The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-02-28
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INDIANA DEMOCRACY.
SPEECH OF GOVERNOR HENDRICKS.
The Election Next Fall ImpOrtAnt-The LegIsla.
ture Must Elect United States Senator
Ho Reviews the Electoral Fraud


indianapolis, February 2O.-The Con-
vention was called to order at 1910 a. m.
by General Manson, retiring Chairman
ofthe State Central Committee, and call
of the counties was made by Rufus Nc
Gee of Logansport, retiring Secretary.
The full list responded. Colonel A. 7.
Whittesey of Vanderburg, Chairman Of
the Committee on Permanent 0rganiza-
ton, reported for Chairman of the Con-
vention, "the Vice President of the Uni
ted States, Governor Thomas A. Hen
dricks," which announcement was receiv-
ed with cheers. Then followed the name
ofJohn W. Kerr of Howard, for PrinCi-
pal Secretary, and the list of ViCe-Presi-
dents and Assistant Secretaries. The re-
port was accepted unanimously, and,
amid cheers, Governor Hendricks step.
ped upon the stage, and was introduced
by General Manson. His speech in ac-
ceptance pas as follows:
SPEECH OF GOV. HENDRICKS.
lam greatly honored in being called to
preside over your deliberations. l will
discharge the duties imposed upon me
impartially, and l call upon you by the
grave responsibilities that rest upon you
to aid me preserving order and deCorum
and the right conduct of the business of
the Convention,
You and l have stood by either in the
contests of the past, encouraged some-
times by success, but more frequently en-
countering the disasters Of defeat. But
always we haye stood together, relying,
without o doubt, upon the ultimate tri-
umphs of truth and right. No disCord or
jealousy has disturbed our ranks, Re-
spect and confence have everywhere
prevailed. None have sought to promote
personal ambition by exciting distrust
between the counties and sections of the
State. Union, harmony and conviction
of right gave us the brilliant victory Of
1876, which not only challenged the ad-
miration of the Democracy of the whole
country, but established Indiana as a
Democratic State.
The work to be done in 1873 is scarcely
less important. Not only is Democratic
supremacy to be maintained by the cleo
ton of the State ticket, but the Legisla.
ture must be secured. The fraudulent
and unconstitutional apportionment of
1873 must be substituted by an apportion-
ment of Legislative and Congressional
representation in the spirit of the Con-
stitution, giving the people of each coun-
ty and section OF the State an equal voice
in the enactment of the laws in proper
ton to population. We ask no more
than equality in representation; we should
accept nothing less.
Need remind you that Senator of
the United States is to be chosenP and,
need l add, that upon that choice may
depend the question whether the United
States shall be DemoCratic2 He who
now, without cause, shall SOW disCord and
excite jealousy in our ranks is not true
Democrat. From border to border and
from the river to the lake we will stand
in unbroken and unwavering ranks,w with
the fixed purpose that Indiana shall
stand among the strongest and frmest of
the Democratic States.
It is an agreeable and encouraging fact
that we enter the contest of this year
with no apologies or explanations to make
for the present or the late State Admins.
tration. The present head of State Ad-
ministration is gentleman of clear judg-
ment painstaking and thorough in his
investigations, and careful of all the in
terests of the State. Personally identif.
ed with the most important
interest of the people, he will diligently
promote its success by rigid economy in
expenditures, and by excluding all un-
worthy and unnecessary objects of public
favor. In his care for the public welfare
he receives the efficient support of the
several State officers
One ofthe Louisiana criminals has been
tried and convicted. The President and
Secretary John Sherman say he should
not have been tried. Why not? His
guilt and that of others is shown by the
verdict. 1t is of no ordinary crime he is
convicted. 1t is high crime against the
nation, and threatening the stability Of
free institutions. What are the relations
between the President and Secretary
Sherman and the accused that authorize
or permit an effort on their part to infu-
enCe judicial proceedings in State
CourtP After long and terrible con-
test, it was settled that State elections
and State Legislatures must be free from
military influence and control. So, also,
it must be understood that the President
and his Cabinet cannot directly or indi-
reCtly interfere with judicial proceedings
under State authority State Courts must
he wholly free and Independent of Fed.
eral control, except when the Constitu-
ton and laws give to the Federal JudiCi-
ary an appellate supervision. 1t is to be
regretted if the facts developed upon the
trial art Of such character as to create
anxiety on the part Of the President and
his Cabinet; but they cannot avoid the
effect upon the public mind of an exhi.
bition of that anxiety and of unseemly
denunciation of the State authorities.
While it is true that the title of Mr..
Hayes to the Office of President and Mr..
Wheeler to the Office of Vice President
has been settled under the solemn forms
of law, and while it is our duty, inmy
Judgment, to recognize the title, because
it is in the interest of the public stability
and tranquility to do 80, it is still none
the less true that an imperative duty de.
mands that fitting punishment should be
visited upon the public criminals through
whose AagitiOus crime that judgment was
obtained. Because a Judgment is final
and conclusive forms no reason why i'm.
munity should be secured to the criminal
through whose perjury it was obtained.
If this is true Of a simple property judg-
ment in Court of law, much more is it
true Of monstrous crime against the
elective sovereignty Of nation. The very
fact that it was successful furnishes the
strongest reason why the condign pun
ishment of it's perpetrators should cover
it with perpetual infamy, and manifest to