The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-16

shall 1t be nowf Will the people OF Indiana become
eft Of wrong " we ali have es 70 obey the
laws 1t is fair and right and by all fair and honorable
men recognized fair and right that shall have
an equal voice in making the laws.
If this work of apportionment cannot other
wise be fairly done, let all who are opposed TO
Acknowledgement for opinions sake unite in
passing constitutional amendment that will 80
limit the discretion of the Legislature as to
make these "gerrymapders" impossible
The congressional apportionment is out OF the
same piece of cloth. The Democrats have at
tempted to take ten out of the thirteen districts
A minority of the vote Of the State demands
ten -thirteenths of the power of the State In the
national House of Representatives, and gives TO
the majority three-thrteenths Districts were
made Democratic for the benefit of certain po-
litical pets, while the hopes of other Democrats
were ruthlessly slaughtered by adding Repuo-
llcan county TO their districts The indications
that some of these legislative pets will not
receive popular majorities in the districts made
to promote their ambitions.
THE LIQUOR QUESTION.
The interest in the temperance question In
Indiana is very general and very intense 1t was
quite manifest at our recent State convention
that this question holds front rank in the
thought of our people. AS a social question
one affecting the happiness of the individual and
the family, 1t has for many years attracted the
interest and enlisted the efforts of consecrated
men and women. But another aspect of the ques-
ton has OF late years come into much promi
ness-the business or economic relation of the
traffic in liquors to public order and to the tax
rate. This attack starts from a lower planet
has to do with money rather than with morals.
The argument is, that the traffic costs the
community that it imposes burdens.
But whatever the line of approach to the ques-
tion, every man not absolutely blind to passing
events must admit that the temperance senti-
ment has made an extraordinary growth in the
last ten years There are still wide differences
of opinion among those who may Justly claim to
be temperance men, as to the lines upon which
the fight should be waged-as to the methods of
restraint and repression. But / am persuaded
%hat majority of the people of Indiana agree
that our present legislation is not abreast with
the times, either in the kind or degree Of re-
straint it imposes, and that advance must be
made.
But at this point divisions appear. There has
come into some of the temperance organizations
a spirit of intolerance that will have no mans
help who will not accept their one and only ad
MISSILE method of dealing with the question.
These will not aid in an effort to ameliorate or
diminish the evils resulting from the traffic, but
demand its immediate and universal extinction.
Some even declare that they prefer free to
restricted traffic have no unknd words for
such persons, and perhaps no appeal I could
make would reach them. But to those more
practical. temperance men who do not
demand the nnattanable, tho Republican party
does appeal in this campaign. If some
have In view, need we part company till get
to the forks of the road? It would not have
been good military tactics for Grants army be-
fore Petersburg to have refused to unite in an
assault until his soldiers could agree upon the
precise terms of reconstruction. The first duty
In hand was to whip Lee. The Liquor League
is entrenched in this State behind the Demo
cratic party and the legislative gerrymander. It
has levied it's assessments to create campaign
funds for Democratic uses, and to corrupt legs-
iatUr0S The Rapuhlican marty has boldly de-
clared that its repressve hand must be shaken
off and it's corrupt influence in politics de-
stroyed. Is not that work in which all men
who favor temperance reform can unite? Can
such afford to divide when that issue is pre-
senred? / have quoted once before this extract
from a speech delivered in Chicago, in 1881. be-
fore the Distillers' Association by Mr.. Shufelt
its president He said:
A membership of 5000 would give us in the way
of annual dues, at each $50 600, to say nothing
Of the extra assessments exacted of and cheerfuly
paid by the distillers With $50 600 annually at our
command feel confident that the association would
find little difficulty in staying the of fanaticsm
and intolerance, which if not checked threatens to
sweep fair land. There would longer
arise a necessity for the calls that made with
singular regularity upon individual members of
trade during each recurring session of State Leg
islatures.
This last sentence needs no comment 1t will
be great gain if we can elect in Indiana a Legis
lature over which such influences can have
power The exact form which our legislation
upon this subject shall take, if we control the
Legislature, | would not venture to predict /
am sure it will be more responsive to temper
ance sentiment than anything the Democratic
party will do. I believe it should compel the
traffic in liquor to bear its own proper burdens;
that the taxing power should be freely used as
one means of regulation and restriction and that
an ample measure of local control should be
given to the people.
STATE BENEvoLENcEs AND THE TREASURY.
Fgl.
been the pride and care of our people. We have
given generously to their construction and equip
ment. It is disgrace to our State that these
institutions should be drawn into the strifss of
political parties; that official places connected
with the care, treatment and instruction of the
insane, deaf and dumb, blind, imbecile and of
the orphans of our soldiers should be regarded
and distributed as part of the spoils of politics
is a public scandal reproach to our civiliza-
ton. These institutions must be rescued and
placed under a strict civil-servce Skill, intelli-
gence and humane disposition, and not ward
following, must be the test. The abuses that
were shown to exist in the Soldiers Orphans
Home, at Knightstown, by the investigation
made year ago, were the natural
result of partisan administration of that most
interesting charity. Debauchery. thieving and
cruelty found easy access and slow exposure.
The other benevolent institutions will show the
same results, in greater or less degree if some
other test of fitness for service in them than the
applicants politics is not established by law.
Our penal institutions should also share in this
reform.
As had occasion to remark at our State con-
vention, the inordinate desire expressed by our
Democratic friends to open tho books did not,
it seems. extend to books kept by Demo
cratic book-keepers. At the last ses-
sion of the Legislature Hon. w. d.
Fouke, Republican Senator from Wayne
county, on tha 14th day of January, called at
tention to that portion of Governor Porters
message relating to the condition of the State
Treasury, and moved the appointment of a
committee TO investigate its condition. with
power to send for persons and papers. After a
good deal of delay. a concurrent resolution was
finally adopted directing joint committee to be
appointed Hereunder to consider that portion
of Governor Porter's message relating to the
other things, whether an investigation
into the affairs of the State treasury was sneces-
nnnr IL. IL 4