponsible for the consequences. Yet we are
J told by many who are undoubtedly sincere in
their convictions that it is moral and politi-
cal duty in aid of prohibition to disregard the OBJ
LEGATIONS Of this law and the consequences which
may follow its violation however disastrous 1t
NAV prove to society or the country and vote for
Prohibition candidates even when there is not the
remotest hope of their election, and though by
doing so we make possible the election OF openly
declared enemies of all legislative restriction and
control of the liquor traffic. Can it be possible
that any obligation, human or divine, can de-
Iand the performance of such repulslve act!
The men who advise it must be the victims of
some strange deception. For instance, are the
friends of temperance in Illinois required to
cast their votes for the Prohibition candidate for
Governor who has not the remotest possibility
of an election, and thereby enhance the chances
of election to that Office of the chosen candi-
date of the mass of distillers. brewers,
and saloon-keepers, and who claims and receives
their support upon his notorious subservience
and devotion to their interests, as well as The
candidate of party which proclaims its hostlll-
ty to all temperance laws9 Are the friends of
temperance expected to thus promote the chances
of the election of a man as Governor OF this
State who as the chief magistrate of great
CITY, in violation of his official oath, has boast
ingly nullifed the laws in restraint of the liquor
traffic, openly allied himself politically with the
debased and vicious classes of society, and, by
his refusal to execute the laws for the promotion
of public decency, and the suppression Of crime,
has made a orderly city the refuge and
haunt of prostitutes gamblers, thieves, pick
pocketg, and thugs, where they find immunity
from their crimes, and where robbery is prac-
ticed as a profession, and murder as pastime}
~ 1 Hl,A all
do, or omit to do, any act which by possibility
may increase the chances of election of such a
candidate free to declare am no such
Prohibtionist
When the opponents of this strange doctrine
reply that every moral and political instinct
protests against and revolts at what appears to
them such an act of treachery against social and
political duty, they are told that truth is eternal
and unchanging, and we must adhere to princi-
pie and leave consequences to take care OF them
selves-that in throwing away vote on Prohi-
bition candidate, and thereby enhancing the
chances Of the election of a Governor or Nom
Der of the Legislature pledged to the repeal of
high license and other laws restrictive of intern
perance, we do no wrong. l do not so under
stand my moral and political obligations Be
cause at one blow we cannot eXterminate an
evil, shall we therefore do nothing to weaken or
restrict It's power for mischief When God gave
laws to and governed the Hebrews, he tolerated
poygam! and slavery, but regulated and
strained their practice until, by the increasing
intelligence and moral enlightment of men, they
were able to comprehend the debG,sng effects of
the one and the cruel wrongs of the other, when
they were condemned and abolished. Divine
precepts and human wisdom concur in teaching
that an evil we cannot at once overthrow, it is
our duty to mitigate, restrain, and impair, until
the intelligence of experience and enlightment
of moral sentiment shall demand its extrpa-
-sion
The extreme Prohibitionists are fond of
citing the slavery controversy and its triumph
pNy.l fl141ln n n nm
wagering adherence to principle The history
of that long and memorable contest furnishes
the most Standardization of the action de-
manded of the friends of temperance by the in
considerate advocates of prohibition, that votes
may be thrown away upon their candidates re-
CARELESS of consequences. The original Adolf
tionists, inspired by the wrongs of slavery as
displayed by the light of advancing Christian in
telligence, and conscious that the federal Con
sttution recognized slavery within the States,
saw no way for its extinguishment but by treat
ing that guaranty as so manltestly IN conflict
with the higher law of eternal right and justice
as to be of no binding validity, and they de-
nounced it as "a covenant with the devil and
league with hell For nearly thirty years they
proclaimed this doctrine, exposed and denounced
the wrongs of slavery, with zeal and eloquence
seldom if ever surpassed. They organized par
ties, and put candidates in the field in all the
free States representing this doctrine yet in
all these years they never elected a member of
Congress pledged to their extreme views; but
exposed the wrongs and wickedness of slavery,
the dire evils with which it threatened society
and imperiled the Nations existence SO that
when slavery commenced its career of aggression
by the passage Of the fugitive slave law, the re-
peal of the Missouri Compromise, and invaded
the Territories, where it had no constitutional
rights. the Free soil party sprang into existence,
demanding, not that slavery should be abolished
in the States, but that it should he forbidden to
enter the free Territories. Happily for the Ma
tons welfare, and for 1900, 900 of bondmen
made free, Aboitionists ddnot refuse toafiliate
and vote with that party, and with the RepuD
lican, which sueceededit, because it sought only
to restrain its spread and mitigate its evils,
while it recognized its legal existence within the
States.
Had the Abolitionists been as inconsiderate and
unwlse as are some Prohibitionists and refused
to vote for Republicans because they recognized
legal existence of slavery in the States, and put
candidates in the field pledged to their extreme
doctrines, and called upon the opponents of sa-
very to stand by their principles regardless of
consequence, who can contemplate the results
without a shudder2 The poor slaves, instead of
rejoicing in their newborn manhood, would
most probably be grooming under a more cruel
and hopeless bondage, and the terrible problem
of the extinction of slavery, with all its threat.
ening perils, would remain unsolved
With these weltknown facts of history be-
fore them, how can these extremists seek to
pose as the imitators or successors of the
pioneers of anti-slavery while they denounce
the Harper and kindred laws made in restraint
of the sale of intoxicating drinks2 How, can
they consent in the presence of crime and de-
liberalization made prevalent in Chicago and
other cities where restraining laws are nulliffed
or evaded with impunity, to throw away their
votes on candidates they have no hope Of elect,
ling, and thereby increase the chances of the
election of the nominees of a party the de-
termined opponent of all temperance legislation,
nominated at the bidding of, organized con,
spiracy of liquor dealers. pledged to compass the
repeal of existing restrictions upon the liquor
trafficY On the heads of those having the power
ITO prevent it, and failing to do SO, be the respon-
sibility.
WHAT is YOUR DUTY?
The Leading Temperance Workers of the