The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-10-07
Observation-Disclosures

~ VIII a DabblO dIuiy IuuSb Do Ncl
commanded. An undisciplined force has
but small chsnce to succeed
against a disciplined one, and
body Of men badly oficared can not
hope to successfully Withstand the assaults
of one ably led. What is true of armies is
also true of parties. The Democracy OF In
diana do not want for leaders, for they have
Hendricks and Mcdonald, and many other
able men to direct them. Neither is there a
scarcity of men fit to direct our local poll
tics, but, unfortunately for the party, these
leaders are disposed to remain in th back
ground and let men take control Of the
party in the ward meetings that are untitled
TO direct it. This should not be the case,
and in future we hope TO see no more OF it.
Those Democrats Of Indianapolis that are
fitted by education, by experience
and by social standing to wisely
guide and direct their political brethren
In the discharge of their public duties should
came 20 the front and take control of the
party's organization. To do this they must
attend the ward meetings, for it is in these
meetings that the foundations of all political
campaigns are laid. If they remain in the
back ground, the leadership OF the party is
sure to get into incompetent and unworthy
hands. Leaders there will be. and II those
fitted to command do not come forward and
assume the responsibilities that would be
accorded them, their places will be taken by
those not so backward and so modest. The
Democratic party is composed largely Of
laboring men, but there are among those
that labor many men of wise heads and
courageous hearts; and it is such men as
these that are needed TO educate and direct
their fellow workmen in public policy and
political duty. The party has also in its
ranks goodly number of merchants and
professional men, aud has a right to ask of
these men something more than their votes.
They should go TO the nominating conven-
lions and sos that it aud proper persons are
put forward for Office. Their influence for
good could nowhere be more effectively util-
lied than ia the primaries, for 1t
is here that the officers are really made. In
their absence these primaries, or nominal
ing conventions, are too often taken posses
sion Of by those not qualified to lead, and as a
natural sequence, nominations are made
that bring no strength to the party. The
DemOcratic party Is the party OF the peOples
it is the party of freedom and Of equal rights;
It is a party whose history is glorious, and
no one should be ashamed to publicly ac-
knowledge himself member oft. Jefferson
was its apostle, and Madison aud Monroe,
Jaskson and Wright, Cass and Douglas were
opponents of its principles, and every
Democrat should be as proud of his
party as was citizen OF the
seven billed city to be called a Roman.
Then let the best men in the party come
forward and take control Of its organization
in this city. Let them go to work and or
ganize it, and get it in proper shape to make
the campaign OF 1876. They can place it in
a condition to win the election next spring;
but If they supinely fold their hands and do
no hing, the election in May viii be lost, and
the city pass into Republican hands. This
result should be averted, and can be, if the
party is properly organized and differed.
Without this, defeat is assured, and should
it come, 1t will come because the leaders OF
the party were not properly chosen.