The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-28
LIQUOR LEGISLATION.
Party Defeat Predicted as a Result Of
Passing the Nicholson Bill.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis journal:
History seems to repeat itself; as might
have been expected. just soon as it be-
came known that Republican Legislature
was elected the old gang of fanatical moss
backs, who always vote against the Re-
publican party, and whose only aim is to
injure it, turned out in fun force to ag-
itate for legislation on the everlasting mis-
chievous humbug miscalled temperance. If
the Legislature elected last November had
been Democratic these perennial marplots
would have hunted their holes because they
know that the Democratic party is too
smart to allow itself to be used as cats
paw by a crowd who do not command
votes enough anywhere in the State to
elect a constable, but a Republican Legis-
lature is always their meat
The convention last spring, taught by
much bitter experience, ignored I'm the
platform the mention even of this tenn
perance business: it was recognized that
the large overwhelming majority of the
party believe in Republican principles. of
which emperance, such as is advocated by
the loud-mouthed professionals. is no part;
as party matter there is no obligation to
enact any temperance legislation and to
indulge in such miserable folly. Not a sim
gle Republican member was elected upon
I0dI ISSUE. III spite OIL dll IL ScSiHS tHdl
the party has again lent its ear and suf-
fered itself to be coerced into a shameless
breach of trust by lot of impracticable
cranks who represent nothing and pride
ton machine. without boiler or engine,
who always threaten to break up the Re
publican party. They seem to have sue,
ceeded with their impudent demands and
forced the enactment of such an idiotic
measure as the Nicholson bill, which passed
the lower house Yesterday. after profit
full neglect of the important interests. IL
the Republicans in the Legislature believe
the threats of the people such contemplate
uncalled-for measures, just let them try
what happened after 1856, 1873 and 1881 The
party is sure to be disastrously defeated.
The Republican party is not organized
is a party of certain political principles,
but temperance is not one of them. and
it is criminal to pervert it to side issues
ever the party shall determine to make
temperance an issue let it be so declared
in the party platform and the people who
choose to support it will know what TO
expect, but to pursue a deliberate system
time and again. is not the part of wisdom.
This contemplate game was pursued In
On the sbea When e was
in clap-trap fashion, sprung in the Legis-
lature by sentimental charlatans. male and
nose on their faces. From that time to
this there was no Republican Legislature.
and as sure as guns are made of iron
the party will again be Indignantly re-
pudiated and ANONYMOUSLY defeated. Many
years. will pass before another Republican
Legislature will be elected If the present
body persists in the enactment of such un-
called-for, undigested, ill-considered meas
ures as this Nicholson humbug. In the
meantime we will lose everything; our
representation in the United States SEN
ate and our electoral vote will be Dem
ocratic; this is rather costly amusement
to indulge in, especially as there is no
necessity for such wretched foolishness and
the Republican party is not clamoring for
anything of that kind.
The Overwhelming majority of Repub-
leans are opposed to tampering with this
trap; they do not countenance the recur-
renee of this fraudulent practice of pre-
tending thing and doing another; they
will not lend themselves to uphold and
tamely submit to such odious impostures.
Thousands of Republicans will be driven
into Indifference and thousands into active
opposition if the Republican Legislature
will persist in such suicidal folly Perhaps
in the course of time Republican Legisla-
lures will learn that sentimental quackery
and downright, deliberate dishonesty are
not paying political investments and that
under all circumstances honesty is the best
policy. FRED KNEFIER.
JndiananoliS Feb q