The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-27
THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1885.

conform to it, and hereafter vote to allow all
pensions growing out of the civil war to COM
mence from the date of disability.
You may expect me, fellow-citizens, to say
something before closing about State issues, but
upon those there are many gentlemen better
informed than l am. | know by general reputa-
ton that the Democratic majority of our last
Legislature was a bad lot. / leave others to
furnish a bill of particulars.
THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.
There is one question which not to mention
would underrate it's great Importance. l mean
the temperance question:; and this, Ihave always
thought. should not enter the pale of party poll
tics. 1t should be treated as other great domes-
tic and local interests are treated, such as edu-
cation, public charities, roads and turnpikes.
National parties are formed for general objects
of public policy. To draw party lines upon the
temperance question is to weaken the party and
also to weaken the issue presented, for in all
parties there are temperance men, who differ
widely as to the best measures to promote tenn
perance. We have in the Republican party a
great number who favor prohibition as the only
effective remedy, while a great number, equally
honest, believe that taxation and regulation of
the liquor traffic is the most effective remedy for
the evils growing out of this traffic.
Inc Republican party has in it's late platform
ofleny, clearly, and, as | think, wisely, stated
the extent to which it as a party can unitedly go
IN temperance legislation, leaving each indivi-
dual citizen free TO secure, if he can in co opera
ton with others of like opinion, a change of the
Constitution that will permit prohibition. l am
among those who believe that a wise system of
tax laws and laws restraining the traffic can be
framed, based upon the principles of the Scott
law, that will be in harmony with the Constitu-
ton, and be supported by reasonable members
of both parties. This will secure a diminution
of the evils of free whisky, a much needed
addition to the revenue, a relief to the people
from other forms of taxation, and the certainty
OF the faithful execution and stability of the
laws.
Certainly sensible temperance men ought to be
Wiling to test this remedy before r~esorting to
prohibition, which, at best, cannot be engrafted
on the Constitution for years, and, if adopted, as
experience shows in many States, could not be
enforced in the large centres of population. 1t
seems TO me 1t Is not wise or just for the Repub-
llcan party to drive from its ranks honest and
true Republicans, who, claiming to be temper
ance people, and favoring what they regard as
wise temperance laws, are not willing to support
the extreme remedy of prohibition.
On the subject of temperance legislation our
Democratic friends have p~racticed moro than
their usual demagoglsm and deception. They
promised to repeal the Scott law; their legis-
lature dared not do it but, after snuch delay,
they nullfed 1t by a partisan judicial decision.
Tney promised the LIQUOR dealers to refund the
tax collected. but got out of this by another
partisan decision. Under this rule the sale of
whisky and beer is as free as of bread. No
taxes are levied upon it, no restraints, no limita-
ton. BY their acts the Scott law is a dead
letter, and. according to their partisan judicial
decisions, there is no power in the legislature
either to prohibit or tax the sale of liquors.
Governor Hoadly now openly and frankly
owns that he Is opposed to prohibition in all its
forms, and TO taxation, and the recent Demo
cratic convention proposes no remedy except to
change the Constitution so as to allow the license
or the traf1lc, a measure that has been twice re-
Jected by the people of Ohio, and which no man
of sense believes will ever be adopted. The
Issue is squarely made between free whisky and
the taxation and regulation of the traffic.
fortunately, by the election of Republican
judges and a Republican Legislature, you can
now secure wise temperance laws in harmony
with the spirit of the age. Such laws can and
oughtsto be passed that will restrain. and limit,
and tax the traffic. l appeal to our Republican
friends, who have been faithful and true in the
past to the great party to which they belong,
not to desert it now, nor to wander off on a col
lateral question. Work as you will for such
temperance measures as You desire, however
moderate or extreme they may be, but let not
this make you forget your interest in the restor-
alton and perpetuity of the Republican party.
The signs of the times indicate strongly that the
political prohibition movement in Ohio is now
managed by a few leaders,, solely in the interest
of the Democratic party, and with a view to de-
feat the Republican party. l have no unklnd
words for them, but | hope they will find that
the Republican voters are intelligent enough to
know that the place of an honest temperance
man is not as an ally or stipendiary of the Dem
ocratic party.
What we want is a Republican Governor, and
his name is Foraker. A Republican Legislature
that will give you wise temperance laws, as well
as wise laws upon other subjects. Republican
judges that will %construe the Constitution of the
State on the side OF temperance and good order,
and a Republican senator from Ohio to the Sen
ate of the United States. Let US place Ohio
where she has usually stood-in the forefront
of Republican States, for the Union, for liberty
and justice to all, without respect of race, nativ-
ity and creed.