The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-25
Letter 70 Republican legislators.

Centlemen-you are in the midst of one
of the most intense moral issues which you
have been called to deal with for years.
The issue has been thrust upon you by
a patient and industrious people, who In
every emergency, have been loyal to the
State. 1t therefore behooves you to in
auire into the causes of your return to take
control of the affairs of State and see
whether the people did not have moral
motives, as well as financial ones. 1t will
occur to you that matters of tariff were
not the only reasons which Influenced such
a large per cent. to cast their votes for
the Republican party. Rather was 1T not
because there is general confidence that
moral legislation would be the more pos
sible and probable? 1t has come to pass
that a mighty sentiment has been aroused
throughout the State upon the subject OF
temperance. The heart of an affilcled peo-
pie has spoken through press, petition. res
olution by personal appeal to Represen-
remember that the eye of the State is
watching with an anxiety rarely possessed,
nd be M b be aeh bin not be
passed, that it will take the wisdom OF a
prophet TO determine the result upon the
party next election. The voters who appeal
to you now are the ones among whom
most of you count your best friends; they
abiding constituency. There comes time.
and 1t is close at hand. when patience
ceases to be virtue for there els, j. an IN
it is becoming a tenet of their political
faith that Ito license an evil is. a SIM;
and so sure as they are convinced ed that there
is no intention on the part OF the dominat-
ing party to give them any considerable
relief they will Immediately, by the thou
sands, bolt the party in which they were
born and with which they have remained
w to this time. identified. 1t, therefore. be-
comes absolutely necessary to show your
selves, regardless of party, in favor of the
right. Any man who is ready to defend a
great moral measure, without regard to
whether he goes up or down. will find the
words true, ''he who loses his life shall
find it," The Nicholson bill is honorable.
1t gives concessions enough to the nefarious
is intended to be respected by them? Why
should they be permitted to control by in
most at glory in Politically is it not that the
Republican party stood by the Union?
Shall it now, in our State, prove unworthy
as the Nicholson bill? Who shall control our
State? A class OF citizens, with foreign
ideas and custom, or moral, free-born. stall
you. 1t has no redress only in its Repre-
sentatives and Senator'S. If you take care
OF good morals the State will take care
morals the State will take care of the party.
There can be but one question: What is most
desired by the whole State, If we are a
beer drinking, Sabbath-breakinS. whisky
guzzling people, the saloon is most desired.
But If are sober, industrious, moral,
least You ii, Can do IS to give us the NichoI-
son bill, without decorating and distorting
it-without compromising 1t away. Parties.
like men, are brought to Judgment. The
judgment was Of the party in the ballot
box. Therefore, from forty thousand to
sixty thousand Republicans will meet the
party next election to reward it accord
ing to its work whether they be good or
whether they be evil.
shelbyvflle, Ind. Feb g.