The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-02-11
DEMOCRATIC DOCTRINE.
The Speech of Hon. John E. Nef Deliv-
cred Before the Hendricks Club
Wednesday Evening.
An Excellent Review of the Public oues-
tions at Issue in the Com
ing Campaign.

and return to you my thanks for the honor
been so far attended with flattering success,
and promises to be one OF greSt usefulness in
The efficscy OF an early and thorough organ
ization in political campaigns can
not be overesumated, and ex-
have taken to perfect an organization. win b.
followed by the young Democrats throughout
the state. The political campaign that we are
soon to enter is to be one OF unusual bitter
ness unequaled, perhaps, by any that mas
occurred IN our past political history ana IN
to be-the battle ground. That our opponents
are making the most thorough preparations
for this contest is not be Questioned; they
are active and diligent and seem in
spired by the hope that they can
carry our State. We deceive ouSelyes II we
expect in the coming campaign to find the
Repu Olican party OF Indiana making the
despairing fight that they did two years ago;
we may eXpecf, in this campaign, upon tnelr
part, the active, aggressive and uncompromls-
ing contest of 1916, intensified by the knowl-
edge of the fact that upon the result in Indl-
ana, 10 a great measure, depends the result In
the presidential contest That we can defeat
them have no doubt That we Will do IL
confidently expect. That II can only be ac-
cOmplished o. thorough and efficient organ
ization is apparent, aud appeal IN confidence
to the young Democrats OF Indiana TO see that
this work is accomplished.
Gentlemen, in what shall say to you this
evening, in the discussion of some OF The
questions which / anticipate Will be al issue
the coming political contest, shall ende;tNOr
TO speak TO YOU in candor actuated by honest
voter TO have supported the Democratic party,
and while have always believed they were
right, know that upon the Questions mat
party and the Republican party in 1881 tnat
they are right. i am not one OF those who
arrogate to the party of which am member
all the political virtues, nor do believe in the
total depraVity morally and pOntlcally OF
those who NAV diner rom me in opinion.
Nor do l concur in the opinion. recently ex-
pressed by disttngui >hed Jurist OF TINS cOun-
try, that our republican institutions are rap
idly approaching their dissolution. nave
TOO much faith in the capacity OF our people TO
maintain free government, aud TOO nrTn a
belief in the honesty, intelligence and patriot
ism Of the masses OF both parties 10 entertain
this view. 1 have ardent hopes and grand
expectations ior the future OF on, our
in its perpetuity. While entertaining these
hopes and expressing this confidence, | am
not unnnindful of the fact that the life OF our
nation is menaced with grave dangers, and
that during the last few years serious blows
have been struck Al its pence and perpetulty.
The obstruction of the expression OF the VIII
OF the voter, through the ballot box, By the n
reference of Federal authority, and the
presence of an armed force at our elections;
the overaweiDg and dispensing OF the IeglsI,a-
ture of sovereign State, tn" uSurDatiOn OF the
highest Office in the Government by force ana
fraud, and the enactment OF laws tshdlnS 10
centralize all power in the general Gov
eminent, and comforting upon the
executive department OF the general Govern
ment extraordinary and unconstitutional an
thOrity, well calculated to arouse the most
serious apprehensi, ms ia the mi ads OF all who
consider thel true bearing and ultimate ten
deDcy. Tnese laws and the precedents estao-
lished by these acts are matters OF the most
be repealed aud these acts must be
condemned by the people through
OF truth and soberness when say that our re-
publican institutions can not again survive
the unlawful suoVertlng OF the VIII OF the
people in the selection OF their chiet ex-
ecutive, and we have but poorly learned the
lesson OF history If we have not learned
10 dread the influence OF standing
army upon the existence of liberty. Liberty
is near ats end in republican government
when once the bayonet throws us baDe-
the accumulation of power in the executive
branch OF the government may be justly pro-
nOuneed tyranny. In our history ss a nation
no question more serious in its character, a.
affecting the stability and peace OF the Gov
ernment and the rights OF citizens, has ever
presents Itself than the question OF centrallz
ing OF power in the general Government, the
abIidginent of the rights OF the states, ana
the comforting OF extraordinary power upon
eminent. This question Is not
new one IL Vas Pfe fSe whgm s our
the question inseparably connected with II
reaches far back In history. It has its foun-
themselves 1t was present in the contest be.
tween King John and his subjects, which re-
suited in the granting OF the great charter; itS
agitation cost one proud Stuart his lie and
another his throne. 1t has been present in
every struggle that has been made for the ights
of man, and every Time the decisions nave
Government: IL has MAJ ked an era in adVanco
ing civilization and improvement In the
science Of government.
At the close of the revolution. when the IL
independent colonies found the articles of
confederation inadeq uate for their govern
, ment as a nation, ana recognized the neceSs W
OF some more stable form OF government.
There was strong party. both IN numbers
and intellect WHO favored strong, central
lied government, comforting upon the exec
utIve branch extraordinary powers. For the
establish ment OF this kind OF government
r., Hamilton. 1. a
II provided Tor the election OF president
and Senate for life The appointments
by the president Of the Cover nOrS of States
who should hold their Office for life; intrust-
ing the president with the poGer Of c0nven-
property qualification TO the right TO vote
Happily for us, Mr.. Hamilt0n's plan of gov
eminent was not adopted, but our present
constitution, which, so fsr, has proved adequate
for our government a. ma ton, and III rightly
administered will be found sufficient for our
q; overnment as nation in the future: Upon
the party that had so Eealously advocated
Mr.. HanliltOn's theory of government COM
seemed TO them 10 be serious defects In our
constitution. shall not attempt to give you
the history OF this legislation. IL eliminated
finally N the enactment OF the alien ana sedi-
ton laws and so dangerous were these laws
tive branch of the Government, aud encroach-
ing upon the reserved rights OF the States-s0
centraliziDg-that they called forth from the
legislation OF two States resolutions protest.
ing against their enforcement: yet, in my
opinion, the alien and seditiOn laws
were no moIe centra king in their
tendencies than the prese1t enforcems act.
The law which provided for five yea i'm
prisOnment and 5000 fine fer cOnspirlHg to
oppose any measure OF Congress, ana provid-
Ing Cor an imprisonment OF two years and
fne of s2.00J Tor W -iting, speaking or publish
ing any false scandalous and malicious writ
ing or writings against the Government of the
United States, or either House of Congress, or
the president, was not dangerous to the
peace OF our country as the law which pro-
Yfdes for the appointment OF supervisors and
dePUty marshals to control oar congress- nal
elections.
No section OF the alien and sedition law was
as RUrtful TO personal liberty, hagrant a
violation OF the ri ehts OF the States as the COL
lowing sections OF the enforcement act:
ssThe marshal and his general deputies. aRa
such special deputies, shau keep the peace,
and support and protect the supervisors of
election in the discharge OF their duties. pre-
serve order at such pieces sof registration and
at such polls, prevent fraudulent registration
and fraudulent voting thereat, or fraudulent
conduct on the part of any officer Of election,
and Immediately. either at the place OF reg
istratiOn OF polling place, or elsewhere,
and either before or after reg
tstering voting. to arrest and