The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-22

stance OF Mr IavIorS remarks Is appended:
believe the time has for the Republican par
ty of Indiana to take up the temperance question as
subject of earnest discussion and vigorous work Per-
haps this could have been said truly enough at any
time within ten years past But think il is true
in peculiar sense 1t appears to mo that the
situation of the Republican party in its relations to
the subject of temperance is to-day substantially diff
ferent from that of two years ago. The executive de-
parment of the national government then in our
hands. Great interests depended. believed, on
our retention of that power Upon Indiana, as Of
the two three contested States in which the issue
was to be determined, there rested All enormous
sponsibity. II seemed to be imperative duty to
hold forces together to the last To this end
it was necessary to make platform broad enough
to provide standing place on it for every voter
who was in principle Republican, as dis
Cured heartily in the policy then adopted
of taking action on the subject of temperance fur
her than to favor such steps would bring fairly be-
fore the people any proposed amendment of the Con
stituton. If any shall say that this was cow
ardly policy answer that the principle cs concentra
ton upon essentials, and mutual concessions upon
nonessenals is the condition of all party
organization. There is better illustration of this
truth than be found in the Prohibition party it
self. 1t has but one fundamental principle. In sup
port of that principle seeks to concentrate the sup
port of of the most diverse opinions all other
subjects. One may be gold-bug or silverside; a
protectonists free-trader; infdel a Chris
tian, without prejudice to his standing in that Iary
he is for total prohibition of the liquor traffic Aud
this is exactly as it should be- If the Prohibition
party has any occasion for existence all it is to pro-
mote the cause of prohibition, and it should make well
come and at home in its ranks every who is will
ing to work for that end without reference to his be-
hefs any other sui. .ect know that attempts
have been made in of the public conventions of
that party enlarge the scope Of its creed and intro
duce other principles into its platform but regard
them as illogical in themselves and entirely inoper
sve to change the essential character of the party
And it in precisely the spirit that / felt
bound, In 1880. to hold fast to Republcanisn pure
and simple, and to treat the temperance question
an issue outside of party politics
But the battle of 1884 has been fought and lost
and while there may be of the sort to fol-
low. and while it is impossible to believe that incon
gruous, discordGnt and incapable organization as
the Democratic party will loag retain power or can
retain it long without danger to the country,
not help feeling little relaxation of that intense
stress of responsibility which rested upon in ndi-
when angle of the fort the center of the
fight. have no feverish anxiety for sudden recap
ture of tho White House l anxious that
when we do return to power it shall be upon the
basis of solid and increased confidence in the public
mind in ability to administer the great interests
of the Republic wisely and WELL If the people desire
to see what the other fellows can do for awhile we
can well afford TO bde time. Possibly are en-
tering upon new dspensation of miracles. in which
the blind shall receive sight, and the Democratic
party be restored to its understanding If it should
prove ought to be thankful for it cannot be de-
MED that it is calamity to any free country to
tain only one party fit to be ntrusted with its govern
ment
To. expect much of the Democratic party
rash AID this, notwithstanding the the fact
that Mr.. Cleveland is the best selection which
it has made of President for half century.
grievously dissatisfied He came unto his own and
his received him not" There is nothing in the
history of the Democratic party since its reasonable
attitude during the war which more clearly demon
strates its unreadness for progress and it's untness
for power than its fat refusal to follow the lead its
own President toward higher plane of political life
THE CHALLENGE OF THE LIQUOR LEAGUE.
If there were no other reason inpeling u.s. the atti
tude which the Democratic party of Indiana has taken
the liquor question leaves alternative consist
ont with patriotism and honor but to take the other
side. True TO its lifelong instinct to make itself
strong IN the weaknesses of men to appeal always
to their appettes passions preudces and cowardice
instead of their nohler parts and qualities,
guised alliance with the dstillery the brewery and
the saloon of old it stood with the savedrver and
his employer. Against such an abuse of the power of
political organization, such prostitution of the
cred right of suffrage. the moral of the COM
munity ought to protest and every other political par
ty array itself i'll unmistakabe opposition. The fight
is on-forced on by the Democratic party and the
hour has come for every to take his place
side or the other.
This much then is easy to say-that it is the duty
of the Republican party of Indiana to put itself clearly
strongly and unequvocaly the side of temperance,
and of wise salutary effective temperance legislation
When pass from this general statement to consider
in detail just what laws shall be proposed and urged
there is room for difference of opinion. But this
point differences of opinion ought to be impedment
to substantial unity of actisn. 1t would be shame if
the sacred of temperance having friends enough
to maintain it if they stand together should fail by
of dssensions among themselves Hence it APP
pears to me that ought to endeavor by friend
ly comparison of views and by temperate, dispasSon-
ate, candid discussion. to find ground on which
all work together. And it is this subject
particularly that propose to speak at this time.
Three forms OF temperance legislation viz, pro-
widely discussed and each. to come extent tried. OF
these cannot favor prohibition it has been pro-
posed in Indiana and for this view wish to give my
reasons somewhat at large; not because my opinion
my for it are in themselves of any mpor-
tance but because believe that represent in them
considerable body of Republicans, and the time is ripe
for the full discussion OF the subject. Before enter
ing upon the merits of the question. want to say
two things by way of preface The first is that
speak temperance mana lifelong teetotaler an
earnest friend of practical temperance, and advo
cate of the most thorough and effective temperance
legislation In all these cannot yield precedence to
the EXTREMIST Prohbitionist. Retween him and me
there is but question and that is of the
end. The other minary observation is that have
no word of unknd criticism for the Prohibition party
or its members 1t has happened that for years
past the active temperance work of the country has
been almost -, entirely in the direction of
not far to seek. 1t is quite true, as Miss
Willard has well said that disembodied principles are
like disembodied spirts-too intangible to fight for
Ardent temperance workers have fe.t need of some
visible, defnabe, concrete thing to work for-some
rallyng cry that should mean something. There is
much in the inspiration Of lofty aims and high ideals
AS watch-words of great. popular movement local
option and high taxation tame phrases com.
pared with down with king alcohol and away with
the grog- shop" 1t is to be remembered, too that a
large part of the most earnest temperance workers
everywhere persons who have tasted in their own
lives the gal ana bitterness OF tne curse or intem.
perance. There those. and they are not n few
who have sons brothers and husbands DESPITE
the entreaes of love and the agonies of unavaiing
prayer go down, down before their eyes to that de-
structon which is worse than DEATH Shall any ono
blame such these. when from the depths of their
despair they turn upon the traffic which makes such
mseries possible to wage against 1t unending
fare of determination. Not !. 1t must be said also
that the mon and women who have bsen working for
prohibition have been at the time doing an in
calculable good in the promotion of practical
temperance. They have quickened the public con.
science; they have lifted society to higher plane;
they have made the world better for and safer fer
sons. Not to acknowledge all this with gratitude
and appreciation would be unmany and unjust.
confess that have felt keenly the force of all these
considerations and that it has cost me struggle TO
keep out of the Prohibition party.
CONSTITUTIONAL PROHIBITION
But have to do with the practical question.
BY what legislation most Justly safely and