The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-05-12

FULLY. L place the ln0lVluual, rs an lnuepen-
dent responsible member of the local society, in
the first and highest place of all. The delegates
| who constitute the county, state and national
organizations are but the representatives OF the
local constituencies. This IS the true order OF
| our republican system of government, and its
| gradual reversion. 10 which the people nave
] consented by silent submission, has facilitated
the SCREENINGS of the professional political cor
/ moraDts.
FORMULATING MY PROPOSITIONS,
they are as follows: Intelligent, individual
action Is the first disideratum- Such action
can only be intelligent after the fullest and
most thorough discussion, The discussion OF
all questions should be public. so that there may
be no misinterpretation Of the resultant action.
To render individual action effective requires
general and unircrm organization by township,
county, state and nation. having superiority
one with the other in the order heregiven: You,
| in this county, have commenced Inc WORK so
far as local organization Is concerned. You nave
| In a remarkable degree held yourself aloof from
entangling alliance with secret associations
You are now prepared for the next step forward,
state organization. You have, as I understand,
been waiting for somebody 10 take the initia-
tive. Others, too, are waiting, but waiting ac-
complishes nothing. 1t is quite COM
petent for you to lead OF in call to
con onvention. Indeed. 1t is within the provinces
| OF any one of you to do so. III the people are
ready to respond, they will give heed 70 the call
name, is attached. The PRONUNCIATION OF the re-
cent call for a state convention, OF which so
very distinctly answered a question which 1
have often been asked, how we should be able to
call county and state conventions without party
machinery? The only objection was the very
| serious one that the names of those who decided
upon making 1t were not appended TO IL upon
us first appearance. AS IL has, however, trans
pired that they were reputable citizens, whose
names were withheld only through timidity.
edge and explain their action, it has partly
atoned the mistake. 1t Is now evident that all
parts OF the state wi be fully represented at In
Ia ianaDOiiS n.
was made and Is meeting response Thatis quite
sufficient.
rapidly. Probably there never was seen In this
or any country anything approaching the ra-
GS an
/ no people ever made such rapid progress In
comprehending the unnecessarily and
unnaturslly complex questions o.
political economy and conmercial usage.
such men as s. NJ. Saith and w. &. Flagg TO de-
vote their entire time to the presentation and
| state. l do not speak approvingly of all they
have said. They are mortals like the rest Of Us,
and are liable to make mistakes. That they
have made them they would be free TO admit
| themselves: That they have been actuated by
proper MOTIVES ,hs have mo doubt My ,S Se
confidently. The merit of their work is not
however, to be construed as personal. What they
the people, whether prudent or other.
wise has attracted attention has set the people
Ifae can get the people TO reading and think
ing, the rest is of easy accomplishment. They
need no leaders when they are prepared to lead
And here have word to say about leaders
The party papers and stump orators are anx
farmers movem MT. They want somebody thai
is tangible brought forward, towards whom
they can level their weapons. They dare not d.
that would lose them votes. Now, II under
stand the nature OF this movement, il
10 w1rax fnffn aQfa n hn
ton oil individuality on the part o
The people. They have had enough of blindly
following party leaders. They are proposin.
4 ToLEAD THEMSELVES,
to dictate how their officers shall conduct them
selves in the performance of their assigned
duties. The progress they making in thi.
self-leadng is seen in the repeal of the salary
| grab law-with a presidential exception-and in
the influence so directly and effectively exerteC
upon congressional and state legislation. The
D ,wer is so evident that the demagogues arr
numbIing themselves upon their marrow bones
pleading so earnestly for little Longer to Serr5
the dear people. Ignorant men may desir
leaders, base men may need masters, but TIN,
large majority of American citizens are neithe
ignorant nor base. They are competent to lea
themselves, and they must do so If they would
have free government in fact as well il
name.
, explain, yet more explicitly than have, wha
kind of association would recommend. In tn,
local organization there need be no other office
than president, vice president, secretary anC
treasurer. The last two can be very well com
6ned in one person; Ine o5nstltg.ion need b
The bylaws should be few and simple. 1 would
have nothing arbitrary about il, and would de
he mempers for the reservation of ordsP
members might be required TO sign the constitu
ton after being vs admitted by vote
10 excl ude discordant or disorganizing elements
IN Is clearly 70 the advantage of all to have RI
many true fr.ends representing other profes
| sions as may be in accord with the advance
ment of the agricultural. interest. would have
them as members to obts>o tlSIr views views upSt
Judge is competent TO make a decision unitl hi
has heard both sides and considered the evi
tent to discuss and decide mercantile questions
without ull representation ff6m :ae mer.
chants standpoint. There times when we
discuss questions involving points in law, and
a good lawyer does not come amiss. In
who have given study TO such questions should
be heard. Don't misunderstood me as directly
recommending the one-horse, pot-house Office
edge of political economy only extends to Euy
ing votes. But even of these / would hardl.
recommend q total exclusion. By bringing then
, under good influences they might possibly be re
, formed and be made useful citizens, as railwa.
laborers or dry goods clerks. Certainly homes
men needn't be very much afraid OF them The,
are only dangerous when let alone and out @
sight; ,a s,s,r.s in tho ,on, .,
3 and equally so in the delegated b die,
. any questions of public concern, whethe
educational, social. commerce al, politics
e or even religious These question
Q are subject for action in various forms. The
S should De understood, and they eau not be with
out due examination. The discussion should b
conducted with constant Difference to the opin
e ions OF those VINO may differ with the speaker
Each and every one should be heard If he has a
: opinion to offer. would have absolute freedoT
e ofspeech. 4 would have the women there, too
y vote. IL they are there need fear no unbs
= coming conduct or language from the masculin
members. 1 would see them taking an activ
}, part in this reform movement. Their influenC
is most potent every where AID almost univer,
z ally for z 'od and nowhere is there more nee
for an infusion OF the elevating, purifyin,
moral influence of woman than in our politics
!. system. ] would have
y NO SECRECY WHATEVER.
! Our war is against secret monop,
. lies, secret eaucases and secret lobbie
II II doing right there M naa-i for hfdin