The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-14

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place, however sacred, violated every restrain
ing law, however moderate, and now avowedly
aims at complete political domination by de-
baucbing the ballot and the Legislature. For
the truth and justice of this indictment we ap-
peal to the open book of current history and to
every law abiding citizen who knows whereof he
speaks
Two factors combine to render the liquor
trafle the incendiary thing it is-the weakness
and depravty of it's drinking victims, and,
mainly, its aggressive and criminal system of
open SALE These are the powder and the torch
whose unrestrained contact curses society and
threatens civilization itself With either factor
removed the curse and the danger would be vir
tuaHy ended. Only moral PRESSURE acting
through centuries, can reach the former Only
legal weapons, whose action may be made swift
and conclusive, reach the latter
What shall be done9 The National anti saloon
Republican conference, representing the pre-
dominant sentiment of Republicans and good
citizens everywhere, answers that the saloon
onght to be put out of existence; that the people
OF each State and municipality ought to have
the opportunity, whenever desired, of deciding
when and how this shall be done; and that until
destroyed, the saloon ought to be crippled by
every restraint and disability which local public
sentiment will enforce, and made to reimburse
as much as possible of the public loss it causes
1t is believed that this policy, backed by Wig
orous enforcement of law, commends itself TO
the common sense and the conscience of the peo-
pie, and that on this platform all reasonable
friends OF temperance and public safety can
unite and work. 1t has the merit of simplicity
it is perfectly practicable and it adapts itself
the needs and the possibilities of all sections. 1t
is flexible without being indefinite. 1t does not
require community which is ready for prohibi-
sion, to tolerate taxed or untaxed saloons
until entire State, including great
cities, has reached the same level OF opinion and
action. 1t does not compel cities to submit to
riot OF free rum until they are prepared to en-
force a, total suppression of the liquor traffic
within their limits It does not attempt to ap-
ply a rule, uniform and arbitrary in Details to
sixty million people living under widely varying
conditions 1t allows for the element of time as
factor In this, as in every great reform, and
gives scope to those educating agencies which
are everywhere at work with prodigious energy,
and which are rapidly bringing all right-minded
men to one conclusion. 1t is permissible to
reach common point by many roads. The
saloon has entered politics-with its meth
ocs and weapons. It has allied itself with the
Democratic party of obstruction and reaction,
and to-day rules that party with rod of iron.
While thousands of Democrats are hostile to the
liquor traffic, their voice is silenced and their
wishes ignored. The machinery; resources
and votes of a powerful organization are
thus enlisted to defend and perpetuate this
cancer of our civilization. The prestige, re-
sources and championship of a great historic
party are needed on the side of the home and the
publicjwelfare. The Republican party is called
to this place and work, and called by mandate
genuine and ma jestic as that which sum
moned it into existence. It's origin, record and
composition have furnished the strongest posi-
Bile presumption that it would, at the right time,
adopt and carry out all that is desirable and
feasible in the political treatment of the LIQUOR
traffic. Down to the present time this presump-
tion has been fully justified by events. By the
imperious logic of its birth, It's surroundings
and its mission, the party has been constrained
to take up and dispose of, one after another,
stately procession of political problems as diff
cult as any that statemanship ever encountered.
This ithas accomplished with consummate abil-
ity, fidelity and courage. 1t is no reproach that
at each epoch of its career it has insisted
upon berforming first the task which Provi-
dence Seemed to impose upon the present
hour, or that it has, from time to time, refused
to divide its strength and invite national disaster
by esp3using all possible reforms at once. BY
attacking great wrongs consecutively it has de
stroye e them in detail, and at each success has
prep8estxF the people for another step And the
hour has struck for the next advance Having
thus taught the present generation to look to it
for leadership in every great reform, the Repub
lcan party could not now refuse to hear and heed
the summons to this forward movement without
abdicating its place and passing at into his
tory. But the Republican party is not going to
retire and least Of all is it going to pass out of
existence through the gateway of cowardice in
presence of great responsibility coupled with
noble opportunity. The masses of the party are
ready to move. State after State, under Repub
lican control, is, each in its own way, already |
WaSlnS q SuCceSSIQl war OF repression ana PX-
termination upon the saloon system, showing
that the party where most Loyalty Republican,
is, under wise Leadership, most promptly respons
i've to this imperious demand of the hour and |
with an increase of prestige and vitality
''The antisaloon Republican conference did not |
begin or end the movement of which it was the |
exponent The permanent organization for |
which it provided is in the field to remain and it
asks the operation OF all Republicans in
placing the whole party on right ground in this |
H N6n "a III f-tn a.
of temperance and the home in other political |
parties. wherever and whenever the Republican
party is true to this supreme issue. And it does !
this, not as prudential device to promote party
ends Compared with the value of the cause now
at stake the interests of any political party are |
of small Importance 1t is the early triumph of
a great reform, not the transient advantage of |
the instrument of that reform that is chiefly |
sought; but. to say that the Republican organi |
zatlon. by taking just attitude in this crisis
will maintain Its character the party of right
and OF conscience, and, in fact, assure its own
prolonged supremacy, is only to say that In
craftsmanship as elsewhere, Righteousness and
courage are the best policy"
ALBERT GRIFFIN, Manhattan, Kan,
Chairman.
F. 0. PoPENoE, Topeka, Kan, secretary
S. KEAN, Chicago Ill. treasurer.
A. B. NETTLEToN, Minneapolis, Mimi,
c. II. CASE, Chicago,
EDWIN LEE BROWN Chicago.
WILLIAM A. JAMES, Highland Park H.,
j. G. SHAFFER, Chicago,
E. p WHEELER, Beloit, Wis,
r. JENKINS Chicago.
]. P. RUMsEY, Chicago,
e. F. CRAGIN, Chicago,
Executive Committee.
DIABOLICAL CRIME.
A Bride of Eight Weeks Murdered While |
Asleep by the Side of Her Husband.
HOUSTON, Mo-, Oct 13-The most mysterious
and diaboleal crime ever perpetrated in south |