The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-20
Smithsonian Institution, Prof. Baird, who has
seconded their efforts and made their national
success possible.
INTEMpERATE "TENPERAECE. -

Innmedia tely after the nomination of Hon.
Ira Davenport as Republican candidate for
Governor of New York, it was denounced
against him by the political 'Prohibitionists"
that he was the President of wine company,
and had been chosen over man like Noah
Davis because of his connection with the
liquor trade and of the Judges open temper
ance sentiments. The Voice, the national
organ of the third-party Prohibitionists, pub
lished in New York, at once filled its columns
with this story, and printed a fac-simile of
the wine-bottle and label used by the company
of which Mr.. Davenport was the reputed
president. Now here is the explanation of the
matter, as it appears in Harper's Weekly of
last Saturday:
"While Mr. Hill is shown to have been
newspaper partner and legislative ally of
Tweed's. it is urged against Mr.. Davenport
that he is president of a wine company. This
charge certainly is somewhat less injurious
than that against Mr.. Hill. But while that
against Mr.. Hill is true, that against Mr..
Davenport is in substance false. He is not
now the president of wine company and he
held the Office for time in order as executor
of a friends estate, to enable him to pay hon
est debts and to protect his friends family.
This accusation is made to repel the votes OF
temperance men from Mr. Davenport and
the facts therefore should be known
"a friend of Mr.. Davenport's was about to
undergo critical surgical operation. and he
besought Mr.. Davenport to act as the execu-
tor of his will. Mr. Davenport declined. But
after the operation, when his friend was
dying, ne renewed the request, and Mr. Dav-
export assented. He found that his friends
estate included a large share of the stock of
the Pleasant Valley Wine Company, and the
situation was such that, to preserve the prop
erty, it was desirable that Mr.. Davenport
should assume all the responsibilities which
his friend had held. He did so, and becom-
ing president of the company, he paid off the
debts of the estate and secured sufficient
support for the widow and children; and then,
having no other interest in the company, no
investment in it and no profit from it, and
having received no salary as president, he
withdrew from it entirely
''This is the whole story and it is greatly
to the credit of Mr. Davenport There is no
sincere and intelligent Prohibitionist who
while regretting that any one should find
himself honorably obliged to assume such a
connection, would not admit that Mr. Daven-
ports course was that of most honorable and
upright man. If the grave facts in the career
OF Mr.. Hill could be disposed Of as summariy
as this falsehood about Mr.. Davenport, it
would be fortunate for him. The essence of
a lie is the intent to deceive, and the inten-
ton OF this story about Mr. Davenport is to
make the prohibition voter believe that the
Republican candidate is or has been pecuni
arily interested in the manufacture of wine
This is the point of the story, and this is
false"
What can any honorable, self-respecting
man think and say of such disreputable ISLANDERS
against an honorable gentleman? That they
are circulated and Endorsed by professed
"moral reformers." men who are the "holier-
than-thou' Pharisees in politics, assuming to
lead great "moral REFORM" nay, that they
are the weapons used by men who call them
selves Christians, and who SIMULTANEOUSLY
clothe themselves in the habiliments of the
church the better to make their
ISLANDERS effective, adds infinitely to
the turpitude of the conduct. The
malignant and malicious lies uttered by ST.
John and DR.. Leonard in the Ohio campaign,
the scoundrelism of the trick resorted to by
some one in the name of prohibition" in
Indianapolis at the late election, and this
SANDER upon Mr.. Davenport, disseminated
broadcast by the national organ, show that
depths Of meanness, and treachery and decep-
ton have been reached by political third party
'Prohibitionsts" that would shame the worst
men Of either of the old parties which
these people so love to denounce. Third
party prohibition" is, in the case
of many of its leaders and managers, simply
the manifestation of infamed egotism and the
most contemplate malice. Prohibition as a
principle, and the unquestioned probity and
sincerity of many who earnestly believe
in it and advocate it are not questioned; but
third-party political prohibition, as it is ad-
vocated and conducted, is rapidly becoming so
shameful thing that Prospecting, honor
able men, to say nothing of men of Christian
integrity of character, can not longer fellow
ship with it.