The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-12-01

natural, and ought TO become more and
more close and extensive to the mutual adj
vantage of both. 1t is the interest of both,
of all ~ofmankind, that the full enjoyment of
local self-gOvernment, the most efficient
safeguard of free institutions and of personal
liberty, the sacred birth-right of every state,
shall be restored at the earliest practicable
moment. These elections have turned the
face ofthe country more hopefully in that
direction than any other events since 1860.
But, gentlemen, it becomes us all to remem-
Der, in the midst ofour rejoicing, that these
events present 10 US a sober side, which
should be studied with tbs most thoughtful
care and s~olicitude. These elections have
not finally settled much or at all determined
the great question of the future control of
our public policy. or of the general govern
ment; they have turned out many public
servant and put others in their places, but
that is an unimportant matter unless it bear
other fruit. Wherever this reinvestiture of
power has taken place, whether in the ma
ton, the state, the county, the city or the
town, it has come freighted with The most
solemn responsibilities. 1t, therefore, be-
comes the imperative, and it ought to be the
cheerful, duty of every man invested with
Office or power to look well to his OFF, ia
conduct, to consider we'll whatever he does
or says, to
KEEP FAITH IN L THINGS
with the people; because such is his duty,
and then there are hypercritical persons all
around him to watch for and ~criticise and
magnify all his errors, or mistakes, or blum
ders. And of this fact he will have no right
to complain. 1 appeal to you all, however
high or low may be the place to which YOU
have been chosen, to realize t. @ delicacy and
Importance of the duties which have been
cast upon you. Each one of you has, in a
sense, become the guardian of the honor of
| tha uraat dnpnnprafic and qnnaoruofivo Dar 4 ~
OF this country. lApplause.l II in this
spirit all the men whom this election
has brought to the front will per-
form their duties, my judgment is that
when two years have rolled around, and the
people come to the polls to express their
judgment anew, our reimbursement will be
complete and emphatic, and that in 1876
the great centennial year of our country's
history-we will enter upon a new era of
peace and prosperity, of growth and devel-
opement, of national honor and glory.
TGreat applause IT we remember these
duties, we may be able in that year-in spite
of all the efforts for a third term Tor any
other kind of a term for Mr.. Grant or iany
one representing his pOlicy)-we may be
able to place in the executive mansion a
true, experienced, incorruptible, high
toned democrat, devoted to the re-estab
lishment of justice, equal laws, sound and
wise policy and decent administration all
over the country. We care not who he is,
provided only that he be "honest and capa-
ble," and thoroughly national, Applause.
Let us not defeat him in advance by over
confidence or bad conduct. My friends, in
my Judgment the results of these
elections are, in every sense, con-
sentative, and not at all evolutionary
The people have risen in their power to de-
mand of their public servants reform
honest, severe, searching. impartial reform
but not reaction. They want good
faith from rulers. snd reform in laws
and administration that shall be COM
prehensive and embrace the great sub
jects that have been considered by the
people in the recent canvass. We must
maintain the public faith and credit, exc
cute in good faith all the guarantees in the
constitution, protect all the people, whether
white or colored. in the enjoyment OF ali
their civil and political rights. and guard
well, faithfully, the true boundaries of
power between the federal and state govern
ments. [Applause.l There are a few ques-
tions on which the public judgment is not
agreed or settled, at which the people are
much at sea, and upon which there is
not entire harmony or unity. in
any party. On these 1t is our duty,
by kindly discussion and unselfsh pur-
suit of great principles, to struggle for
THE ATTAINMENT OF HARMONY.
It was the chief source of the brilliant sue
cess and long ascendency, and the pure and
proud record of the old national democratic
party, that it was firmly anchored in en-
during principles, in the science Of civil
government, and had established amongst
It's members great unity and harmony.
But since then we have passed through a
great revolution, and in important respects
all parties have lost their anchorage, and be-
come unsatisied in their minds as TO what
Is the true path OF duty, and these facts i'm
pose upon us all the duty of caution, careful
study of great principles, thoughtful exam-
ination OF the history of the past, and
nations, and so that whatever we
do shall have relation not alone
or chiefly to the mere passing mo-
ment, but shall tend to the establishment
OF a far-reaching. permanent, sound and
beneficent national policy. We must not
forget that our power now stops far short of
what is necessary to enable us to form and
to put into execution a new or independent
policy. We are invested with only one OF
the great citadels OF the government-the
House OF Representatives. We can not con-
troll the Senate, nor the executive; we can
merely make suggestions in the house, and
If we fail in securing their adoption, we can
accomplish nothing. Let as look then
TO tne practlcai: Let us enoeaVor TO
do that which is in our power TO do.
Let us, as far as We have possession and
power, show the people that our principles
are excellent, that our purposes are in bar
mony with the best interests of the country.
The people have shown their willingness to
invest the democratic and conservative men
Of the country With tie complete control of
the country; but it was not in their power
to do it this year. II we will prove true to
our trust, we will have won their confidence
anew, and they will be willing to intrust us
further-to give us more power-and finally
to put in our keeping all the departments
of the general government and the con-
tIol of the domestic affairs of the various
states. [Great spplause.l The leaders of the
appropriate respect for the constitution,
they dislike its limitations upon power;
they are prone to latitudinarian construc-
ton they nave apparently insatiate love tor
the exercise OF dangerous and ungranted au-
thoritY. Out of this kind of conduct on