The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-08
FRANKLIN, Ind, March 6.
The Issue in the Campaign.

sou ~ nav SAS
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journals:
AS the campaign opens it becomes more evil
dent that the Democratic politicians, press, and
party intend to spouse the cause of the liquor
traffic, or rathey intend to remain its defenders.
The township convention of the Democratic
party in your city glories in it's debasement,
when indorsing the sale of two years ago, and
the State convention will do the same thing.
Since the Democratic party indorses and defends
the traffic and favors open saloons and the same
freedom in this as in any other business, and
already numbers among its supporters nine
tenths of those engaged in the traffic, and
the same proportion of those desiring
its continuance, can there be any wis
dom in the Republican party disregarding
the wishes of q majority of its voters, on this
most vital question, and practically ignore it, in
obedience to the commands of the liquor league?
The Republican Legislature of New York re
Gently violated the pledge given the people, at
the of the liquor league, in refusing to
submit the prohibitory amendment, which may
result in losing that State next November.
There is not the least danger OF the Democratic
party repeating or even seriously modifying the
tariff. There are too many votes to lose there.
The Democratic politicians everywhere will soon
be in faver of a protective tariff. And if we
succeed in e~lecting "a Republican President, the
Democrats will still murder negroes and white
Republicans in the South as they
u " " bNtlOI JN0ioy anu q
will not be enough manhood in our
congressman, nor in the Judiciary to punish
them. If come German or Irishman goes back
to his native country and is molested by the au
thorities, we are ready for war; but our citizens,
white and black. are murdered in the South by
scores, the murderers rewarded by State Offices,
and our government whiningly pleads inability
to punish the criminals. 1t matters not which
party wins, there will be no eoercive steps taken
to punish these villains in the South. Now, why
make IA canvass on the tariff and ku-klux issues
when there is no probability that the Democrats,
if successful, will disturb the tariff and cause
their defeat-and we, if successful, will rely
on moral and Christian means to
ameliorate the condition of the South,
a work we can do under one party as well as the
other. Remember all temperance men are not
Luther BensoHs. Nor does one radical temper
ance man in fifty desire a third party; but If the
whisky and beer politicians, such as our large
cities produce, control the policy and platform
of the party, or become its candidates, the party
will be shattered like the Democratic party was
in 1854. We want no candidates who desired
the party beaten in Iowa, because that would
eliminate the prohibition craze out of the party.
The platform should sound no uncertain notesin
regard to the corrupt liquor league, nor where
+ our sympathies are in the struggle of the people
against the saloon business. We want no lead
ers who do not care whether saloons are voted
up or down. We want them to have
convictions on this vital question, and
we want these convictions right. 1t may be a
little rough on our saloon statesmen and local of
ficials in cities and communities where tipping
houses are headquarters for caucuses and red
noses are the beacon lights of the party, but it
will be glorious for the great mass of the people
for our party to espouse the right side of lhe
liquor question. That traffic will be satisfied by
no reasonable concession. Like the slave power,
it is going to have all or none. Let us have no
trucking this campaign, but, with confidence
in the business of controlling and ultimately sup
pressing the tipping houses, let us say to those
who have charge of the traffic, that our flag is
nailed to the mast, and we will neither give nor
ask quarter. B. F. SPENCER.
VERSAILLES, Ind.