The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-08-09
Uhs Sentit1eL.
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 8.
Leonidas sexton and the state Debt

party Is pursuing III OIuoI w Iotoln PO"0l
needs a most pointed rebuke. Stained
and covered with fraud and corruption.
they now strive 70 beep out of sight their
own delinquencies 10y uttering the most
uua crupulous islsehoods upon The Demo
cratic party. We have a case in point
which will illustrate the bold faced lying
tn is resorted 70.
The Hon. Leonidss Sexton is the lieu
tensDt-governor Of this state. He was a
prominent candidate for the nomination
OF governor on the Radical ticket, and has
received the nomination tor Congress from
his party in the Fourth district. In prose-
cutting his canvass, which he has al
-asdy commenced, be is discussing
state affairs, and particularly the state
debt. IN his speech he is deceiving the
people who believe him by an infamous
misrepre sentation of the financial history
of the state, and especially that part during
the admins ration OF G 0veTnor Hendricks.
II Mr.. Sexton deems these remarks severe
he must remember that he is using his in
fuence as an officer OF the state to circulate
gross untruths, and he deserves the
severest condemnation OF all honorable
men. AS Mr.. Sections opponent is not in
the field to refute his utterances, he takes
advantage of the opportunity to deceive
the people. He doubtless did not imagine
that the Vevsy ReYielle would have the
imprudeuce to publish his statements to
the world. But it has been done, and we
now propose to hold Mr.. Sexton to strict
accountability Tor the tslsifications he has
put forth.
In the speech at Vevsy after stating that
the Democratic party had grossly misnal-
aged the finances, and reeitiDg in vindics-
ton of his charge some old campaign
utterances of twenty years ago, he says:
"The Republicans elected Baker, who was
an able finsncier. and managed affairs so
well that when he went out of Office the
debt of the state was only about 81 COO, 900 !"
Then he further says:
Four years ago the Democrats raised the cry
of reform and low taxes. They said that IL
power was given them they would not levy
State tax to exceed i've cents on the S1OO-that
that amount was sufficient. Well, the people
believed them, and elected Hendricks and
Democratic Legislature. And now, what is
the result? The state tax is 10 cents on the
SlO0, and the state debt has increased to sSOOO,-
COO. During the last year 81 LOCO have been
borrowed, upon which the people are now pay
ing interest. The speaker proceeded at some
length to explain the financial cond ton of
the state, which his position lieutenant
GOVERNOR gives him opportunity 10 be familiar
with.
Concerning all the ex plantations which hs
gave his auditors, which the Vevsy paper
does not record, we can ssy that if they
were like the above his discussion was
but q tissue OF bsreisced falsehoods, and
since be claims superior and accurate in
formation by virtue OF his official position,
he must lie under the imputation OF KDow-
ing that they were false. Now to the
records of the state, under the official seal
OF both Democratic and Republican off,
Gals. The first statement that needs con-
trsdicti0n in the above Is that the state
debt, at the end OF Bakers administration
was only about $1,000, 600. The official re-
ports OF the Hon. J. c. Shoemaker, auditor
OF state, and OF the Hon. J. b. Ryan, treas
urer of state, agree that the foreign and
domeciic debt of the state, November /,
1872, was So sos, 900 q. This was within two
months of the close of Bakers term OF
office. The same reports show b llsnce In
the state treasury of S763. $50 81 xton
says that with Hendricks was elected
Democratic Legislature, while any man of
tolerable information in bis audience knew
that that Legislature was Republican, and
reelected Morton to the Senate, aud with
prof gate hands spent ali tho money in the
treasury, increasing their own salary from
five to eight dollars per day, and ordering
the state officials to make temporary loans
to pay the expenses of the state govern
ment. The reports OF the auditor and
treasurer of state, the Hon. ]. A Wildman
and the Hon. john B. Glover, both r pub
licans, on November I, 1873, show that the
state debt, foreign and domestic wss "a :
S9S. Sl3 "a. Now, If during the last two
months of Mr.. Bakers administration be
reduced the state debt down to 81 900 900
from s. .9O5 900 q, the records fail 20 show
1t, and the last statement, Nov. 1, 1873
enumerates the very same items of debt
as the report OF q year before with the adj
dition OF the $40. 900 of the temporary loan
made by the state officials, as authorized
by the Republican Legislature. The re-
port of these officials will not be disputed;
therefore, the statement of Mr.. Sexton Is
false.
Again, Mr.. Sexton says; "And the state
debt has increased to $4,000, 0OO;" a. If it
had been increased $4,000, goo under Demo-
cratic administration, when 1t had never
been 80 small as that amount by nearly a
million. Truly wonderful must have been
Mr.. Sections opportunities for information
as lieutenant governor, or knowing the
facts he wilfully perverted them.
The further statement that "$l 900 900