The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-04-30
WHY GRANT?


interviewing the Republicans of Indiana
as to their preferences for the next presi-
dency, the results of which appeared in the
Journal few days since, reads very much
like the sort of crop reports which the Chi
cago Times gathers from time to time from
the farmers of Illinois. Brief and wonder
fully monotonous-"corn good" wheat
looking WE'LL" ''oats fair" rye only
'medium"-and so on through column after
column, and covering several pages.
Thus was this wonderful Re-
publican interview. In answer to the
question as to who was preferable as the Re.
publican candidate for the next presidency,
it was Grant" SHERMAN" and one or two
others only. but the drift really was all one
way-'Grant," Grant, Grant, to the end
of column after column. The Journal was
for while opposed to Grant. but the indlca-
tons are that it is falling in line with all the
remainder of the party press. Even the Gin
cinnati Commercial is but making feeble OPP
position against the movement, and when the
proper time comes we have but little doubt
that it will report for duty, armed and equip
ped in Republican uniform for the contest.
There is one feature of this Grant move
ment, which 20 years ago would have caused
serious alarm among the American people.
1t is the glibness and ease which are used
by the Republicans in manifesting the desire
they have for Grant-the reasons why he is
preferred for the next presidency. They are
not those ordinarily given as qualifications
for that high Office. They say that they want
ston hon "a nf
body to rule the South, - "a strong govern
'ment." Newspapers like the Cincinnati
Commercial do not hesitate to say that
State lines ought to be rubbed
out. Illinois, Ohio and Indiana would
look as well on the map without State lines,
and so of all the States.
Why do not these statements create alarme
theory directly antsgonistic to the magnifi-
cent system which the fathers conceived as
the true one of our Government? The Gov
ernments of the old world had thoroughly
nauseated the founders of our system with
the idea of centralizing power around, and
in the person of any one soverelgn-put
tersely-as ''the one man power" Hence
| the desire to parcel it out; to divide 1t
| among the States and various branches of
the Government, that one portion
might have check upon the other, and vice
versa. In this way an extreme abuse of
power would be avoided. II this is true,
why, we repeat, does not the reason as given
| tor the nomination of Grant create alarm?
Because, in our opinion, the Republican
party has so debauched large portion of
| the public conscience thatit has forgotten the
old teachings. That party has never had any
pure sympathy with that form of our Gov
eminent as understood by the fathers. Ithas
ever been disturbing element in our national
politics. 1t has done little else than create
revolution, and force upturnIngs of the old
theories and forms, ever since its first ap.
pearance In tho political arena.
/. We are glad, however, to record that the
party has always been minority party. 1t
has never commanded . majority of the
votes of the people of the entire country.
Therefore its more baneful theories and
herssiss have been held In check and are to
a certain extent harmless.
Grant can be beaten easily. This design of
| the Republican leaders to place him in
power with the avowed purpose of ruling
any particular sectioa with "a hand of iron, I"
or IAN arm of STEEL" must be thoroughly
unmasked and ventilated. This policy of
ruling any particular section at all by a
president ought to prove startling with its
very statement. All the teachings OF the
constitution and the traditions of the coun
try are sntsgonistic to the theory. while all
the teachings of monarchical and despotic
Governments drift In that direction. 1t is