The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-03-09
Some sound Words.

Colonel John W. Forney in Progress Feb. OIL
Twenty years ago this very day Abraham
Lincoln raised the flag of the Union before
Independence Hall in the city OF Philadel-
phia and the next morning unexpectedly
appeared in the city of Washington at the
moment when his personal safety was be-
lieved 70 be endangered ny the conspiracy
which little more than four years after
ward cost him his life at the National Capt.
tai, on the night of the 18th OF April, 1863.
Ii is now announced that James A. Garfield,
another President, will take up his resi-
dence IN the city OF Washington on the I'd
OF March 10 complete the formation
Of his Cabinet; was Clerk Of
Tn United States in $50 and " is siis
and while seated in my office adjoining the
great Hall of the House, on the 2;Id OF Febru-
AIRY, 1861. William III. Seward. the new Sec
rotary OF State, came in with a tall dark
complexiOned man whom he presented to
me as Abraham Lincoln. Ii was the first
time | had ever seen that remarkable char
acter. The country was rapidly drifting TO
the Civil War, which soon after broke over
the land i'm blood and fire. | had not voted
for Abraham Lincoln for President in the
previous November election of 1860 Ny
ardent choice, like that of hundreds of thou
sands of others. was Stephen A. Douglas.
The anxiety of the new President To secure
the support OF the patriotic Democrats for
his policy was uncOncealed. The Republic
an party was in a great minority; the
vote for Lincoln in 1850 was ,s57 ,6l9,
the vote for Douglas, l,365,97G, the
vote for Breckenridge, Si7 ,955; the vote for
John Bell, sos. 63l. from which it will be
seen that more than two millions and a half
voted square against the Republican candi-
date for President twenty years
ago-in all 2,7l4.5G0. From these figures it
will be found that. Notwithstanding the ad-
dition of over million of colored votes by
the emancipation of the slaves. the Repub-
lican party in the last November election
was defeated i'm the popular vote. securing a
small majority OF the Electoral College by
the employment of more than hundred
thousand oflice-hOlders, the combination OF
a vast money plutocracy, and the direct in
timidation of hundrcdsof thousands of poor
working people. The next Congress itself
is hardly in sympathy with these partially
successful influences, the House virtually
hostile and the Senate absolutely so. What
a condition the party that claims the Gov
eminent under such factional and accidental
circumstances occupies to-day is readily
realized in the divisions apparent in most of
the great States in the Union. My old
friend, Don Piatt, of the Washington Capt.
tai. refers 10 the anomalous organization of
Congress at the present time aud pre-
the Senate Of the United States
has eliminated into "a club of
rich men," including those who bought
their places and others bought after They
had been duly elected. lie refers TO ''Scna-
torial chairs knocked down to the highest
bidder, and says 1.-THE whole Senate is made
mp of monopolized wealth, with few excep-
tiOns;r and then he goes on to show that
the iron interest keeps heavy lobby at
Washington in session, and openly assesses
the various corporations and firms to create
its corruption fund, and adds:
All interests benefited, or supposed to be
benefited by protection, keep mp their lobby.
The railroad corporations, more thoroughly or
canized have their lobby made up mainly of
members themselves, aud are or.hand at all hours
watching and shaping legislation. The system of
dead head passes by which every member Of the
House and senate WITH his family ard retainers.
travel free Of charge facilitates corruption. Your
ave age Congressman Il n cheap John, and such
privileges a. this Is quite enough TO shut his
mouth and control his vote.
The National Banks have their stockholders