The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-07-07
Jewels Of Republican Con.istency

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The argument deducing from inconsis-
tency of conduct or opinion either dishon-
esiy of purpose or weakness of character, is
a very popular one, and the Journal seems
to be especially fond of it. This test of in
consistency, however. is peculiarly applicable
to the present leader of the republican party
in Indiana, and to the action of the party
itself. The man who, in 1865, maintained
that to give the ballot to the Southern ne
groes would endsnger society in the recon-
structed states, anu held in 1867 that no other
means OF reconstruction was possible, save
through universal suffrage, sh ould be care
full not to set too high price on the jewel
consistency, Senator Morton's actions and
opinions have depended altogether too much
on politicians necessities to allow himself
or his friends to plume themselves on the
directness of his course. An ord'.
nary man who had predicted as Mr.. Morton
did in more than one of his speeches in the
campaign of 1872, that the financial prOsI er-
ity of the nation depended upon the cleo
ton of Mr.. Grant, would hang his
head in silence in the face of
the financial calamity that followed
the triumph of the administration. The
orator whoa short time ago, guaranteed the
purity of our public men in the solemnest
manner, and compared the republican lead
ers to the revolutionary fathers. in honor
and ability. is certainly tine most curious
figure among the many ridiculous contra
dictions ofthe day. The party, which in this
state, is simply the following of one man
has certainly initiated Mr.. Morton in all
bis windings, and even now APP
pears with strange impudence as
the reformer of official villainies
which it pledged its word to the nation two
years ago had no existence financial
mountebank that declares its ability to cure
those irregularities of the currency which,
when first employed, it swore should never
occur. 1t is worth while to make one or
two definite comparisons on this point of
consistency. The instances of the unswerv-
ing rectitude of these gentlemen may be Sc
lected almost at random, and space forbids
multiylyingthe examples. One of the res
olutions adopted by the late state conven-
ton OF the republican party was to this
effect:
AS the Union remains unbroken, and the peo-
pie of all sections are again bound together by a
common destiny and under a common flag. we
terial resources of every portion of IL; secure TO
all, of every class and condition, the just rights
ties of the past and perpetuate the nation the
model republic of the world.
How comes it that republicans have
changed within less than two years, to such
an extent that they can adopt this theory of
reconciliation against which they made the
strongest fight in the last campaign. Sena-
tor Morton rarely omitted at that time to
proclaim emphsticslly the doctrine of inn
placable resentment against the rebels of
the South. and his audiences never failed 10
applaud his sentiments to the echo. In his
speech delivered in Illinois during the latter
part of October 1872, he said, attacking Mr.
Greeley's argument for unity and brother
hood:
Now Mr.. Greeley talks about reconciliation |
What is the reconciliation he proposes in SUBJ |
stance? And to whom does he propose TO be re- |
conciled? To the loyal men of the South? To |
the loyal white men OF the South, who suffered
ever understand or than We can describe? To |
the colored men of the South, who were slaves |
1R t ey Yar and 1oea nov Not at %
ii is 10 their enemies! 1t is to the men who car
ried on that rebellion, 1t Is TO the men who |
ted the outrages since the war and have kept |
the South in a state of disturbance and of an
archy,"
Then away with this hypocritical talk about
peace and reconciliation"
Again, one of the resolutions adopted in |
the last republican state convention is that
lucid declaration on financial affairs which
has drawn forth the ridicule, even of the
party press in other states:
We are in favor of such legislation on the ques-
ton of finances as shall make national bank
ing free; as shall furnish the country with such
an additional amount of currencv may be
necessary to meet the wants of the agricultural,
commercial and industrial interests Of the coun-
try-to be distributed between the sections ac-
cordfng to population-and such as, consistent
with the credit and honor OF the nation, will
avoid the possibility of permitting capitalists
and combinations of capital from controlling
the currency of the country.
In 1872 the state platform declared:
That the adherence Of congress and the adj