Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-12-12
IN INDIANA MIDDLE.

Inc Indiana Republican committee has
made a mistake. At least so it is regarded
by the members of the party at large. The
committee has called the State convention
for the nomination of commonwealth officers
for the 25th of February next. The election
will be held in October, little over seven
months after the nominations, but an 1880 is
the Presidential year the effect will be to pro-
long the campaign to about eight and half
months. 1t is easy to see that it will be i'm
possible to maintain the interest in political
affairs for that length of time, and as con-
sequence the party will lose decided ground.
So serious has this objection to long CAM
paign been regarded that many leading Re-
publicans at Washington have united in q
protest, which has been sent to the members
of the committee, asking that the action al
ready taken be rescinded. The professionals
make the following points:
First-It is very inexpedient and hazardous
to invite a nine months Presidential campaign
in any state, particularly in Indiana.
Second-That in Indiana, which is claimed
by the Democrats as naturally belonging to
them, great deal OF discretion should be ex-
ercised, and every possible means should be
resorted to by the Republicans to secure sue.
cess.
Third-That it is not yet known what the ma
tional issue will be, and that, after February
25-the day the State convention has been
called-these issues, by proceedings in Con-
gress or elsewhere, may be entirely changed, in
which case the Indiana candidates and plat
form might not be in accord with the national
situation.
Fourth-That there is q local election in In
diana in April, which, it is expected, may re-
alton, and that if the Republican convention
Is held in February even these local State is.
sues will not be known. Besides, it will not
be possible for the Republican party in In
diana, or in the nation, to withstand the strain
or undergo the expense necessarily incident to
Presidential campai gn niue months in dura'
ton.
We are surprised OF the lack of judgment
shown by the committee. It is not often
that the Republicans are lacking so greatly
in discretion, for the fault of laundering is
more generally chargeable to the Democrats.
But the mischief has already been done,
and cannot be repaired at this late day, for
the aspirants for the various positions have
already taken the field, and could not
bs driven from it even if the date
of holding the convention should now
be postponed for six months. They have
each made their "points," and would be
fearful of losing whatever advantage they
may have gained by quitting work. The
result is inevitable: The people will be
compelled to be bored by the opportunities
of the politicians for nearly nine months,
end in resentment will flock by thousands to
the standard of the party which ma kes a
short but vigorous campaign. ..
The prospects of Democratic SUCCESS in
Indiana next year we're never better. Opin-
ions agree that there has been no radical
change during the past two years; that the
Democratic State administration has been
eminently satisfactory; that economy has
been practiced in every department.; that
the officials have been honest and faithful to
their trusts and merit continuance of pub
lie favor. The Democratic Senators and
Representatives in Congress have performed
their duties with ability and fidelity, and are
universally respected. All branches of the
government have shown visible improve
ment under Democratic rule, and there is, as
a result, increased confidence in the SINGER
ity of the promises Of the party, and dis
position to retain it's representatives in
power. There need be no fears, therefore,
that the Democratic party will be defeated
in the pending elections, and the Republi-
can blunder referred to of calling the State
convention at an extraordinarily early date
has increased the chances of the party of
the people.