The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-29

The New Issue. Il
| A favorite style of judging of the late in
surreetion in Louisiana is to estimate the
movement by its effect upon the elections in
the North. Mere republican partisans, like
the Chicago Inter-O Ocean, hailed the event
with delight, as a means of rousing old
passions and prejudices, and kindling old
enthusiasm. Democratic partisans, like the
Cincinnati Enquirer, regarding the matter
in the same selfish aspect, trembled lest the
result of the movement would be all that re-
publican fancy painted 1t. 1t is now pretty
clear that the so-called revolution is not to
have such an astounding effect as was
hopea for by one party and feared by
the other. II was so decently managed
that 1t is difficult to get up any fury
over it. Even the indignant eloquence
of Morton has failed to substitute senti-
ment for reason in our political contest.
Notwithstanding the partial failure, how
ever, the republicans have gained great
deal by bringing the Southern question to
the front once more. They have worked a
change in the method of conducting the
campaign that must be very gratifying to
sary to explain away the wonderful system
of ingenious thieving by which the great
statesmen of the party grew rich out of
grants to the Pacific railroad, and stood and
acclaimed to an admiring people about the
industrial girdle across the continent, the
march of civilization and tho era of progress,
with the peoples money in their
pockets. A good strong diatribe
against the stiff-necked rebels will
answer every purpose. The painful
effort to show that the back pay was abso-
lutely necessary for Congressional comfort,
that it was bestowed for charitable purposes
when taken, or that it was given back be-
fore the "lamp had ceased to burn,n is now
suspended, and the orator, with sigh of re-
lief, turns to the picture of the mail agent.
Ivey, murdered by Alabama White Leaguers
for his adherence to political principles.
How much easier 1t is to denounce the
slaughter of Billings than to explain how it
comes that President Grant is drawing
So. 900 year in contravention of the spirit
and even of the letter of the United States
constitution. The intricacies of the tariff
are by no means pleasant themes for any
editor or speaker outside of Pennsylvania
and New England. and it has been
hard lines for western man to explain to
crowd of anxious grangers why they should
pay tribute to make up enormous dividends
for eastern capitalists; but with what a
blithesome:spirit ne can soar away upon the
American Eagle for a birds-eye view of the
disturbances in Owen county, Kentucky.
The panic of last fall and the uncertain con-
dition of the currency were also subjects
that no good servant OF the administration
wanted to talk much about. 1t was difficult
TO get people to believe, in the manner of
Senator Morton, at Terre Haute, that the
whole thing was pure case of accident
But what sweet theme for defamation
the barbarous outrage committed in
Trenton county, Tennessee offered
instead. The contract by means
of which Sanborn undertook the
collection of revenue which the regular
officers of the government ought to have
gathered in without extra compensation
was a remarkable piece ofscoundrelism, and
many profited by it, but few people cared to
talk of its mysteries. How charming it was,
of the Coushstta massacre, and paint its
dramatic details. The robberies in the Dis
tri,t of Columbia and South Carolina were
also very curious matters, and few men
would not prefer brilliant lamentation over
the sad fate OF Julia Hayden to making an
attempt to account for them.
The fact of the matter is that the repub-
lican orators and editors have made gall
liant effort 20 turn away the public atten-
ton from the issues in regard to
which the present campaign began, by de-
nouncing Southern lawlessness. The ruse
is exceedingly clever. It il tantamount,
however, to saying: sit is true that we are
running the finances OF the country to de-
struction. 1t is true that we are strangling
industry by unjust discrimination. 1t is
true that we have been stealing with an en-
terprise and persistency never exhibited
since the destruction ofthat memorable band,
the forty thieves. But we have ever been the
consistent friends OF the negro, and can you
trust his salvation to anyone else, If you
turn us out of office?n The Sentinel would
be perfectly willing to see the republican
party tried on this single isse of re-
construction, which 1t is so anxious to
discuss. This paper can not regard the
work of the past ten years in the South, as
the one redeeming virtue among the many
crimes of the party. 1t considers it rather
the chief one among its iniquities. The rule
which has only brought about murder, trea- |
son and military occupation, ought not to
plead for a continuance. Certainly change
in government could not make the South
ern whites more miserable, discontinued and