The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-05
THE LAST WEEK.


late to do anything more than to gather up
and put into shape for the nxet day the results
of what is done during the ensuing six days.
The battle will be gained or lost this week.
To gain it will require the utmost individual
work-earnest, aggressive and unceasing.
The party OF law and order, as against that of
lawlessness, is in danger of defeat from three
causes-apathy, cowardice and treachery. The
result will depend almost entirely upon wheth-
er the votes of business men, Of working
men, of tax payers and prudent, frugal
householders, who are interested in an econom-
ical administration Of municipal affairs, and
who know that such cannot, in the nature of
things result from government put in power
by the influences that are backing Mr. Cot
trelPs candidacy, shall be deposited in the
ballot-box. When the Republican party was
defeated in the township election of 1882 it
was because there were 5000 voters north of
Washington street who remained at home on
election day. There is the same danger now.
1t is monstrous, it is criminal, that men en-
titled to the suffrage will not use it in
the interests of good government, when
they know that every man with selfish or cor
rupt interest in the result Of the election will
not only vote himself, but will see that every
other man does whom he can influence to vote
his way.
Then there are towards. There are men
who shiver with fear at the insolence Of the
Liquor League Men in business of various
kinds, which are related more or less directly
with the liquor traffic, have been and are being
bulldozed and intimidated by the liquor lords.
In the Ninth ward, for instance,
Mr.. Waterman, Democratic candidate for
councilman, threatened cigar dealer with
the "boycott" if be dared to vote against him.
1t is amazing that there are such people; but
there are. Why, the very first principles Of
cowardly self-protection demand that this in
solent defiance be met and overcome. If it ia
succumbed to now, who shall tell to what
lengths it will not go in the futuref If all
| men in terror of these bulldozers would unite
with those courageous enough to open
ly defy them, and would help
to grind them under the heel of
of majority of 1000 or 5000, we should hear
no more of the scoundrelly 'boycotter" in
politics; and men in all kinds of business
could feel that there was permanent divorce
for the future of politics from business.
Then there are those who bark with the
hounds but run with the hare. They want to be
on the winning side, whichever itmay be. They
talk one way in certain circles, and another
way in others. There are some Of these; for
tunately the number of them is grow
ing small by degrees and beautifully
less. Nothing will diminish their numbers
and influence SO much as a good, sweeping
victory next week.
The Sc are the three dangers that imperil
success. How they can be best overcome
seems to be answered in their very statement.
What is needed is the stirring up of all men
of all classes TO the importance and value of
the issue. The point to be decided by the
election needs to be talked, openly and above
board, earnestly, aggressively, in every ward
and precinct of the city. The wards, if any
there be, where they don't want to discuss the
issue at hand are the very wards where
the greatest dancer lies The cowardIv oar
be imbued with courage by seeing that the
best men of the city are awake and aggressive.
The treacherous can be forced to show their
hands by an array and organization of those
citizens in each precinct and ward who stand
for law, for public order, for economic admin
istration, for low taxes, for business and in
dustrial prosperity, for the security of person
and the protection of property. These are
the influences that must be organized and
arrayed this week, if indianapolis is to be
saved from the shame and disgrace of passing
under the control of ''Sim" Coy and ''Sam"
Dinnin, and their like, by electing to Office
man controlled by them, and whose nomina-
ton was given to him by them as a premium
for his record in favor of the non en- forcement
of law Is it not worth a weeks strong.
earnest and united effort to prevent such
consummation2
The New York Commercial Advertiser
thinks that tho rafurr;,o. ,,,rrrr,,,x,~n ssxr;11