The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-21
High License.

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journa.
have thought, and even said, that the In
dianapolis Journal was the best political paper
cussing the temperance question I cannot say SO
of it, for I notice that it has repeatedly pro-
nounced, in substance, the selling of Intoxicating
liquors as beverage bad and perneious prac-
tice, and, at the Same time, strongly advocated
high license put on those who follow this per-
ncious practice Now, beg leave to impair
TALLY ask few questions, and l desire to have
them impartaly answered.:
First-Where is the consistency-if consist
ency can be made of tin condemning a prac-
tice for its evil effects then legaize it by law to
go on with that practice9 Or in other words,
how can high license. in moral point of view,
make bad practice respectables
Second-If the liquor traffic Is bad and per-
nclous in its effects. why license it at all9 And,
if licensed, why centralize profitable ''evil' in
the hands of few-why create liquor-sellng
monop oly2 A monopolized evil is certainly more
impregnable than one disintegrated
Third-Would it not be false and misleading
subterfuge, framed In the interest of the wealthy
dealers, resulting only in the increase OF their
business, TO place high license on their traffic?
Fourth-Admlsting that it might reduce the
number of saloons in some places, would a high
license materially reduce the sale OF liquor?
According to the news from Chicago the saloons
are open nearly all day on the Sabbath, and the
whole city is in disgrace, being under the power
of the liquor men. And would not the same be
the case In Indianapolis and other large cities
under a like high license, or even under local OPP
ton with high or low license3
| consider that the movement in favor of high
license Is the greatest enemy Of the day to the
temperance cause License, at best, touches
avarice for wholesale and retail appetite, custom
and law, and appetite touches the moderate
drinkers and drunkards, and custom touches So
ciety, and law touches the Legislature and pro-
tects the traffic. And that is why some call the
curse respectable" just as though 1t raises the
moral tone" of the evil by putting it in the
hands of the more wealthy class of evil-doers-
for must call bad practice evil
When first began to think and talk more on
temperance. and the duty, as / thought, of the
Republican party in reference to the temperance
question, took the position that it ought to put
a prohibition plank in its platform. But after
talking with few of the leaders of the ProhiLi
tionists, saw that it was too late now to get
them to help US unless we went over to
their party; which, if we had done two or three
years ago, they would have staid and worked,
and voted with us, great majority of them at
least. Now we find ourselves In a dilemma.
Some OF our leaders, stleast see it and acknowl
edge 1t, and say, If We put prohibitory amend
ment plank in our platform, we will lose more
votes from our party than we will gain from
other parties, and so fail" And | believe it.
But wish not to dictate though will give it as
my view that the best thing that both the Re-
publican and Democratic parties can Go now is
to nominate and elect delegates to the Legisla-
ture that will take the necessary steps looking to
the submission of prohibitory amendment to a
direct vote of the people. In short. send tenn
perance men to the Legislature, whether Repub-
licans or Democrats flor believe there are a
few sound Democrats left to make laws for US
AS have before said. / am not yet ready to
leave the grand old Republican party, for the
reason of the good it has done for our country,
and wish to stay little longer and persuade 1t,
if can, to do more good. REUBEN SMALL.
WABASH.
p. S--H we want more revenue from the
liquor interest than we have-and believe