The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-12-22
SEYMoUR'S SAYINGS.
VALUABLE VIEWS ON THE SCHOOL
QUESTION.


QUESTION.
THE "FALsE ISSUE" RAISED BY THE THIEVES
AND PUBLIC PLUNDERERs IN POWER
The New York World reports an inter-
esting and an instructive interview with
the Hon. Horatio Seymour; In answer to
a question as to his opinion of the school or
anti-Catholic issue, lately imported, the
governor said that, in the first place, what
the republicans call the school question is
not the school question at all, Every one
knows that it is brought up to excite sec
tartan passions; 1t is a mere strategic move
ment on very ser Gus question. Strategical
movements in politics, said he, rarely spc-
coed, and never when the motives are so
transparent as in this case. The very fact
that the movers feel that our school system
in so popular with the American people
proves that there Is no danger
Of its being overthrown. Mere political
strategy is very odious at this time,
fer the people feel thai 1t is an attempt to
turn the public attention away from the re-
forms which are needed to relieve the public
distress 1t is simply saying TO American
cltiZe-us, "Let us talk about something else
man bad legislation and worse administra-
tion." 1t is very much like giving reilg-
ious tract to a starving family. Ii our city,
state and national governments, continued
the governor, without regard TO their politi
cal characters, will cut down taxation and
lessen expenses they will do much TO restore
confidence and revive business; but every
man knows this will not be done If the pub
lie mind is to be agitated by either sectional
or sectariau hate. Aside from these opjec-
tions OF principle, Gov. Seymour thinks
that those who are striving to bring in this
policy of hate. with a view OF covering their
transactions by
CLOUDS OF PASSION AND PREJUDICE,
have made blunder fatal to themselves. 1t
lost them, said he, the state of New York at
the last election, In this city the labor ques-
ton turned away many votes from the
democratic party. 1t would have swept a
much larger number into the republican
ranks if its leaders had not made the sec
tartan issue. In the interior of the state We
have nearly l 600 miles in length of canals
| running into all sections. The stoppage oil
| work threw great numbers out OF employ
meIt, who could gst nothing to do else
where, and who were appealed to by their
| former employers to vote against the demo-
cratic ticket on that account. These ap-
peals would have carried them of but for
| the sectarian issue. A large number
of German Catholics have heretofore
voted for the republican ticket, and
many Hebrews. an Important class OF our
citizens. Beyond these, many of the smaller
denominations Of PrOtestants were dis
gusted with policy which they felt in the
end would reach them. The republicans
also lost sight of another great fact. When
the know-nothing feeling was excited a
| large number of the foreigners lived in our
large towns, and the great number of local
officers and the frequency of local elections
naturally excited, from time to time, pre-
JUDGES between different nationalities. But
since that time the Germans and Irish have
scattered throughout the country. They
have a strong desire to become the owners
of farms, while it is
| MATTER OF GREAT REGRET
that in too many instances the Americans
are inclined to leave their farms and to &c
into the towns and cities. This Is particu.
larry true of the young men. In all parts
of this and of other states the Irish and the
Germans are getting to be the owners OF
farms; they are hard working, saving and
prosperous, and they have gained the re.
spect of all classes of our business men
who seek their custom aud are anxious for
their good will. The Irish are making
great efforts throughout the country to pro
mote temperance among themselves
While the adopted citizens are thus becom
ing valuable members ofsociety and import
ant agents In promoting the business in
terests OF the whole community, 1t will not
! | be possible now to excite against them any
narrow prejudices so at war with
the genius OF our government. In
answer to a question "a to what benefit
could accrue to the republicans by making
/. an issue OF the religious question, the gov
ernor said the republicans have certainly
nothing to gain by it., for that class of mer
who like to indulge either In sectional q
sectarisn prejudices have always voted fol
their ticket. They will surely drive GU
from their ranks many who have heretofore
n acted with them, while our anxious bust
ness men, our suffering mechanics and GU
laborers out of employment will feel them
selves insulted by such efforts to turn tn
r public mind from the causes of their dis
, tres9, and they VIII regard such attempts IN
the light of declarations that there will b
. no reform of the abuses in city, state o.
D general governments. In a word, Mr.. Sc
Q mour thinks that the fact of the republican,
; having recourse TO such desperate rsmedie
{ shows the desperately
, Low BBB OF THEIR POLITICAL FORTUNES.
In regard to the proper action to be taker
J by congress on the currency question tn,
governor thinks that nothing at all will b
, done this time, the Senate being republi
can. In the course of the coming year W,
} shall have such Developments with regarC