The Indianapolis journal., 1885-08-10
A THIRD PARTY NOT WANTED
Speech of Hon. Will Cumback at the
Union County Temperance Picnic.
Political Action of the Liquor Men, and How
Temperance People Might Profit by
Studying Their Tactics.
Rpecial to the INDIANAPOLIS Journas.

ance picnic Of Union county, was held near here
to-day. 1t has been the custom for more than
thirty consecutive years, this being the thirty
first gathering of the kind The attendance was
very large. The crowd was variousy estimated
from FIVE to eight thousand people. Hon. E. B.
Reynolds presided. At 10 A. M. the vast audi
dience was seated and brief but impressive
memorial service was held. c. W. Stivey, Of
Liberty, made a prepared address, and VIII
Cumback, of this State, and George W. Balm, OF
kentucky, made short speeches, and b. b. Key
nolds read poem. AT II o'clock Will Cumback
made an address of an hour on the present posi-
ton of the temperance question. In the after
noon George W. Balm, w. Reeves, and Senator
L n. Huston, of Connersville addressed the
people. In the course of his address Mr.. Cum
back said:
1t is more difficulty now to make temperance
speech than formerly. The Liquor League is
now completely organizcd-is a compact and
powerful body. 1t cannot be oyerthrown by
moral suasion or by holding up to view the evils
flowing from the traffc-the pauperism, the
crime, and misery which are the legitimate
results of the business. The Liquor League has
ceased to fear moral suasion. In its organized
eapaclty, with a treasury full of its ill-gotten
wealth, it controls primary conventions. dictates
ever it can puts the tools of the League in the
Legislature, and selects prosecuting attorneys
and judges and then defes the people. 1t is
thus too often enabled to select the grand uries,
and then openly violate law. The
Liquor League is not bound to any party
will. There is no political question in the estma-
ton of the league rises so high the unrestrained
right to sell intoxicants on all days Of the year
and all times of night. Any attempt to restrain
this business by law, any attempt to enforce
law on the statute book calls, down the wrath and
vengeance of the League. and the politicians of
all parties tremble like towards when with foul
wrath and profane words the Liquor League
utter threats against all who dare oppose or
resist their wicked work. How to find prac
tical way to circumvent the coming of the
League and give the people of the Statea chance
to be heard is the question now to consider. 1t
is not easy task when you ask me to
point out the way-the best way.
A young man may be pardoned for indulging in
rhetorical fo 1rishes and mere declamation but
one who has passed the fftieth mile stone a3
nave done, ought, on grave question like this, to
talk common sense, and be actuated by something
higher than exciting the admiration of those
who are controlled more by their emotions than
reason.
From my standpoint it seems that the diff
culties surrounding this question have been
greatly multiplied by those who claim to be, par
excellence, temperance men, We must give
chem credit for devoted zeal and enthusiasm, and
Shat they have courage we cannot doubt But,
q
safer counselor than mere sentimentality; and no
enthusiasm is Of any force that is not the out
growth of thoughtful reflection.
We have to take the people and all the
environng circumstances as we find them, and
act accordingly. If we take them think
they ought to be. and are not we will make an
irreparable blunder, and will accomplish nothing
but failure. This Is the great mistake that some
temperance men make, and this bunder is the
source Of the difficulties that now surrounds US
TRnOcpancA of
thusiasm that prompts more zeal thai knowledge,
tired of the slow movements of their party on
this question, step out of the ranks, call on all
cemPeraE~s men to. follow them into a
of this evil party having this
for it's sole and only object.
But the great mass of temperance men do not see
as they claim to see, that that is the most prac-
tical and effective way, and refuse to follow. The
jealous third party men are impatient at the
refusal because soured and bitter, and charge a
lack of principle of all who do not go with them,
and the Liquor League is made happy over the
strife and decision of temperance men.
The liquor men act more wisely. They want
no third party for the promotion of the liquor
interest They know such a course would be
disastrous to them. The saloon is an indefens-
BILE thing, and they know it. They seek alliances
with existing political parties, and the saloon
mixed up and concealed with other questions,
and then call to their aid party ties and party
fealty to carry it through.
Now let me put to you that plain and pertinent
inquiry: If there be temperance men enough in
Indiana to form third party and carry the
State on that. single question, then there are
more than enough to control the existing polt-
zeal party for the cause and give us all the legis-
lation we need 1t has seemed to me that as
temperance men we waste vast amount of hon
est effort. If not wasted it is misdirected
which is the same thing. We will attend any
number OF temperance meetings. pass numerous
high sounding resolutions, work ourselves into a
fever heat, and then stop While we are doing
all that, willy foe is at the primary conven-
tion or the caucus, doing his work at point
where it will do the most good It
efteu happens that while the temperance
people are at church praying for divine help to
arrest the evil Of intemperance, the saloon
keeper and his crowd at the court house
making ticket tor the saints to vote for at the
next election.
believe in prayer; but are commanded to
watch and pray. 1t is to he noticed that the
watching is to come first 1t is manifest that we
have neglected to work at the point where we
could do the most good; Let us call to our aid
party ties and party organizations, instead of
antagonizing them. We can do this if
pseudo political sanctifcation which refuses TO
enter the dirty pool of politics. fit be dirty it IS
because we have not gone in and cleaned it out
we have to have political pool. Let us have
clean one. The royal mantle Of sovereignty
resting on every American citizen makes every
man politician in the broader sense of the
word. IT the saloonk keepers and the bummers
have made our politics filthy and impaired
our political health, it is because we
have allowed it to be so. Let the hon
est man, the good citizen and the pure
minded Christian go in and act as disinfectants,
and We will soon be rid of the stencil, and will
Danish the Ills that have impaired our political
health The American citizen fails to realize
the responsibility of his position He seems
unconscious that he is ruler and a sovereign
He forgcts that through his representa-
tlves he enacts laws and creates constitutions
If the ugly ulcers Of political corruption appear
on the body polite, and the mercenary spirit of
the times has poisoned the life blood of the
Nation until its vital force is so weakened that
dishonesty and crime appear at midday-if the
liquor League can control his political party,
make tickets for him to vote, and trample under
foot all laws for the protection OF socety-he is
inclined to blame everybody but himself He
fails to remember tnat by mis- indifference he has