The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-11-18
The Hon VIM n. Holmes at the Hen
bricks Club.


Hon, VIM. p. Holman addressed the Hen
bricks Club last night, as announced a week
ago, and large gathering of the Democracy
greeted him. After the organization OF the
Club President Neff introduced Mr.. Holman
the ordinary business being suspended for
the purpose of hearing his address. Ny.
Holman said in opening address that
the interim between active campaigns was
favorable to calm elaboration upon the po-
litical situation. Public opinion was created
by elaboration and discussion, and produces
results and decides lines of policy. The
state of the public mind on political
subjects is indicated in the election last
year, and this showed distinctly that the
aim and desire OF the people was to reform
the government. 1t was not surprising that
the close of the war should mark the COM
mencement of an era OF corruption. This
corruption prevailed and had finally be-
come so obnoxious In the public opinion
that the sentiment Ia favor of reform was
stronger than party lines, and there was a
large element of the masses who would seek
through their individual votes to secure It.
There was determination, after so long
time, to right up the government
and redeem 1t from the consequences
OF the continued maladministration
Mr.. Holman presented in q most pointed
manner the prevalence OF venality among
government officials, and the subservience
of the public interests and the subordin-
alton OF parties to Individual mbtion and
pecunisry aggrsndizement. The policy OBJ
tanned to an alarming extent Of creating
offices and increasing salaries. in federal
and local legislation, for the benefit of In
dividuals to the detriment OF the public.
In contrast with this policy he exhibited
the true theory that made the Office subserve
the public good, and said IL would be
happy era when the administration OF affairs
should revert to the old channels. This
must take place in the near future. As
examples of the impolicy Of the Republican
party that had resulted in the evils above
alluded to, he referred to subsidies and the
extravagant appropriation Of moneys for
public purposes. This evil was not measured
by the loss of the public money, but
by the national disgracs that every honest
man felt in beholdlng the working of a
system that prostituted the public welfare in
the interest of few. He showed most
clearly the demorslizing effects of sppropri-
atoms extravagsntly made, that their inevita-
BILE result was corruption.
Under no pretense should this opportu-
nifty or occasion for wronging the public or
bringing disnonor upon the country,
be continued. Parties long In power
attract men who seek their own instead
Of the public good, and hence the neces-
sity of change. No party should come
into power that would not secure re-
form. The Democratic party did not deserv
success unless 1t showed now by its acts
fidelity to the will and voice of the people
now demanding reform.
Mr.. Holman referred to the departments,
and branches of the public service that de-
manded reform, and the hordes OF stipendi-
aries that gathered around congress, aud the
pernIcious legislation that fostered and fed
them, entsiling upon the country the oner-
Gus taxes that are now collected. There was
no path OF safety now hut to compel re-
trenchment and economy. He then alluded
to the fitness Of the Democracy to
carry out this reform, and that
one of the questions that would
arise and demand attention was the subject
OF finance. He believed that the Demo-
cratic party, though like the administrs
ton party, divided In sentiment somewhat
on the best methods OF dealing with this
subject, would barmonize In devising plan
whereby the management OF the finances
should not be the means OF enrIching the
few and burdening the many. He demon