National Republican., 1880-06-18
The PROSPECT IN INDIANA.
Politics and Politicians-Who Can Succeed
Morton-rhe Democratic State Ticket-A
Newspaper Revolt.


Newspaper Revolt.
[Erom an Occasional Corrcspondent.l
INDIANAPOLIS, June 13, 1880
The condition of tho state of Indiana, politi.
cally, is one about which the well-iuformed
disagree. Since Morton died we have ha d no
leader, no "boss" Morton had all the excel.
lences of the first, with some Of the tadical de.
fects Of the second. He organized, solidifed,
inspired and conducted the party to victory
often under the most discoumging circum-
stances. Therein was his genius. He was great
American political leader of the aftor-war type
Statesman he was not. No one who under
stands in what true craftsmanship consists
will make such claim for him. He died and
left the party without leader and demoral.
lied by his loss. In a limited sense Indiana
was in the condition of the Alexandrian en-
pire after Alexander's death; every captain
aimed to succeed to the vacant post of impera-
tor. None was fitted to fill the place. Nor.
t on had crushed out individuality. One after
another he smote down ambitious and capable
aspirants for political recognition and honor.
| He raised in their place able "henchmen." :"
He did the thinking, they the work. There
fore, when his death came to him. chaos, dis
Indignation, intestine warfare and struggle
for place came to the party as matter OF
course.
To-day we are looking for a man to come to
tho front who has the capacity, the organizing
power and tho personal magnetism which will
attract, solidify and hold the scattered ele-
ments of the republican masses, and with the
force Of supreme will lead on to victory.
We have several who have the political
shrewdness and adgoitncss to perform admir-.
ably a part of this work. Orth and John
Browne are representative men of this class
Browne representing the southern portion oi
the state and Orth the north and middle
! Streight is an excellent organizer, has plenty
of political ambition and niouey-and not
much else. Generals Gresham aud Harrison
are big-brained men, far more capable and able
than the others, but they lack the essentials
of political success. Gresham is a jnrst, was II
good general and is an honorable man. think
he ia best where he is-a United States district
judge.
Ben Harrison issuperior to all the others in
pure intellect, but he is unfortunate in his
manner. lie is the great grandson Of a Vr.
ginia governor and sgner of the declaration
Of independence aud the grandson of presi
dent. This would not hurt him If he did moi
wear his ancestory about him as cloak. He
is as deopy imbued with this paltrY pride a.
tho Adamses and as much Of an iceberg as old
&C. F" himself Personally he ia gentleman
of spotless character of bllity and dig
nifty combined, and in the small coterio of per,
sonal friends he unbends yer agrecably. His
intellectual ability is of high order. His
political speeches arc either es says or special
pleas, ana as an orator he unsucceslully simu
latos an enthusiasm which is not in his blood
Yet, with these disquall1cations, we would be
! glad to sec him the "biQ man" in Indiana, fol
ho is honest, conservative, positive and just
There is an element In our state polite.
which has du ring the last few years operated
to tho injury Of the republican party.
refer to tho national labor greenback faction
II takes off more republicans than democrats,
and pollel its highest vote at the last election
"A little more than $4,000, Whenever the
two parti es alone have been contestants the
republicans have won. Tho democrats have
had majority but once since 1862 The
present gubernatorial candidate Of the dcmoc
racy is combination of tho political desertei
aud advonturer. He Is an Ishmaelito Colonel
| Gray is the nominee for rlieutenant.goyernor II
recrcant republican aud hard-money man
while Lauders is grceubacker, who refused
to vote for Kerr for speaker Of the national
house of representatives. The platform was
worded to suit English and Mcdonald, and tC