The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-06

Something Sensible and Practical in the Way
of Local Temperance Reform.

Something Sensible and Practical in the Way
of a Local Temperance Reform.
National Republican.
1.-THE National League for the Suppression of
the Liquor Traffic" is the title Of an organiza-
ton formed by friends of temperance since the
last election, with headquarters at 36 Bromfeld
street, Boston. Its formation is the outgrowth
of conviction fostered by experience that the
temperance cause should be dsassociated from
politics and political parties. 1t is proposed to
carry the work solely from moral and non
partisan standpoint and thus secure the effect
i've cooperation of the friends of temperance in
all parties
OF the real wisdom of this course there is nc
doubt. The temperance movement is essen
tally moral movement, and conducted as such
appeals as strongly to Democrat as to Re
publican. But when it is sought to make tia
political question often repeated experience has
proved that by itself it is not strong enough to
draw any considerable number of men
from the strictly political parties, while by
drawing few thousand from one party or the
other it has been more than once able to cause
their defeat and make enemies for the temper
ance cause out of men who but for such results
would have been friendly to the cause The St.
John movement last year, for instance, did the
temperance cause no good whatever. but did il
positive harm by arousng the natural and Just
resentment of Republicans, who felt that it had
defeated their candidate for President, because
nearly all of the men who were drawn to vote
for him were Republicans, and more than suffi-
clenG In numOer TO nave Lrluiupnanuly elecreO
Mr.. Blaine had they voted with their natural
political party.
The league among other methods, proposes to
issue temperance documents prepared by able
writers, and the first number written by Rev.
DIR. Dorchester, president of the league, is ready
for distribution to all who may write or apply
for it. 1t is a temperate, impartial argument,
showing the uselessness of third party temper
ance movements. Commenting on the docu-
nent the Boston Traveller says:
of tha CTR rnada hxx nr
Dorchester in favor of non partisan temperance
effort, is his clear and conclusive showing that
whatever progress has been made in temperance
legislation has been made, in every case. with
out partisan action; that the third party, after
sixteen years existence. has never put tenn
perance law on our statute books, and that the
question of advanced temperance legislation has
never been so complicated, embarrassed and
hindered as since it has been brought into the
antagonisms and prejudices of party strife by
third party action"
Sucn a statement, coming from SO eminent
worker in the cause of temperance, should re-
ceive the thoughtful consideration of the friends
of the cause every where.
1t has long been matter of wonder that the
temperance advocates could not perceive that in
attempting to make political temperance party
they simply put themselves into position where
they must endure the suspicion, ill-favor and
hard knocks that all political parties visit upon
each other, and must inevitably array thousands
of voters against them, who politics aside, are
friendly to the cause. How much the movement
is weakened by this folly Dr. Dorchester strik-
ingly shows by the case of Iowa. where, in a
strictly non-partisan campaign, GAL, III votes
were cast in favor of prohibition yet only l9, 157
votes could be rallied for ST. John when the
temperance question was made political issue.
The new league is based upon hard common
sense ideas, and properly supported, will do
more rea, good in the advancement of temper
ance ideas in year than the unreasonable fanat-
les of the st. John stripe could do in decade