The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-10

The Future of Temperance Reform.

Inc fuCurO Oh temperance FNoIOfms
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
Many time l have been asked, in the past
two months, what will now be done touching the
temperance question, and what action will be
taken looking to the bringing of the matter be-
fore the people, to be voted upon by them Now,
through the Journal, desire to say, first, that
every Republican senator and representative in
the Legislature now in session should
go upon the record in favor
of constitutional convention, and thus
make good the pledge of the Republican party
in IFS State convention last summer upon this
policy-a pledge which held to the support of
the party the great mass of the Prohibitonists,
for they believed that the party meant just what
it said upon this subject, and that if it carried
the Legislature it would carry out in good faith
the pledge thus made. While Prohibitionists
did not recognize this as a declaration in favor
of prohibition, and while they were not asking
the party to indorse this principle, they did be-
lieve that constitutional convention looked to
that end at least that it would afford the friends
of prohibition an opportunity to test their
strength on this question, first, in the cleo
ton OF delegates to the conventions second in the
convention itself, and third, in a vote on the
work of the convention and all in 1885, two
years sooner than it could possibly be reached in
any other way. Everywhere the third party
men said that this declaration was made simply
to pull the wool over the eyes, of the meek,
lamb-like Prohibitionist in order to get his VOTE
with no purpose o. carrying it out; that
the party had always acted in bad faith
fore no reliance could be placed upon
this pledge. This declaration was at once
challenged by many of the true friends,
and counter declaration was made that the
hoA n1xr to1 nt1kI fnt<
far as it was able, every pledge it had made to
the friends of this cause and it would do SO
now if placed where it could. Now, to make
good its pledges in the late State convention,
and to establish itself in the confidence of the
large body of Prohibitionists who stood Loyalty
with it in the late election, and to vindicate
those who on the stump, defended it against
the charges of bad faith and deception made by
the third party men, let bill ordering consti
tutional convention be introduced in each
branch of the Legislature at an early day,
and let every Republican member
thereof be eager to record his vote in
favor of the same This done, the pledge of the
party will be redeemed, so far as it has power
and the charge of bad faith answered in most
convincing manner. Secondly--let the amend
ment association, organized on the oath of July,
proceed to organize the State on the basis of the
platform therein declared-that of prohibition
by constitutional revision, and the voting only
for such candidates for the Leg islature in 1856,
of the various parties, who are known to be in
favor of and who will vote to hand the whole
question of prohibition up to the people, in
a constitutional convention or by
the ordinary channel of submission
This line of action will not antagonize either
one of the dominant parties, and will confne it.
self simply to the legislative ticket, voting only
for the candidates of the respective parties who
are in favor of letting the people say whether
they want prohibition or not On this policy I
think the great mass of Prohibitonists in the
political parties can be united, and if the work
is commenced in time such unity of effort can
be had as will see General Assembly, elected
in 1886 that will heed the desire of very
large class of the people of the
State, and give them an opportunity
of yoicing their sentiments at the ballot box on
the question of constitutional prohibition. In
conclusion, want to make this further sugges-
tom While to my mind the third party made a
great mistake, and by this mistake brought
paralysis upon the temperance reform move
ment, and on prohibition in particular such as
in twenty years have not witnessed before, and
have given the cause most terrific stab, tenn
porarily at least yet | can not but feel that
the wholesale Remuneration of those who
voted that ticket, by the Republican
press, is serious mistake, and will
in the end react in their interest It must be re-
membered that the great mass of these men are
honest and conscientious citizens; not political
scramblers after the spoils of office, and who
never will be, but men deeply convicted, with the
New York Tribune, ''that in all the English
speaking nations there is to-day such far reach
ing and tremendous question as drunkenness;
that in its Implications and effects it overshad-
ows all others And that when they voted the
third party ticket they thought they were voting
to hasten the day when this tremendous evil
should be destroyed. 1t must be remembered
that the great mass of these men have hitherto
been Republicans and that the party
has not the most brilliant outlook
without their aid Can this be secured by this
universal abuse and impugning of their actions2
/ think not Thesferce and relentless assaults of
the Republican press upon Gov. st. John, their
eauGidate-the charge that he offered to sell