The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-30
LoGANsPoRT, Apri
The Prohihi,ion Party.

TO the Editor of the Indianapolis Jou rnal:
The Prohibition party's test of fealty is a
pledge from each member to the exclusive use
of that party as the only means to enforce the
Biblical injunction. Separate myself from
strong drink" The members are also pledged
to only vote the straight party ticket, but to
devote every energy to defeat and destroy the
Republican party. Tae Confederate Democra-
cy and the Prohibitionists seem to have pooled
their forces to convert or kill the Union Kepub-
lican party. The black flag has been unfurled
by these allies and under their fat We must con-
TESS new faith or die It behooveth US to in
ouire what is the path of duty.
The prohibition dogmas promulgated to inter
dict the life of our party these:
/. A State religion to the extent of naming
God authority in civic constitutions, laws and
schools.
q Fiat abstinence, TO the extent of enact
ing law to prohibit the existence of the intox-
icatiug principle in nature or art, based on the
assumption that a citizen has not sense sufficient
to shun a well-known poison.
3. Free crime, to the extent that evil and evil
doors shall be exempt from fines, penalties,
taxes. licenses. contribution to State or
national revenues.
/ subscribe to neither proposition, and can
not as true temperance man. The first
dogma runs counter to all our present tests
of citizenship. The Christian code is
based upon the revealed will of God In this
Nation. where absolute freedom of thought
opinion and belief has been tolerated, no re-
fgious test of good citizenship ought to or can
be imposed In pre-millenniai days it is not
practical in free country to enforce Christian
doctrines by marshals. sheriffs, constables or
must not run counter to perfect freedom of
thought, imagination, conscience or opinion.
The true unit of this Nation is free man. His
actions only be so far regulated by law as
to promote the public veal His personal
tastes. wishes, likes and dislikes are
an individual matter. with which not
ercive force The missionary spirit should be
encouraged IN reforming the individual far be
You'd any point which civil governments can
reach The individual must still be free to
choose. This dogma of recognizing the Goa CT
the Bible in the preamble of our constitutions,
the enscting clause of our statutes ana the
rIculum of our common schools, although politi-
cally untenable. is calculated to enlist such
ministers of the gospel who are weary of per-
suasion as its votaries and thus weaken the Re-
publican party.
The second dogma, when regarded as a polit-
ical proposition, is very ethereal and impracti-
cal. The idea of supplying by statute each
with moral back bone, with disposition to avoid
temptation and natural capacity of discern
ment. would make the government entirely too
paternal. The Abolitionists combated . statute
law com elling the black man to toll for life
slave without recompense. from the white man
his master Slavery, sanctioned and
PEELED by statute, was the political wrong which
had a reason for existing q political entity.
The law TO intoxicaats permits each citi
zen To s'touch NOT, taste not, handle not.n No
one is compelled by statute to make. vend. buy,
or uss. A state of perfect individual freedom
in this respect now exists, so far the use of
alcoholic poisous is concerned The vender is
constrained by law somewhat. and the vendee
q nd user protected to some extent, but in no
sense il any deprived of his individual liberty
nd freedom TO take or refuse poison OF any
XII nd
The Prohibition party steps in and says indi-
vidual freedom should De taken away and thus
undo the work Of the Abolition party The
temperance workers went forth with per-
suasipe banner inscribed. .sMalice toward none
aud charity for ALL The Prohibition loiterers
trample the temperance banner IN the dnst and
hoist conclusive flag, back-Isttered with
m alice toward all and charity for none" How
can a follower of the meek and lowly Nazarine,
who recognizes charity the crowninR virtue.
march under this black Tag of political prohibit
ton end halel
The third proposition. that the State becomes
pari delicto and particeps criminis By seeking to
regulate aud restrain overt crime, - moro i'm