The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-12-22
Mr. voorhees, and the PIatforp.


The Hon. d. w. Voorhees,, who retired to
the ~sanctity of private life last spring when
there were no spoils of victory in view, is
now making an active canvass of the state,
after a manner hitherto unknown in our
politics, to urge his own claims on the sena-
tOrship, and he is in the habit, it is said, of
reading on all occasions, and holding up to
the execration of the faithful, an
editorial from the Sentinel repudi-
ating the inancial part of the plat
form adopted by the democracy last July.
He is especially severe upon this paper
for the stand it has taken against the repeal
of the gold law of March, 1869. The best
thanks OF the Sentinel are due to him for the
pains he is taking to spread its opinions,
and lest the copy of the paper which he
carries should become worn out from con-
slant use it may be well to supply MIN
in the present number with a reiteration of
the views he finds so obnoxious. The Senti-
mel holds that the gold law of 1869
was, at the time of it's passage,
either an unnecessary or a dishonest
piece of legislation. If the bonds which
it affected were then redeemable in gold, no
declaratory law was needed. 1t they were
not redeemable in gold the declsrstory law
was a piece of folly and dishonesty, which
not even anxiety to preserve the public
credit could excuse. This argument might
have been used to PREVENT the passage ofthe
law, but the law of 1869, when once enacted,
carried the matter of the redemption of the
bonds in gold out of controversy. The
faith of the nation was pledged in the face
of the world, through its own agents, and
their action can not be set aside with honor.
1t is vain to attempt to make any distinction
between the people and congress in the
business: Quae fact per alum Jacit per Sc.
Now, it is not easy to understand why it
is discreditable for the Sentinel to still main
tain the folly of a declaration which it de-
nounced six months ago. This paper has
never acknowledged the platform of July to
be the true touchstone for testingk enuine
democracy, and it has been engaged in an
honest endeavor-made, il not wisely, at
least according to the best of its ability
to lead the party to a more advanced
and advantageous position. 1t has
refused to be judged by the last
SIdL6 DlhLlOIm - Oil btdnQdA0s
But Mr.. Voorhees, is seeking the highest of
fee within the gift of the people of Indiana
solely on the ground of his IN
swerving loyalty to that platform, and is de-
nouncing all of his rivals who can not pledge
the same faith to it as traitors. Therefore,
il behooves him to see to it that he can main
tain, without a flaw, his allegiance TO the po-
litical gospel which he is preaching. LIST us
apply the touchstone to his own character.
The platform demanded the repeal of tho
gold law of 1869 in express terms. Now it
is easy for Mr.. Voorhees, to make promises
in regard to carrying out that declaration,
when he is aware that, even il he is chosen
senator, he will be perfectly powerless
to do anything toward the repeal Of
the law. Even If the next House
should be SO foolish as to pass an act
repeating the gold bill, the Senate is a body
which would not listen to such a PROPOSE
ton, and should such an act get through
congress by any means, the president would
veto it. 1t will be years before legislation
to carry out that part of the state platform
is possible, and, when it is possible. the bonds
covered by the law will all have been con-
verted. The whole matter is now no more
a practical political question than
the c~onfguration Of last years
clouds. Knowing this right well,
Mr.. voorhees, is ready with his promises.
What did he do, however, when the issue of
the redemption of the bonds was a vital one,