The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-18
Les.on.lo of the Election.

To The Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal:
Much has already been written and said
concerning the result of the recent city
election. Some Of our Democratic friends
would have us and the world at large be-
lieve that 1t was strictly a political fight,
and the result was a great Democratic tri-
umph, which but dimly foreshadows the
greater victories to follow next year. 9th
ers attribute it all to the strong personal
magnetism and the star OF destiny quail
tiles OF their candidate. One disconsolate
Republican said that 1t but demonstrated
the depravity of mankind. and asserted
that among other things there were more
than three thousand men in Indianapolis
leading a double life." and he would guar
antee that every one of them voted for
Taggart and a wide-open town. He surely
did not mean that these men were all Re-
publicans.
But, looking at the matter calmly and
without prejudice or partisan bias, judging
from what one hears in the daily walks Of
life from some Of the voters Of all parties,
whose suffrages made The result as it was.
allow us to sum up a few things that not
only contributed to-. but made this result.
Nobody of any intelligence thinks for one
moment that national questions had any
it is a matter Of political history that
every party that ever undertook to regulate
the. liquor question by overexacting and
radical laws, suffered from IL at the very
next election following such legislation.
The Nicholson law, while 1t is all right in
many respects, is not a law that Is alto
gether popular. even with people who never
enter saloons or drink liquor in any form,
and while this law was supported by and
voted for by manv Democrats and signed
lican party is held responsible for It's. ex-
istence: Furthermore, that party did not
and will not gain the vote of a single Pro-
hibitionist on account of enacting such leg
i~slation. Radical temperance legislation al
ways has succeeded In driving away from
publican vote and has never gained a single
Prohibitionist on account of 1t.
The last city administration. in its zeal
to make a record, pushed the execution
of laws almost to a point of persecution.
in some cases. and public improvements
were carried on regardless of extreme
lowing this came the nomination of an
unpopular candidate for Mayor. who was
charged with being a bolter and an athe-
list. and who had nothing to recommend
him but his record as city controller. The
nomination was secured by the most APP
paisn advanced thoughtful Republicans
could see nothing but defeat in store for
the ticket. as the opposing party had Sc
strongest and smoothest man for a lead
er. The vote In every precinct showed
that for various causes. such as have been
l III IdtO1s iudlN OcDuDliCdnS Sldytu
away from the polls. thus contributing in
a measure TO the success OF the other tick
ct. The result should be a lesson to the
party. and should remind the ~self-appoint-
ed leaders and the old wheel horses who
are always first at the pie counter that
the rank and file have something to do
with the result after all. even though they
be pushed aside in the primaries by the
bosses
Nobody will construe the result to mean
that this would have been the expression
had IL been a question of approval or dis
approval of Democratic rule. national or
state. The youngest voter and the oldest
inhabitant could not but condemn by voice
and ballot the last administration of ma
tional affairs. which consists chiefly of
Cleveland egotism, a depleted treasury and
Democratic free trade. The Republicans,
II wise. will read the warning with care,
will mediate on the lessons of expert
ence so dearly bought. and will immedi-
ateiy face their guns in the right direction
and set their house in order for the COM
ing presidential campaign.
FINLEY =. PUGH-
indianapolis. Oct. IL.