The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-08
THE CITIZENs,. DUTY.


about Indianapolis politics and the trend of
public sentiment in this city, the result and
measure of effect of next Tuesdays election
must all hinge on the interest or apathy man
ifested by the best people Of the community.
If they are content to let the election pass
without taking an active and energetic part
repeated, and the enemy Of law and order will
prevail for time But if the men who be-
lieve in the impartial enforcement of law and
the maintenance of order do their duty, as
every good citizen has right to expect and
demand the attempt of the Liquor League to
seize upon the city government will be thwart
ed, and the city will be guaranteed good gov
eminent for two years to come.
There is more Of interest in this election,
possibly, than in any that preceded it; GER
tainly more affecting the immediate welfare
of the people of Indianapolis than any other
Of the past twenty years. It is not an ag
gressive fight of good against evil, but of
organized lawlessness determined to wrest
the lines of power from proper hands to en-
ploy it to the defeat of law and justice. The
Liquor League, not content with living under
the liberal laws now none too closely enforced,
has gone into this campaign with the declared
intention of electing its own men and put
ting it's own Interpretation upon the pres
ent statutes. To this end it planned the cap
ture of one Of the organized parties, stocked
the cards in IT'S convention, and forced it's man
into nomination against the evident and ex-
pressed will of that party's best representa-
tives. The man so chosen, Thomas Cottrell,
was chosen, as all know, because of his
services to the league and to the saloons
while member of the Board of Police Com
missioners. Holding that Office, he stood out
against the enforcement Of law and voluntar-
lily and doggedly dishonored his oath of office.
The law regulating the liquor traffic may or
may not be wise; but, wise or unwise, Mr..
Cottren voluntarily swore to enforce it in
common with all others.
The moral effect of electing this man, cham
pioned as he is by the Liquor League, could
but be disastrous 1t would be triumph of
the mob and of bummerism over law and
order. This is the import of the issue. Mr..
Denny, the man nominated to defeat him. has
unhesitatingly and unreservedly pledged him
self in favor Of the enforcement of law, the
same against aloon-keepers and gamblers as
against men in less questionable business. He
has placed himself on a platform every word
and sentiment of which is for the good of So
ciety, and the maintenance of the city's fair
fame.
Cottrell is backed by every law-defying
saloon-keeper in the city, under the leader
ship Of Sim Coy and every man of
them will work and vote for him. To
insure his election the saloons have been
assessed in the amount that they should
pay into the city treasury. In other words,
they are using the money that they should
pay as taxes to help them secure control of
affairs, so that they won't have to pay their
just portion of the public burden-practically
using the city's money to corrupt elections.
The question to be settled on Tuesday next is
how far this dangerous and aggressive power
for evil can be allowed to 60 It can be
checked now, and for a time disarmed These
arc the conditions of the campaign, and the
,sult is in the hands of those who believe in
L. y and order. A rebuke can be administered
to the Liquor League that will stagger it, and
science of this people is not dead Such re-
buke, administered with force that admits
of no doubt, should be given on Tuesday next.