The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-20
THE DOUGHFACE.


To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
Mr.. L. l.. See no doubt remembers very
we'll indeed the "doughface" of the ante-war
days. He a vicious fellow, weak, rather;
and may be from that more than from a
deliberate purpose to work mischief, very
dangerous. For he dawdled with bated
breath and whispering humbleness about
the arrogant STAKEHOLDER, and so, more
than any other one agent, was responsible
for the troublesome times that preceded
the war, and at last for the war itself.
We had thought that the war buried him
for all eternity but il seems that he has
only been hypnotized. For signs have
for some time been visible of his resuscita-
ton; in the assurance of some of our
Southern States that the penalty prescribed
by the supreme law OF our land for the
Acknowledgement of sections of their citi-
zens will not. cannot be inflicted, for in
stance; and that the dreadful child labor
conditions down that way Will not be in
terfered with because the money interests
that would be affected are chiefly of the
North. For the ''dOughface' was a North
imp, and is to occupy his old quarters,
or so Mr.. s. thinks, IL appears, from his
statement in this mornings Journal, that
prudent Republican would vote for the
repeal of the anti-canteen law, 1.-The
Prohibitonists would be only too glad TO
have him" do; which last clause is a very
peculiar and somewhat compromising prop
osition, by the way, as il amounts to a
statement that the Prohibitionists would
gladly have what they hold TO be evil
brought about in the hope-we may as
sumo, though Mr.. See does not directly
say so-that what they hold to be good
may prevail; and that without any regard
whatever for the opinions OF the vast
majority of their fellow-citizens. Isn't
there touch of the spirit of anarchy in
that? OF course, Mr.. See does not mean
it so, but isn't ii there? And as for that.
isn't the fanatic who would accomplish his
end by any means, without regard for any
thing whatever but the accomplishment
of his end, whether he be a Prohibition or
any other sort Of fanatic, isn't he always
essentially an Anarchist?
The fact is that by far the larger num-
Der of the really good people-not 10 men
ton the more or less bad-whether of Mr..
Sees friends strangers 10 him. do not
accept the dictum of the Prohibtionist that
the temperate, that is. that any and all
of alcoholic beverages is Inherently
wicked. The incorporate of them is
destruction. everybody knows, and IL may
we'll be that If they were used only in
remedial ways il would be better for all;
though as for that, even the doctors dis
agree.
Ii is probable enough. in view OF the re-
vivification OF the doughface. that Mr. Sees
absolute assertion that the anti-canteen
law will not be repealed will be sustained
But everybody who knows anything about
liz knows that as men now are uDon the
earth IL will be better for the army 10 re-
establish the canteen. And quite beyond
that on the line OF practicable reform
venture TO assert that IL the church as a
unit would but establish church canteen
on lines modified from the army canteen
as experience might teach. it would I'm a de-
cade effect more OF good for the intem-
perate and more of evil for the saloon
than the fanatical Prohlbtionist will ever
accomplish whether by legal or other
means. or the church either, working as
she has hitherto worked and now works
But the church will do nothing OF the kind
for her mind Is not open to suggestions
hardly 10 catapults. and she will accom-
piish nothing for temperance. Neither will
the fanatical Prohibitionist And this is
not prophecy. neither. but the teaching of