The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-06-04
WHO WILL DOWN THE SALOUNi
Hon. Henry B. Metcalf, the Large Manu-
facturer, and Until Late Prominent
Republican Leader in New England,
Answers the Question.

Answers the Question.
AS an old-time Republican ! for
many years clung to the expecta-
ton tnat my old party would again
declare for principle, and Justify
that declaration by its warfare upon
the liquor oligarchy. 1t was not
with me simply matter OF theory
or sentiment, but in my very earn
est study of my own duty | collected
a good deal of what seemed to me
evidence that the old party would
be likely once more to lead the army
of reform, and | thereon contended
pretty stoutly for loyalty to the Re-
publican party as the best means to
the overthrow of the liquor tyranny.
+ | have lately re-examined the evl-
dence referred to, and to-day think
it justified my conclusions at the
time it was collected.
As a general guide ! have the
record of the past. 1t is true that
the honors of early work for prohi-
bition are pretty evenly divided be-
tween the Democratic and Repubi-
can parties, but this was followed
by an open and formal declaration
Of Democratic hostility to all laws
unfriendly to the liquor traffic
this being in decided contrast to the
even timid attitude of the Republi-
can party, which for years continued
to give enough indication OF actual
sympathy with the sentiment OF pro-
hibition to justify an expectation
that it would move forward.
The present organic purpose and
plan of the Republican party rela-
tive to the liquor power seem to me
to have been determined through
the rise and fall of the Anti Saloon
Republican movement. Having
been actively identified with that
Organization and its progress, ! know
the absolute good faith of its leaders
in an effort to array the Republican
party in unqualified antagonism to
the entire saloon system, and that
therein it at first had the full SYM
pathy Of many Republicans high in
official position, who were not only
willing but anxious to crowd their
party into the desired attitude. Of
the accuracy of this statement hold
abundant evidence.
But the party managers, under
threat of the liquor fraternity, de-
cided in the interest of vote getting
that the party must have the favor
and not the antagonism ofthe liquor
power; and that, as party policy,
the liquor magnates must first be
Iappeased, whatever might become
of the temperance men-although
the latter must thereafter be con
ciliated if possible. Appeals for
I"loyalty to the party that sup
pressed the rebellion had SO many
times been honored by the temper
ance men, that such plea was con-
sidered well nigh infallible by the
party managers.
In this determination of policy
the Anti Saloon Republican move
ment was practically repudiated
One after another of the influential
friends of the movement were in
duced to withdraw their support;
pledges of financial aid were dishon-
ored, and the enterprise collapsed
The experience represented bat
tie between principle and party ex-
Ipediency; the umpire G. e., the
machine leaders of the party) hav
ing decided for expediency, the rank
and file acquiesced, and the oppor-
tunity Of the party to resume a
standard of principle was deliberate.
ly rejected. The party, at that time,
came very near to an acceptance of
duty and principle, but it has since
then receded further and further
from that POSITION, until to-day
it is clearly matter of doubt
whether the Republican or Demo-
cratic organization stands the high
est in the confidence Of the liquor
power. Both parties vie with
each other in subserviency to that
power, with a kind of alienation
in satisfactoriness of service of the
common master. Neither party
has for years enacted any law hurt
ful to the interests Of the master in
authority, and no honest man can
point to any evidence Of probability
of change in that policy. In the
State where ! reside the present
special party alliance Of the liquor
fraternity is Enthusiastically with the
Republicans.
That the individual sentiment of