The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-18
NON-PARTISAN TEMPERANCE MEH
How Great Reform May Finally Be Ac-
shed.

complshed.
''Non- Partisan in Northwestern Christian Advo-
cate.
Twill you USE" says Mr.. Abbott ''any politi
cal actionY' Yea, verify, non partisan action.
''If you do not how can you get pro hibition2'
BY hard, honest and open temperance work in
educating the public mind up to the prohibition
standard and then united non-partsan poltl-
cal action Will bring success.
IF you do NEEDLE with politics, will you vote
for any whisky men?" In voting non-partisan
ticket for constitutional State prohibition there
VIII be no necessity to vote for whisky men:
hence, no.
IF you do not wish to vote for whisky men,
will you pledge your candidates to prbhbtionT
When the public mind has received a thorough
non-partlsan temperance education, when vOt
ers, whether Democrat, Republican, st. John,
Green hacker. or mugwump, have become sound
~ converted to prohibition of the liquor traffic,
then candidates will need no pledges the legis
ators elected by them will and must reflect their
Will The people are supreme, and when the
majority want prohibition they will have it, and
not till then. All the platform needed will be
the temperance war cry: Down with the liquor
trafic!' Give constitutional State prohibition.
No other political ''isms" are wanted to divide
and distract the public mind If this platform
made by the people without distinction of party
can be made partisan politics. then count this
writer in.
How are you going to get temperance men
nominatedN Probably by general mass meet
localities
'Supposng them nominated can you elect
them without the vote of temperance men of
other partiesF Nay, verify; we invite all to cor
daily unite in this glorious partisan move
ment who are truly in favor of the suppression
OF the liquor traffic by legal prohibition.
IF great party were to declare for prohibi-
ton, and nominate unequivocal temperance
men, would you support it9' When the people,
irrespective of party, under circumstances which
promise success, nominate such upon the
sole issue of prohibition, they should have the
support of all temperance men
IF you support great party, why not asmall
oneF Success is the great object of all reform
work. Temperance reformers ought not to dab
bic IN the dirty water of partisan politics The
formation Of new parties at the wrong time and
under lnauspicious circumstances, as the advent
OF the st. John party last fall, is the huge mis-
take of the age.
did you think of a non partisan temper
ance society until after November Az All tenn
perance societies are and have been from time
lmmemorlal. non partisan. UnquestiOnably the
thru, or St John party was and is extremely
partisan, and undertook to goad temperance Re-
pubIlcans to its support with but poor success.
If slandering the Republican party and unchris-
TANNING temperance Republicans is worthy of
great credit, then we credit this much to the
third party.
Finally, we have seen the workings of non
partisan political action in Ohio. Some two
years since the people. without particular re-
gard to party, but awake on the temperance
issue, polled about 325 900 votes for prohibition.
Last fall the st. John party cast only about H.,
600, an Illustration of what premature partisan
action can accomplish. The temperance move
ment in Iowa. Kansas, and other States might
be cited to show that bipartisan action is the
one thing needed to insure success. Then, in
view of past temperance history, let us
cease to oppose and ridicule the "Na-
tional Temperance League" and any and
all other leagues and societies that have
for their object the enlightenment of the public
mind on the subject of temperance, and an hon
est disposition to educate our people up to the
point of voting prohibition. Let us invite and
welcome all to our ranks. Let each work in his
or her own way, and all for one great object
the suppression of the liquor traffic Let envy,
jealousy and party strife cease. Don't for one
moment suppose that all the culture, wisdom
and intelligence is conferred in any one party
league or society; but be generous and liberal,
giving every sincere temperance worker the
right hand of fellowship, and thus by a com
bined, harmonious and non partisan effort help
to insure speedy and glorious success. May
God speed the day!