The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-01-17
THE CONTEST IN INDIANA
A sENII-REPUBLICAN VIEW OF THE SITUATION
BY THE EVENING NEWS.

BY THE EVENING NEWS.
There is probably not a republican in
Indiana-when we say a republican we
mean one in full sympathy and action with
the party-who does not believe that SEN
ator Morton can carry the state for president
over Hendricks or any other man. Hen
bricks is strong with his own party, but
not so strong as Morton is with his party,
and the latter is by all odds the best or
gsnizer and leader. He has never failed to
carry the state when he went into the fight,
and can carry it now by handsome major
ity against any man the democrats can
nominate. Indiana will be the pivotal state
in the next election, and IL is of vital inn
portance to the republican party to nomi-
nate candidate who can carry it beyond
Northumberland.
IT the Journal will stir about and get be-
yond the reach OF the little clique of political
managers who are manipulating the repub-
lican party now If it will listen less to the
politicians and more to the people, we
think it will change its opinion about sew
eral of these assertions. 1t will find a
great many republicans, and republicans
whose party loyalty is as good as that of
the Journal, who are by no means conf
dent that the party can carry this state at
all, and much more doubtful whether Sena-
tor Morton can do it. When the Journal says
that Gov. Hendricks is not strong with
his party as Morton is with his, it speaks
very recklessly, and as we think, without
touching The truth. Gov. Hendricks has
the support of the entire democracy, and it
Is devoted to him with an enthusiasm it has
not manifested for many years. Even If he
had not, the nomination of Morton will
unite the democrats solidly. Indiana is a
democratic state now, and if the republicans
want to carry it they will have to hoard up
every bit of strength and take every possible
advantage. Senator Morton has many enc
V1niC iv1h ia hot al onh
liticsl, and it is not possible that he can do
without their votes and overcome the sd
verse majority piled up last year. Why, he
barely carried the state in 1872, and if the
| legislative districts had not been "set up"
| he would have barely saved his senatorial
bacon. To talk now as if he had only to be
nominated to insure this state for the re-
publicans is simply absurd. The republic
cans have their hands full to get 1T under the
most favorable circumstances, and the votes
Senator Morton can not get in his own party
will more than decide the matter, IL indeed
they could avail him provided he got them.
| There is but one man whom the repub-
licans generally admit-we except the Jour
nal and the particular set which is trying to
| nominate MOrton-can carry the state, and OF
whom democrats are most afraid. That is
Gen. Harrison. Gen. Harrison would make
most available presidential candidate, and
his name is becoming very prominent in
| this connection. The people of Indiana
| will support him for that Office as they would
support no other man, and he would gain
| democratic votes at the expense even of
Gov. Hendricks. Some of Senator Morton's
friends see this and fear he may injure
| the formers chances. Gen. Harrison mas
declined to run for governor, but II he can
be made to take the nomination he will be
removed from the presidential field, and bis
strength, 1t is thought, will pull Senator
Morton through, should he tie nominated
So Senator Morton's friends are now deter.
mined that Gen. Harrison shall be the can
didate for governor, whether he wants to be-
or not. This explains the language used in
several county papers, that "ht
must be made to take 1t as Henry
q. Lsne was made to take it il
1860. The party demands the sacrifice
This is the argument that Will be made Il
Gen. Harrison. He will be waited upoI
before the convention meets by leading
men, and urged by every possible motiv,
to consent to take the nomination If it b.
unanimous. If he consents, and stron,
moral pressure will be brought to bear, thu
nomination can easily be controlled ant
will be made unanimous. Morton's poin
will have been made. Harrison will
not only be put out OF the way
but will be made to add his strength, an,
one more prominent man will be made tt
contribute to his elevation. This is til
present programme. Time will show hoy
It fares. In the meantime public sentimen
in favor of Gen. Harrison as candidate 70
president Is attaining magnitude no on
would have expected q month ago. Tn
suggestion meets with general favor anon
republicans who are republicans from prin
ciple and have no connection or hope wit
officers or officials.