The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-25
THE PLATFoRM.
The Old Parties Denounced, and Unadul-
terated Prohibition Demanded.

The Old Parties Denounced, and Unadul-
terated Prohibition Demanded.
PITTsBURG, July "a. The platform was re-
ported by Mr.. Black, of Pennsylvania, chairman
of the committee on resolutions, as follows:
The Prohibition Home Protection party in national
convention assembled acknowledges Almighty God as
the rghul sovereign of all men from whom the just
/ powers of government derived, to whose laws
human enactments should conform, and that peace,
prosperity and happiness only come to the people
when the laws Of the national and State governments
are in accord with the Divine will
The importation, manufacture, supply and sale Of
alcoholic beverages, created and maintained by the
laws of the national and State governments during the
entire history of such laws is everywhere shown to be
the promoting cause of ntemperance with resulting
crime and pauperism, making large demands upon
public and private charity imposing large and unjust
taxation and public burdens for penal and sheterno
institutions upon thrift industry, manufacture and
commences endangerlng the public peace; desecration
OF the Sabbath, corruptng ourpotcs legislation and
administration of laws shortening lives injuring
health and diminishing productive industry causing
education to be neglected and despised nufying the
teachings of the Bible the church and the school the
standards and guides of fathers and their children
In the founding and growth under God of widely
extended country, and which mperng the perpetiiity
of civil and religious liberty are baleful fruits b
which we know that these laws contrary to Gods
laws and contravene our happiness; and call upon
our felowcitizens to aid in the repeal of those laws
and the signal suppression of this baneful liquor
traffic
The fact that the twenty-eght years in which the
Republican party has controlled the general govern
ment and that of many of these States effort has
been made to change this pocy territories have been
created from the national domain and governments
for them established and States from them admitted
to the Unions IN no instance in either of which has
tins ahc been for hidden the people of these Terri
tories States been permitted to prohibit it, that
there are now over 100000 distineries, breweries
wholesale and retail dealers in drinks holding eerti
Gates and claiming the authority of government for
the continuation of business destructive to moral
and material welfare of the people; together with the
fact that they have turned deaf to reonstrance
and petition for the correction of these abuses Of civil
government is conclusive that the Republican party
is insensible to or impotent for redress of those
wrongs, and should no longer be ntrusted with the
powers and responsibilities of government. That
although this party in its late national convention
was silent on the liquor question, not its candi
dates Messrs. Blaine and Logan. Within the year
past Mr.. Blaine has publicly recommended that the
revenue derived from the liquor traffic shall be dis
trlbuted among the States and Senator Logan had a
bill proposed to devote these to the support
of schools Thus both virtually recommend the per-
petuaton of the traffic and that the States and their
citizens shall become partners in the liquor crime
The factthat the Democratic party has in its national
deliverances of party policy arrayed itself on the side
OF the drink and sellers by declaring against
the policy OF prohibition of such traffic under the false
name sumptuary laws, and when in power, in some
OF the States in refusing remedial legislation and in
of inquiry to investigate and report upon the effects
of the traffic proves that the Democratic party should
not be intrusted with power or place.
That there can be no greater peril to the Nation
than the existing competition of the Republican and
Democratic parties for the liquor vote Experience
shows that any party not openly opposed to the traffic
Will engage in this competition will court the favor of
the criminal classes, win barter away the public NOR
ais the purity of the ballot and every trust and OBJ
OTIS and good citizens should find in this practice suf
6cient cause for immediate withdrawal from all con
nection with their party.
That while we favor reforms in the administrator
of the government in the abolition of all sinecures
useless offices and officers favor the election of the
postofice officers othe instead of their
fr1o he -
honesty and sobriety essential qualification for
holding civil ofice, and oppose removal of such
persons from merely administrative Office except SO
far as 1t may be absolutely necessary to effect
veness to theHita issues which the general admin
stration OF the goyernmenti is intrusted to party
uors and tobacco should be abolished as the vices Of
men are not proper subject for taxation
for customs duties should be levied for
the support of the government economically admin
istered and, when levied the fostering Of Ameri-
can labor manufactures and industries should CON
stantly be held in view.
That the public land should be held for homes for
the people, and not for gifts to corporations be
held in large bodies for speculation upon the needs Of
actual settlers
That all money, coin and paper shall be made is
sued and regulated by the general government and
shall be legal tender for all debts, public and pri-
vate
That grateful care and support should be given to
soldiers and sailors disabled in the service of the
country and their dependent widows and orphans.
That we repudiate as un-American, contrary to and
subversve of the principles of the Declaration of In
dependence from which our government has grown
to be the government Of $4,000 600 Of people and
recognized power among the nations, that any per-
sons or people shall or may be excluded from resi-
dence or citizenship with all others who may desire
the benefits which institutions confer upon the
oppressed Of all nations.
That while there are important reforms which are
demanded for the purity Of administration and the
welfare of the people, their Importance sinks into in
significance when compared with the reform Of the
drink traffic, which annually wastes $500 600 600 Of
the wealth created by toll and thrift and drags down
thousands of families. from comfort to poverty;
which fills the jails penitentiaries insane
asylums, hospitals and institutions for depend
ency; which destroys the health saps the industry,
and causes loss of life and property to thousands IN
the land; lowers intellectual and physical vgor, dus
the cunning hand Of the artisan; traffic which is the
chief cause Of bankruptcy Insolvency and loss in
trade and by its corruptng power endangers the per
petuty OF free Institutions chat Congress should
ercise its undoueted power and prohibit the manufac
ture and sale OF Intoxicating beverages in the District
of Columbia, the Territories Of the United States,
and in all places over which the government has ex
elusive jurisdiction.
That hereafter State shall be admitted into the
Union until its Constitution shall expressly prohibit
polygamy and the manufacture and sale Of intoxcat
ing beverages.
We earnestly call the attention Of the aborer and