The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-02-07
.he Ssmtimsl.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY :.
THE CONSTITUTION.


The New York Graphic as a daily picture
paper has succeeded in obtaining general
circulation throughout the states. Its po-
iitical cartoons have been intensely radical,
and the Graphic as a partisan sheet has
sought more industriously to effect its pur-
pose by addressing the eye than the reason,
judgment or conscience OF its patrons. To
what extent its efforts proved success we
have no means of knowing. unless
we take the vote in the city where it
is published as a standard of measurement
In which case we should conclude 1t was
not sufficiently fiattering to warrant any adj
ditional investments in the political picture
business Our purpose, however in aIlud-
ing to the Graphic, was not to criticise its
picture gallery, but to call attention to its
outspoken distrust and blatant denunciation
of the constitution of the country.
In this regard the Graphic is emf
nently consistent as a radical organ,
for it is safe to say, whatever may be the
professions and declarations to the contrary,
deep down in the radical organization there
is and has ever been well defined hostility
the constitution-the MACAO ehdrtd of
American rights OF the political parties in
America that have appeared upon the stage
and obtained prominence and power, only
the radical party has been dis
tinguished for hostility to the
constitution, and only the radical party
has violated its most sacred and cherished
guarantees. 1t is not surprising, therefore,
to see confessed radical sheet. an out and
out Hayes organ, openly denouncing the
constitution Just now when the constitu-
ton is being looked to and appealed to, and
when it is justly regarded as the only saliva
ton of the country, the Graphic declares as
follows:
The war taught the American people that
the constitution was merely means 10 an
end, that IL was imperfect and needed a deal
of patching and piecing, and that II must be
subordinated to the interests of the country
and sacrificed to the necessities OF liberty and
order. 1t is surprising how the public feeling
respecting the constitution has changed since
1860 People believe less in its letter and more
In its intention and spirit. They think more
of the government, and, in spite OF all the
clap-trap about Capitalization, pile more work
on its hands than ever before; but the consti-
tuition has dropped into a secondary place. IL
has been quoted so often in opposition TO wise
and important measures, and used SO often TO
obstruct legislation required by the interests
ed as good deal OF a bugaboo.
Grant and his associate conspirators have
not been greatly disturbed by constitutional
bugaboos, and the radical party have not
felt sufficient interest in the old instrument
to take special exceptions to any of the
fragrant violations of its letter or spirit
The success attending the attacks of the
radical party upon the constitution has been
so marked that the country was pressed
to the verge of ruin, and as an evidence of
the blindness and madness of the party COM
hitting the crimes, the Graphic in this hour
of darkness, instead of denouncing the mis-
cradle crew who have brought about this win
ter of discomfort, strikes at the constitution
of the country, and sneeringly alludes to the
devotion of the people to law and
order as constitution worship, and in
Inmates that no constitution at all
would be preferable. The Graphic's article
indicates with vivid distinctness the drift of
radicalism, and its outspoken opposition to
the constitution is a fitting appendix to the
returning board frauds by virtue of which
the radical party hoped to gain president
and new lease Of power.