The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-23
THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL. TUESDAY JUNE

Butler, Tremaine and Logan. The first res
olution makes profession of regard for the
unity and equality of the nation. It is sim
ply an ampliicatIon ofthe celebrated, phrase
"Let US clasp hands over the bloody chasm."
The sentiment is a noble one, but not a whit
nobler to-day than it was two years ago on
other lips. II is well to get even the prom
Use of better things from the party responsi-
bio for the usurpation in Louisiana, the beg
gary in South Carolina, and the misrule all
over the south. The "acerbities OF the past"
will certainly be good things to get rid Of.
The second resolution starts with the as
sumption that the varied interests and pur-
suits OF the country can only be harmon
lied through legislation. It would be worth
while to let them alone for few years to
see whether any interference is needed.
They might possibly harmonic themselves.
If this resolution means anything, it
asserts the necessity of legal enactment
and supervision for the development of
agricultural and mechanical pursuits. the
settlement OF our public lands, the transpor-
tation and marketing OF products, the en-
couragement OF manufactures. and the
equitable distribution of wealth. Such
sheaf of contradictory nonsense has rarely
been bound together. To complete the reso-
luton, it should have been stated also that
the convention would take measures to have
the lion lie down with the lamb, and the
thistles bring forth grapes. The third reso-
luton advocates the Initiation of the cur
rency. The increase is to be measured by
the wants of the agricultural, industrial and
commercial interests of the country, but
nothing is said of a guage by which to
measure those wants. The object of this
resolution is said to be, to prevent combina-
tions of capital from controlling the cur
rency. 1t is the unstable and uncertain
character, which achangeful financial policy
and continual official interference in the
business of the country haye impressed
upon the currency, that puts the public at
the mercy of INSCRIPTIONS schemers. The
proposed remedy is desperate one. 1t is
setting back to sea amid the first faint signs
of land. The fourth resolution seems to be
aimed at those laws, of which we have hith-
ertO been so proud, for the encouragement of
theinveutive genius otthe inventive Yankee.
The fifth resolution ack nowledges that debt
of gratitude, ''still paying still 70 owe" due
to the soldiers of the great war, and prom
ises the extension OF the limits of the bounty
and pension laws. The sixth resolution
| fairly pledges the party to the support of
what is known in Temperance literature as
local option and civil damage legislation.
The action taken was told and determined,
in the face OF the threatening memorial adj
dressed to the convention by the German
editors of the state. There is not in politics
or morals more delicate matter 10 handle
than than this of dealing with the remedies
of intemperance, The great want at present
is not so much empeTance legislation as the
creation of public sentiment that viii sus-
tain the law when passed. There would then
perhaps be little need ofits enactment. Such
an expression of opinion by great party
will doubtless go far towards strengthening
the temperance sentiment now existing.
Republicans will have no temptation left for
paltering and double dealing on this subject.
The seventh and eighth resolutions
are expressions of opinion on
narrow and definite matters The
former advocates feasible reform; but the
latter promises one of those far-off blessings
to which this generation of politicians will
never allow the people to attain. The ninth
resolution is strong one in favor of our
common school system. Should the system
ever be attacked the resolution may be use
full. The tenth resolution endorses the pres
ident and his administration as we'll as the
representatives of the state in congress.
How the tail of the platform fits the head it
is impossible to see, since the financial
policy of the president is attacked, his
Louisiana interference rebuked, aud the dis
graceful frauds OF the past two years OF
his government are condemned, at least by
way of implication. in the former part, and
the man mainly responsible is praised in the
latter. Con sstencv is evidently not one of
the Jewels with which Indiana Republicans
adorn themselves on great occasions. Per-
haps the discrepancy is due to some Of those
differences in regard to matters of detail al
luded to in the preamble to the platform.
1t seems that the temperance issue in the
Indiana campaign is destined to give rise to
far more dangerous political agitation
namely, contest of races or nationalities,
| The temperance people, however provoked,