The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-14
THE SALOON AND THE PARTIES.
Relation of the Question of the Prohibition
Of the Liquor Traffic to Politics.

OF the Liquor Traffic to Politics.
| good -szed audience met last evening in the
| Criminal Court room to hear Capt Eli F. Ritter
discuss prohibition, its progress, its relation to
the two great political parties of the day. and its
| future The meeting was under the auspices OF
the newly-founded Prohibition Club. j. G.
| Kingsbury presided over the meeting. Captain
Ritter's address was long and forcible, and
listened to with marked attention He said, sub
stantiay
There some general characteristics in all re-
forms Reforms begin small and are always opposed
The greater the reform, the greater the opposition
The greatest of all reforms by of the stake
the dungeon the block and the Reforms orig
mate with the people. Reformers necessarily
ridculed. Reformers count the cost any more
than patriotism counts the cost. Prudence in a
form is IN advancing 1T and not in retarding it, One
great reform at time is the way. reform is the
conquest of idea. Reformers never surrender.
Civilization is reformation. The next reform in
der is the temperance reform. speak of the poti-
cal phase OF this question IT is settled that the gov
eminent must exercise control over the traffic
the policy to provide for the traffic rattle
under certain conditions The places where intoxcat
| ing liquors retaed known as saloons, are pot-
ca institutions. established by law like schools high
ways etc. Under this system the traffic has pros
| pered wonderfully. 1t has accumulated immense
wealth. great influence in commercial affairs. has be-
and has gained position of great political influence
1t accepts the authority under which it does business
nut disregards all the conditions These political in
stitutons, established by law have become awless in
stitutions. These political institutions combine with
all phases of mm raty. 1t now denies the power of
the government to control it to enforce any law
over it that is not satisfactory to the traffic.
1t in the policy of the to regulate and
restrict the traffic 1t there was any merit in this
theory the traffic has outgrown the theory. The
theory In its practice puts the most dangerous bust
ness In the hands of the most reckless men. Any
theory practice that gives such power to such
is dangerous theory, and dangerous practice, but
under our conditions of civilization better men
will ever be found in the business The danger
GUS foe to good order and good morals in the land
| to-day is the liquor traffic with its combna.
| tons This state of affairs has arisen under
the theory of regulation and restriction. The
liquor traffic is political institution under law.
and in politics. 1t contemplates the 2ubjugaton
of political parties to its interest and it is not without
great encouragement in this effort. do not charge
tna all things are Intentionally done in the interest of
the liquor traffic that in effect done in its interest
The liquor traffic is respons BILE for the defeat in the
| Legislatures of the various States last winter. of
bills providing for the teaching in the public schools
of the evil effects of liquor the system 1t defeat
| ed the appointment of a commission by Congress-
contemplating the accumulation and publicat on of
facts growing out of the liquor traffic 1t prevents
the publication of arguments and the arraying of
facts in the press, which would be against its inter
est 1t compels suppression of the facts and their
Misrepresentation, by its threatening attitude in poll
| tics In indianapolis it has organization, with
| Simeon Coy at its head Simeon is king and the
Democratic party is powerless. But both the old par
ties claim to be the friend of the traffic and both
| pledged to maintain its existence and it from
| the wrath of the voters.
In Ohio it has compelled the Democratic party to
favor submission for the fourth time of an amend
ment to the Constitution in favor of license It
peed the Republican party to declare in favor of
alton and regulation which the Supreme Court has
said cannot be done under the present Constitution
which decision has been approved by John Sherman
parties in Ohio to favor the minority, which consists
of the liquor interest and its patrons and to disre-
gard the wishes of the great majority which consists
| of church people and who love good order.
What IS true In Ohio is true in State whore the
liquor traffic is operated extensively. On every
sentia thing to its perpetuity and prosperity it and
the political parties in perfect harmony the only
controversy being as to what portion of the profits
shall be divided This state of affairs is called 'prac-
teal by the statesmen and any other course is i'm
practicable"
The Democratic party has never been known to
waver in its loyalty and subservency to the liquor
traffic in the Northern States, and the Republican
party has practced subterfuge and trifed with both
sides. The Democratic party is having easy time.
1t believes in total depravty and lives up to its belief;
smiles at the Prohibtionsts and urges them forward
at the same time it turns the Liquor League loose.
The public sentiment of the day is not going in the
direction of license high or low. The vote in Ohio
| the prohibition and license amendment is an ex-
| preston for that State. In Maine, Kansas, Iowa,
very few exceptions the sentiment has been for pro-
hbton and not for license The voice of The churches
| has been heard against license
| 1t IS the settled Judgment and the conclusive
showing from the evidence, we'll the conviction
of civilization that the saoonthe place where intox
icating liquors are sold and drunk and where men
are invited to assemble for the purpose-s evil,
essentially evil, per Sc; evil, ungovernable
evil, evil and that continually. Can any statesman
justify the establishment by law of political institu-
ton that stands convicted before the world
TALLY evi License is wrong in principle imprac
teal and cannot be enforced. The license system is
not much to regulate and restrict the traffic is
to regulate and restrict prohibition. The Republican
party, as believe, could, in 1884, have espoused
prohibition and in 1888 have succeeded upon it and
saved the party. But it never carry high license
in indiana and will go into retirement trying to do
SO. 1t is painful to me to comment upon the mistakes
of the Republican party, for have loved the old
party as never expect to love organization of the
kind again
In concluding his address Captain Ritter said
The taking of human life is the most terrible of all
things. and yet at the bar where stand Mer
| rick Achey and Guetg tried and condemned
and yonder, but few yards away they were exc
cuted. Merrick, Achey aud Guetig had each muir
dered one person, and executed as too bad and
too dangerous to live in society. But the criminal
which arragn at this bar has not ceased to number
its victims In the Of the helpless in the name
of the weak in the of humanity, in the name of
| justice, in the of God / demand the execution
and destruction of this criminal.