The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-09
THE METROPOLITAN TASTE.
Caustic Reply TO the Argument Mad

Caustic Reply 10 the Argument Made
by Mr..
To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
The letter of Otto Stechhan in Wednes-
days Journal is the most remarkable effort
of that peculiar citizen, and that is saying
a good deal in the light of his remarkable
letters to the same paper after the Noven-
Der election, 1892. Any man who has any
knowledge of the history of politics in the
United States, or the slightest respect for
his feliow-beings, would not write such a
screed. Among the good people who read
that letter MIR. Stechhan will be mistaken,
by those not acquainted wi,h his business,
for the saloon loafer who makes his meals
by drinking the dregs of beer kegs and ex-
pounds morals, manners and politics from
a seat in the corner of the "vile grog shop"
These good people should know that MIR.
Stechhan is not nearly so bad as his let
ter indicates, and that he as engaged in a
respectable Observation-Disclosures lounges
and other articles of furniture.
The Republican party has never lost in
Indiana by advocating temperance legisla-
ton. We carried the State in 1886 and 1883
1880 with a similar platform. We lost in
1892 and gained in 1894 without it. 1t is
folly to assert that We lost in 1882 or 1884
on account of our temperance attitude.
Those were years of Democratic landslides,
just as were 1890 and 1892.
But what is there in the Nicholson bill
to excite such a diatribe of abuse upon all
the people of Indiana outside of the charmed
circle of the city of Indianapolis? Does
that bill deny him the right to get drunk,
or to drink moderately if he desires? 1t
does not in the least interfere with either.
1t simply aims to make the liquor laws
more easily enforceable and to lessen the
evils of the vile grog Shops Mr. Stech-
han is very much excited, but he must re-
member there are over 100000 people in
about 125,Co0 inside of that city, and while
we who live in such small places as Wash
ington, Richmond and Noblesville, to say
nothing OF many others, and in the rural
districts. may be ignorant, bigoted and
narrow, we are the majority and our will
is apt to be law, and If he does not like the
would better join the Democrats.
No more perfect specimen of narrow
minded Ibigotry can be found than his
abuse of the people of the rural districts
because they want a hand in running the
government. Who should run the govern
ment? Every schoolboy knows that that
row-rninded bigot whose vision extends
only to the one vile grog shop in his To-
eality," but to the cultured gentleman of
the city of indianapolis. whose vision takes
m with pleasure her three hundred or more
vile grog shops, wine rooms, road houses
and gilded dens of vice, and whose sense
of justice and fairness has been sharpened
by a life spent in defending them and
whose vision is broadened and bettered by
ooAy contemplating tnenl. Mr.. Stechhan
ought not to expect people VINO see the
"one vile grog shop to want to wipe it
out without comforting the same blessing on
all the State.
What the demands of ga metropolitan
city for a ''vile grog shop which makes
the said shop necessary there, an ignorant
pected to know. But I want to calm Mr..
Stechhan a little, in the hope that he may
yet be persuaded to let the citizens of the
State of Indiana, outside of Indianapolis,
live, by reminding him that the Nicholson
Dill is not a. prohibition measure. 1t aims
TO regulate the saloon. not the uncontrol-
liable appetite. Men may drink when, where
ana as often as they please should that bill
become laT- His metropolitan tastes will
glasses a day for all any advocate of the
bin cares. or for all the bill provides. The
do not care to repress the gentleman's
gratiflcation of that fine bronze taste en-
tan city" They only seek to regulate more
effectively the dispensing of that "~taste;'
make the zone vile grog shop q little less
vile and extend the principle Of local self
government. Can Mr.. Stechhan cease his
torrent OF abuse long enough to find any,
thing wrong in this?
The chief strength and glory of the Re-
publican party has always been in the
steadfast devotion to it's principles of the
lagos. and of the rural districts. To my mind
Mi. Stechhan has furnished the Legislature
With NTH the strongest reason for passing the
ties favor it. Not thai / believe the peo-
pie of indianapolis oppose the bill, nor that
any respectable body of Republicans any
where in Indiana indorse Mr.. Stechhan,s
wholesale abuse of the unfortunate citizen
OF Indiana who has not yet worked up a
apolis who abuses the rest of his fellow
citizens for differing in opinion from him
earth. The passage of the Nicholson bill
will be a stroke of good craftsmanship and
good goo party policy: its passage will help
thinking, orderly people Of the State, and l
have no doubt that the party is for the
measure by an overwhelming majority.
Should the bill become law, Mr.. Stechhan's
metropolitan taste will not be molested,
but will find abundant means of gratifica-
ton.
The local option feature of the bill is the
best thing about it. EZRA MATTINGLY.
Washington, Ind, Feb. z.
Stechhan Furnishes Amusement
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
1 had a good laugh over the anti-Nichol-
son communication from Mr.. Otto Stechhan
in your Wednesday issue. The probable 'sun-
holy alliance of the Republican party with
the temperance cause was too much. But
the Stechhans should be reminded that the
Smiths, Browns and a wholesome majority
of other progressive Americans are here
yet. His study of history has availedi him
little if he has not thereby learned that the
factor of progress in public sentiment must
be taken into account. 1t would be suicidal
for the Republican party to shut its eyes
to the growth of temperance sentiment In
it's ranks. No one denies that the Prohibit
ton party is very largely of Republican
origin. The Republicans have posed as the
temperance party and have long boosted of
what they would do in that line if they got
into power. 1t can fool some of the people
all the time, and all the people some of the
time, but it can't fool, all the people all of
the time. The result of the election last
fall shows how the people deal with a
party that fails to fulfill it's promises
OLD REPUBLICAN.