The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-14
PROHIBITION METHODS.
A Short-Sighted Policy Which Has Retarded
q Good Cause.
Philadelphia Press.

Philadelphia Press.
If the election is involved in dispute, one cause
is the Prohibition vote. This vote has been cast
on the score of principle. 1t has been claimed
that the issue is of greater Importance than any
other, and that, therefore, it demanded the votes
of those who believed in it The result has been
to give aid and comfort to the Democracy just
how, under the pretense of superior devotion to
principle, men may destroy the very cause they
profess to advocate has been strikingly illus
trated in this State
About twelve years ago Rev Pennen Coombe,
of this city, was made State temperance agent
He was man of great logical force, of marked
determination of character and clear mental
perceptions. Not choosing to spend his time for
nothing, he conceived the idea of harmonizlng
the temperance elements in the State a local
option law. This law was enacted by Repub-
lcan Legislature in response to all influential
public appeal, and was signed by Republican
Governor. 1t provided for a special election.
AT the first election under this law two thirds of
the counties in the State adopted local option.
The vote in its favor very large
At once the extreme Irohibitionists, who had
yielded reluctantly to the local option policy, as
sumed that the vote cast represented what they
could command in popular election The next
year they nominated a full ticket, and poled
inst enough votes to give the Assembly to the
Democratic party. The first bill introduced in
that body was for the repeal of the local option
law. 1t passed the House, and the Senate,
which was Republican, paid the bad faith of the
Prohibitionists by also passing it, and the law
was swept from the statute books. 1t put back
the cause of prohibition in this State twenty
years Such was the effect of this policy.
The same kind and degree of wisdom has now
been applied in national affairs The candidacy
of st. John resulted in 10000 votes being cast
for him in New York, and nearly 5000 in New
Jersey These largely drawn from the Repub-
lican party would have elected Mr.. Blaine tri-
umphantly, aud saved the anxiety and
possible disasters growing out of the
close vote in New York. viii it
do the temperance cause any goodl
Emphatically not On the contrary. it will put
it back quarter of century One probable
effect will be to take the tax off whisky, which
will cause the national government to cease to
exercise any control over the manufacture and
sale Of LIQUOR. 1t will thus be free, both as to
manufacture and SALE so far as the national gov
eminent is concerned.
OF the State governments, Pennsylvania New
Jersey and New York have Republican Legisla-
lures. Exasperated at the bad faith that ig
nored every consideration but the one in which
the Prohibitionists were interested, the Repub-
now The hearing they might have had i'll three
important States will probably be refused And
this will be deserved. Nothing is regarded as
less deserving Of consideration in politics than
bad faith and pcrverse stupidity. The leading ele
ment in this movement appears to regard the
great Republican party as possessed of the spirit
of "a slave, and that it only acts under the lash
This is a fearful error II is not in the power of
those who crack the whip to drive except away
from themselves. This cause, which was making
healthy Roadway, is now further back by TWEEN
tv-fve years because of the blunder on election
daY.