The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-26

by other parties it makes the declaration in it
platform: That ours is a Christian and not
heather Nation, and that the God Of the Chris
tan Scriptures is the author Of civil govern
ment." 1t, therefore, advocates the recognition
of these great truths in our Constitution: the
use of the Bible, Associated with books Of
science and literature in all our educational
institutions, and the observance of the Sabbath
because required by God and needed by man"
1t further says: 1--WE hold that the charters OF
all secret lodges granted by our federal and
State legislatures should be withdrawn, and their
oaths prohibited by law" We heartily indorse
all these principles and the whole platform adop-
ted by this party. We honor the leading men
connected with the party as among the purest of
American citizens and we intend to be found
standing with themin the advocacy Of the truths
above referred to-
We are in the most hearty fraternal sympathy
with those who meet at Pittsburg their distinct
i've purpose is to promulgate the great course Of
prohibition, and the statement of that doctrine
will be the most notable plank in their platform
We are united to the cause of prohibition
with an ever burning zeal; we desire its
speedy success in every State, and in the
federal government; we feel keenly the
shame that attaches to the State in recognizing
the liquor traffic by giving it license; we look
with sorrow upon the evidence of multiplied
misery and shame exhibited by this monster
evil in this city and throughout the country; we
believe the cause of prohibition transcends every
other question now before the American people;
we look upon the men and women now in con-
vention at Pittsburg as among the purest most
self-sacrifcing, elear-sighted and righteous of
our people who only carry the marks of leader
ship and devotion to their cause; and we have no
sympathy with that spirit which calls them by
evil names or seeks to impugn the purity of their
motives,a a thing sometimes done by Republicans
greatly to the injury of their own cause.
AS a religious journal, believing in civil gov
ernment and holding it to be the right and duty
OF the Christian press to take suitable part in
Var,ltf o1ofFn 49, II
prayerfully, whether we should cast our ballot
and use our influence for the Republican party
or for one of the parties above named. If it
were In our power to say which of the three
should take the reins Of government our first
choice would be the American party and under
its rule we should rejoice in hope of the purest
government known to man. our second choice
would be the Prohibition, Home e-protection party,
and our eyes would look with joy for Wig
orous measures to free the government
from the curse of rum; our third choice would
be the Republican party, the one with which we
have always acted, which has wrought out most
wonderful moral and political achievements
during its history, and which is now so far as it
goes, on the right side of most Of the great
questions of the day.
But there is evidently no possible hope of sue
cess for either our first or second choice and
rather than fail in the next best thing, we think
1T right to continue our loyalty to the party
which has given MS freedom, liberty and pros
perity for so many of these latter years This
determination we have before announced To
make common cause with those who are
below our standard is not new expert
ence. In the church, community and
State we have found that we can not get
on with the work in hand without sometimes
joining with those whose principles we do not
wholly indorse; and to avoid what we esteem
misfortune, we are glad at times to but hold our
own.
The liquor interests are largely centered in the
Democratic party which openly expresses its OPP
position to prohibition; the Republican party,
though silent in its PLATFORM is in several States
committed to this cause and has, within its
ranks, the great body of temperance men, who
believe it is year by year growing in sympathy
with their cherished principles We believe It
was never so near ready to accept prohibition as
now. We donot doubt that when we have pressed
this reform little further in the States, il will
be taken hold of by the party; and when that is
done, success is near at hand.
The interests of the colored man, who is not
so far removed from slavery as to be other than
4 child in freedom, are safest in the hands of the
party which severed his bonds; the disgrace of
polygamy will be most likely to be swept away
by the party which pronounces its decided oppo-
sltion thereto; the cause of perpetual peace be-
tween nations is most likely to be promoted by
those who favor the settlement of international
difficulties by arbitration. We are not insensi-
bic to the fact that the party has made mis-
takes; we are Inundated that it has not taken
bold and righteous stand on all the great
questions before the country; we believe it
might have done So and gained victory which
would have been fitting supplement to its
service in the overthrow of slavery, and would
have given it greater glory. But we are willing
to forego these mistakes and omissions, and con-
tinue our allegiance to the Republican party, for
whose candidates in the national struggle we
will cast our votes in the coming election. We
recommend the same course to our friends.
Let Christians make their voting, as they do
other important things, subject Of prayer and
serious thought, and when they have determined
upon duty, fear not to use their influence in
favor of the right.