The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-18
LAW AND LIQUOR,

is rapidly becoming national one, by reason
of the dictatoral and defiant spirit in which
it is being pressed upon public attention.
The relation of the drink traffic to the law is
being made one of the most vital and i'm
portaut issues of politics because of the atti-
tude assumed by the liquor-sellers of the
country everywhere in New York city, in
Chicago, in Indianapolis, East and West, North
and South. 1t enters into the very essence of
municipal government, the costliest and most
important to every taxpayer and citizen.
Whether men would have it so or not, the fact
remains that this question is one of the
most absorbing topics of private conversation
and public discussion now before the Ameri
can people. The moral, law-abiding, conserv-
alive citizens have not made it so; but it has
been brought about by the arrogance and in
subordination of the liquor traffic, which
ignores every other economic question, which
uses its money and its power of organization
to buy up or overawe Legislatures, and courts,
and peace officers, until in Indianapolis and in
every considerable city of the country there
is no attempt at the observance of any law, the
most lenient and moderate restrictions being
as Systematically disregarded as the most
stringent. This is unamerican, unre-
publican, and the spirit must be
met and will be overthrown
1t involves political complications of the most
serious nature. The liquor power has not put
itself into separate party, where it would be
comparatively harmless, but it has allied itself
with the Democratic party. and thus made it
possible to secure not only its own ends, but to
be of assistance to the Democracy in carrying
any measure they may have in view. No in
telligent politician can be ignorant of the fact
that there is a growing unrest on the part of
thousands of the very best citizens of this
State and of other States. growing out of this
condition of affairs, and it is showing itself
on the part of many excellent men in a de-
mand for a separate political organization to
antagonize the Vaccinations of this league.
Up to this date the more conservative pro-
hibitionists of Indiana have withstood this de-
mand, trusting to be redressed in some other
way so that no prohibition party has ever
existed in this State but it is evident
that this may not continue much
longer. 1t is no. political secret,
but political fact, that all prudent men
should look square in the face, that there is
call for convention to form such party,
signed already by more than ten thousand of
a class of voters whom no prudent politician
will despise, which is to be issued Immediately
after the adjournment of the Democratic
State convention, provided that no party that
will have held convention shall have adopted
resolutions and nominated ticket squarely
antagonizing the political demands of the
liquor league. We are speaking of this move
ment only as an existing political fact We
have a well-defned opinion of the wisdom of
their course, and have not hesitated to express
it freely; but that is of no significance in this
connection The position of the journal
on the question at issue has been often de-
fined. The Journal is not in favor of prohibi
ton and never has been; but this does not
preclude it from a most pronounced opposition
to the arrogance and dictation of the liquor
traffic. The existence of such a political or
ganization is a standing menace to the cOun-
trys prosperity Such political power can
have no legitimate place in American politics.
To that extent this paper is committed, and
sees no occasion for modifying Or changing its
position; and in that position we know the
Journal is in harmony with large
majority of the voters of Indiana,
of every party. A political organization that
unblushingly avows itself for sale to the
highest bidder; that holds its rod over indi
vidual members of party ticket; now de-
New York on the Democratic ticket, and now
some on the Republican ticket, as it did last
year in this county, just as the individual
candidates may be offensive to it, must not be
tolerated OF apologized for The holder the
attack upon such an organization, whether it
be railroad magnates, Or a church interest or
a combination of liquor sellers the better for
the country, and much the better for the party
that makes the attack.
Whereunto such an attack may lead is not
to be considered. The attack is right, and
must be made If no existing party viii
make it. some party will grow out of the ne
cessities of the hour that will make it. and
profit by its boldness. The Journal,
we repeat, is not in favor of prohibition
the Republican party is not-but we are
in favor of such confronting of this