The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-13
POLITICAL pROHIBITIoNIsTs.


The attitude of the political Prohibitionists
toward the Republican party is one Of hostil-
ity. They are ungrateful and vindictive, and
it is not apparent that they do not take more
satisfaction in defeating their former friends
than they would in securing the legislation
they desire. 1t needs no argument to prove
that the Republican party is incomparably
more in favor of regulating and restricting the
liquor traffic than IS the Democratic. But
because all Republicans do not believe in the
ACCESSIBILITY of attempting absolute prohibition,
the effect of which where tried is an open
question, to say the least, the fanatics Of tenn
perance produce the assassn's knife and pro-
coed to cut the throat Of the only party that
offers them encouragement in any legislation
considered practical. But charge is made
against the manipulators of the Prohibition
schism of a more serious character, and it is
quite apparent that they are working in the
direct interest Of the Democratic party from
which it has long been known they have re-
ceived material aid. Prof. G. W. Calder
wood, we'll known throughout the West as an
earnest worker for temperance and final prohi-
bition, and long employed as a lee
turer by the Women's Christian Temper
ance Union, III speaking Of the prohibition
movement, says that well posted Prohibition
lists know very well that nine dollars out of
every ten spent for political prohibition in
this country come from Democratic Golfers.
Getting down to the facts of the case he says;
when was editor of the American Prohi-
bitonist I was placed in position to know
this. A great deal Of the temperance litera-
ture and Prohibition tickets Were sent out
from my otice-paid for by the Democratic
State central committee in checks signed by
their chairman and secretary, and payable at
Reinhard's bank in Columbus, o." The pur-
pose Of the Democratic party is patent to
everybody but such as are blinded by fanati-
cism, or who wilfully close their eyes. No
unprecedented man can truthfully deny that
the Democratic party expects, in the future
as in the past to use the political prohibition
lists to further Democratic ends The Demo
cratic party in Ohio expects to spend money
in behalf Of the political prohibi-
ton movement for the purpose of
keeping it alive. wisely arguing
that nine out of ten men caught in such
trap are Republicans. No man, we think, is
foolish enough to believe that Democracy
favors anything like prohibition. 1t is
pledged against even high license, and, if it
dared, would not oppose absolute, unrestricted
liberty in the manufacture and sale of intox-
icants. Yet Democracy is the silent partner
Of the political prohibitionists, and furnishes
the capital The dividends come in the
shape of political offices, won through divisions
made in Republican ranks by men running
after the wiIl-o-the-wisp of political prohibi-
ton. When Ohio is ready for prohibition it
will come, and no sooner. If law of that
kind were passed now it could by no possibil-
ity be enforced. And even as it is, law re-
curing high license cannot be enforced be-
cause of Democratic hostility to it. The
farce of longer playing into Democratic
hands should disgust every sensible man who
may favor prohibition.