The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-08-14
Ex-Governor Hendricks Addresses One
4. of the Most Enthusiastic
Meetings Ever Held in
Indianapolis.
His Utterances are Received With Un-
bounded Applauss--Sentiments
Submitted to Genuine Pa
triots of all Parties.
Unavoidable Absence Of the Hon. D. W.
Voorhees, Senator Joseph E. Nc
Donald Responds Briefly.
GOVERNOR HENDRICKS ADDRESS.

GOVERNOR HENDRICKS ADDRESS.
FELLOW CIrIZENs-It is inevitable that up
on questions involving the rights or the well
fare of the people we become divided into
parties 1t has been so in the past, and will
proaches the question presents itself, upon
which side shall we stand? Wrongs of the
grow into precedents, evils of the present are
TO be corrected and the greatest posi-
ole good invoked for the future.
Such a work is possible, and submit to your
judgments that its accomplishment may
safely be committed to the democratic party.
That party has been out of power, and win
find none of its own legislative structures to
be demolished, and none of its own supporters
to be removed, In the work of correction and
reform. Ii is difficult work-almOst impOs-
siole-for Ia.ty 10 correct It's own
abuses. The republican party has wholly failed.
Seeking escape from Grantism, the syno.
nym of party favoritism and corruption, that
party now stoops beneath the additional, bur-
den of crimes perpetrated in placing man in
the presidential office who was not chosen to
il by the people. Virtue can not be born of
vice; nor political reform of corruption. The
law was declared in the days of creation that
kind, and repeated in the new era, that cor
rupt tree can not bear good fruit.
LEGISLATIVE APPoRTIoNMENr.
First among our duties is the selection oflegis-
lators who will blot out the present unjust and
unconstitutional apportionment of congress
siOnal and legislative representation. The ex
listing laws are In palpaDle disregard OF cOnSt1-
tuttonal requirement. II is provided that SEN
ators and representatives shall be apportioned
among the counties according to the number
have Ii otherwise? Do we believe in the de-
claratiOn that all men are created
equal? II SO viii You Xindlcate II as
political power is given to one citizen, or coun-
ty, or section, than to another the declaration
of equality becomes sham and pretense.
Under the act of November, 1872, which is
yet in force, the counties of Lake, Porter, Steu-
ben, Lagrange, Jennings Vermillion, Warren
Lawrence, Monroe, Benton and Newton each
one being republican, were allowed ten
representatives, whilst they lacked S,793 votes
TO entitle them to so large representation.
$50 more votes than enough for a representa-
tive, but she was allowed none. Bartholomew
the two having ISIS over the representative
ratio. Their excess was more than the entire
vote of either Lake, Yermillion
a representative. Shall Bartholomew
De denied separate 100 representative iatns
Monroe with Isis less votes, vermil-
lion with 2,5l6 less votes, Warren with
2,67l less votes, Lake with ,Sl7 less votes Por-
ter with 1,7Si less votes, Lagrange with 1854
less votes and Steuben 1868 less votes have
each a representative? Why is Wells, Ia DEM
ocratic county, denied separate representa-
tive with vote 554 more than Lake, 30 more
than Steuben, $50 more than Nermtllion and
5l3 more than Warren, whilst each of them has
representative? 1t was so arranged that
NANN - " 1919 -
Lake and others, should have more voice
and control in the legislation of the state than
five men in some of the democratic counties
: The wrong is equally great in the senate. 1t
pervsdes the legislative apportionment of the
entire state.
Lean not now do more than present these
few Illustrations, that you may see how great
IS the iniquity, and that you nav appreciate
now urgent Is tne appear 70 you Ior neip In re-
The authors OF this wrong hoped by il, not
only to hold permanent control of the state
Tnd Sose "a tne eos O and %
subsequently TO be chosen. Thus far they have
gathered no fruits from the iniquity. Mr..
Mcdonald Is Senator Pratt's successor.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.
In the congressional districts the legislature
disregarded eontguity of territory and consid-
cred onlypolitical arrangement and advantage.
The districts as made dfsfigure the map of the
state. The character of the apportionment
appears in the fact that in 1876 the democrats
carried the state by more than 5000; yet they
elected but four congressman, whilst the re-
publicans have nine; 2l3,2l9 democrats elected
four members of congress and 2f 500 republic
cans elected nine II took % 800 DEMOCRATS to
elect member, whilst Ii required but q, O69 re-
publicans.
Under the constitution it will be the duty of
the legislature next winter to redistrict the
Gratis demand that IL shall be done as the con
stitution requires, that each county shall be
representa- according TO its population and
not according to its politics. We ask the help
ofevery honest man to achieve this just and
proper result.
resentation is based upon population the viii
OF the people will predominant IN the legisla-
ton, in accordance with the American or rep
resentative idea of governments But when
representation is not based upon population,
but is adjusted arbitrarily, with view To pc.
f cease OF to o'ner haVe the ~ bower bower
the minority come into control
as in the last legislature, ana as IN the preseni
congress, in which the minority party OF this
state has nine representatives, and the major
lty but four.
EVILS OF UNEQUAL REPRESENTATION.
May illustrate the possible evils of unequal
representation? Were 10 to happen that leg
fslature should be chosen strongly in favor o.
a prohibltory liquor law, and, under the i'm
pulse OF its passions or its convictions, should
enact such alaw, you would say, being opposed
10 M. Very we'll we will go before the people
i'm this matter; and they will select men who
will repea, the act next year. We VIII nave
saws To- YOU no such appeal shall be taken; we
Will redistrict the state, and we Will disreg ARD
the constitutional requirements OF equality
work twice much representation as u
counties opposed to il. Where, then
Is y y,snt oP the peopHe to govern
On the contrary, suppose such Legislature y
be opposed to any and all restraints upon IN
wholly free without supervision or license
and that ITS enactments are In that spirit
Fearing your appeal to all the people agalns
snch nolicv. and 10 defeat IL, the legislature re
districts the state and gives double or trebl
representation to counties that iav9r It's POI
lev and thereby an equal chance
taken from you in the contest; indeed
the chances made hard against you
I,ut is that not lust as fair as for a republican
legislature TO give its counties double repre-
sentation? -. -
Equality of representation, ana aiIect re
sponslbilfty Of the representative are the PEG
niles guaranty and assurance OF honest, con
servaiive and good legislation.
A party is unworthy the support OF an non