The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-08-08

portant branch of industry-mining
manufacturing and transportation.
1t controls markets and credits and
dictates the price of every product
ecessary to feed, clothe, warm and
shelter the human family. To cor
troll that which sustains life is 10
control life itself. This is economic
slavery. Free government cannot
long exist side by side with economic
despotism.
Shall Not Turn Aside
To this issue, in so far as I am
able. I shall hold the attention of
the voters of this country. From
this position I shall not be turned
aside.
Hence I deem 1t most unfortunate
that questions involving religious
opinion and other questions unre-
lated TO the vital issue of the restora-
ton of government to the people
have been raised in this as in other
critical years OF our national his
tory Such controversies feed upon
and inflame prejudice and passion
TO the exclusion Of issues involving
the very life of government itself.
This brings us to say in response
to your inquiry as to my stand on
the Ku-Klux Khan that I have met
this question in various forms during
my public life.
Any one familiar with my record
especially in my own State, knows
that l ave always stood without res
ervation against any discrimination
between races. classes and creeds.
hold that every citizen is. entitled
to the full exercise of his constitu-
tional rights.
am unalterably opposed to the
evident purposes OF the secret organ
iZation known as the Ku-Klux Khan,
as disclosed by it's public acts.
1t cannot long survive.
Quotes Lincoln
Relying upon the sound judgment
and good sense of our people, 1t is
my opinion that such a movement
is foredoomed. 1t has within its own
body the seeds of it's death.
Abraham Lincoln, nearly seventy
years ago, set forth his views on
this question In a letter to his
friend, Mr.. Joshua F. Speed. dated
Springfield. Ill. Aug "a. 1855.
60" You inquire where I
now stand. That is a disputed
point. l think I am a Wing; but
+ others say there are no Wings,
and that 1 am an Abolitionist.
IT am not a Know-Knothing
that is certain. How could be?
How can any one who abhors the
oppression of negroes be in favor
of degrading classes Of white peo-
pie? Our progress in degeneracy
appears to me to be pretty rapid.
AS q nation we began by declaring
that all men re created equal
We now practically read 1t all men
are created equal except negroes
When the Know-Nothings get con-
troll, it will read all men are
created equal except negroes and
foreigners and Catholics When
it comes to this, I shall prefer
ClIAlSA llHS " sOltlS WACIS
they make no pretense of loving
liberty-to Russia, for instance,
where despotism can be taken
pure, and without the base alloy of
hypocrisy.
Your friend forever,
"a. LINCOLN"
With this statement from Abra-
ham Lincoln I would join also q
passage from letter written by
Thomas Jefferson to Edward Dowse
in 1903:
II never will, by word or act,
bow to the shrine of intolerance,
or admit a right of inquiry into
the religious opinions of others"
Upon these statements of jefferson
and Lincoln, expressing the sentl-
ments which 4 am happy to believe
the vast majority of our citizens
cherish and to which they will ever
rigidly adhere, and upon my own
views expressed in this letter l am
content to stand without qualifica-
ton or evasion.