The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-08-07

my mpatn1e5 on PUBIC ISSUES dL tLhI blIuc
were substantially with the south must of
course be taken in the light of the issues pre-
sented at that time, and not afterward. The
Crittenden compromise was then the most
prominent issue presented. A peace con-
gress had been called, or was in
contemplation. The representative men
of both factions earnestly desired
and il was my understanding then that a
large majority of southern people were in
favor of it. On the other hand, there was a
class Of extreme men in the north, headed
by such men as Chandler, of Michigan, who
were loudly asserting their desire for blood
letting. As between this latter class and
compromise preserving the Union, and Sc
curing to all the states their existing rights
under the constitution, my sympathies were
certainly in favor of the latter proposition.
But what sense or fairness is there in trying
a mans fitness for the confidence of the peo-
pie at this time on the issues before the war?
Suppose were to do so. Suppose | were to
go housing through the sayings of public
men eighteen or twenty years ago. DIscov-
cries could be made by me as well as by 9th
ers. believe it is understood that Judge
Martindale is a candidate for the senate; yet
the paper which he controls was at the very
date of the Shoup letter disunion paper
Day after day, as everybody remembers, 1t
announced that the Union might be broken
up without resistance on the part of the
north; that the southern states might sscede
in peace; that a line of separation might be
drawn across the face of the country with
its consent. This was simply treason to the
Union, as far as treason can exist in mems
words. 1t may be answered that the pro-
prietors and editors of the Journal have
changed since then, but it was the organ OF
the same party it speaks for now. 1t was
controlled and edited, 1 believe, by the Hon.
]. d. Defrees and Mr.. Benjamin Sulgrove,
one at this time a republican Office holder at
Washington, and the other still a writer for
the Journal know of no republican con-
vention which has repudiated the treason
of the Journal in 1860 and 1861. The New
York Tribune, then and now the great organ
of the republican party, boldly announced
similar sentiments of disunion. / am re-
liably informed that the republican state
central committee of Indiana Is now
engaged in aiding the circulation Of that
paper as a campaign document in the pres
emit canvass. Its sins are all overlooked
and its treason forgiven without re-
pentance. The Cincinnati Commercial &C.
cupied substantially the same ground as the
Tribune and Journal and hundreds of men
from the south who labored to stem the tide
of disunlon before the rebellion broke out
have since assured me that such newspaper
articles as these organs contained did more
q
belief that they could establish a separate
government without bloodshed than all the
efforts of Yancy, Slidell and other extreme
men of that section put together. 1t is a
well known fact of history, too, that Chase,
Stanton, Holton and many others were in
full accord with the views contained in the
papers mentioned. Ii seems to me that the
Indianapolis Journal and the leaders OF the
epublIcan party had better cleanse their
own political regulations before assailing
mine. The truth is, that when the in
evitable struggle growing out of the
institution of slavery became immediate
and imminent, the wisest and best
minds of both parties were blinded
by the magnitude of the issue and were
guided substantially by their previous edu-
cation and training. Some, while holding
that slavery was a monstrous perversiOn OF
natural rights, had their faith still so strong
ly grounded in the compromises of the con-
stitutiOn that they were willing to make the
greatest sacrifices rather than resort to the
sword. am not disposed to assail the liv-
ing or the memory of the dead on this ques-
ton. L would rather ascribe patriotic mo-
tives TO all in the light of the events that
clam for myself, and l willingly concede il
to Others
"What do you think will be the result of
"Well, have not the slightest doubt that
the people of Indiana, without regard to
party, are with me by an overwhelming ma
iority. And Ibelieye, further, that the dem
ocratlc state ticket will be elected by the
largest majority given by either party within
twenty years"
'How about the legislature, SENATOR"
"Of course l am not blind to the fact that
by reason of a wicked and criminal appor-
If ha cfako ha o-kxy
has large advantages in regard to the legisls-
ture; but at the same time am confident of
of democratic majority in both houses
The truth is, the republicans are offering
nothing 70 the people. The republican plat
form contains nothing which meets the
popular desire. On the other hand the
democratic platform contains, especially on
the financial question, what two thirds of
the voters of Indiana would indorse il that
issue were directly submitted without the
influence of party bias. Our people are an
intelligent, reading and thinking people
they know what they want, and they will
find out practical methods of obtaining it.
What do you think of the nationals and
greenbackers?'
They have a great deal OF strength in the
state and as a general thing are sincere,
honest and intelligent men. While, per-
haps, a few OF their leaders ore governed by
motives of political ambition, as is the case
in all parties, the great mass of the organl-
ration is made up of independent, unselfish
persons Like all pioneer movements, it
embraces some speculative minds who are
100 far, but in the main their tendency is in
favor of much needed financial reform. |
do not apprehend injury to the democratic
party on account OF their votes, Those who
are sincerely acting to accomplish great ends
must necessarily see that at this time in In
diana they can not do so through their own
organization. They also see that the demo-
cratic party stands pledged in its platform to
carry out the substance of their principles,
and in my opinion their votes will not be
thrown away, but will be cast where they
will produce substantial results"