The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-03-29
TIE SOAP CAMPAIGN.
A Republican Tenders Unto Stephen the
Things That are stephens.
/ ~ ~.

Things That are stephens.
IT, the Editor of the Washington Post:
SIR-It is proper to give even ''the devil
his due" and an exalted virtue to do JUS
, tice though the heavens fall" and am sure
the Post is independent enough tn do it.
The devil sometimes gets his due-from
Bob Ingersoll-snd, though justice is some
times done, the heavens are still above us.
IL is not, therefore, with any fear OF dire
consequences 10 the Nation that propose to
recall the attention of the reading public to
the fact that at the close of the campaign of
October, 1880, the Presidential election of
that year was practically foughs and won by
Garfield and Arthur as well as to the fur
ther fact that Stephen W. Dorsey was accred
tied with having done il with his little
hatchet," or words TO that effect. To his
wonderful executive and organizing ability
and indomitable energy the success that
attended the Republican cause was largely
due, especially and peculiarly in Indiana.
Has not the President OF the United States
said rs much? And was il not on the lips of
every one Tor months after the result was
achieved 1t is now, however, the fashion
to belltile those services and to give all the
credit 10 the local organization" to Porter,
Harrison. New, Dudley. ct al. Some anony-
nous scribbler in the Lying and venar'
New York Times inSinuates that the Demo
,Tats OF the HOosier State were beaten with
/
amount of money that has heretofore,been
thought and said 10 have been spent there
and that much of the liberal contributions
Of the friends of the cause in the East was
converted to personal uses.
Such charges are the merest boSh. lt cost
the Republicans not less than 100000 TO
carry Indiana, and almost all of this vast
sum was disbursed toy Stephen w. Dorsey.
That it was faithfully employed and put
where it would do the most good, the result
attests.
More than this, when Stephen w. Dorsey
appeared upon the scene there was q woeful
lscS OF harmony in the ranks OF the Repub-
lcins. Not only were big guns" turned
against each other not only was New down
on Harrison. and Dudley down on New, and
| The devel ia Ily generally at Indianapolis.
but ali over The State the little guns were
popping away at. each other and bedlan;
reigned.
Dorsey appeared speaking the voice of the
National Committee, aided by the crafti-
ness OF Gorham and the skilled labor" ot
FIlley, and backed by the Golfers of Wall
only an occasional outburst from some Ia
triot who, unwilling to be coaxed, had to DC
sat down on.
To anyone who knows anything of Indi-
ana politics it is needless to point out what
Herculean feat he accomplished. The
| greedy cormOrants who ran the machine
could have absorbed treble the amount and
still cried for more. But the real work was
in quietjug the ciamor of locSl fac
tiOns, satisfying the greed of local anu
! frequently conflicting COmuiitiees, and
/ bringing the discordant elements of party
without leader 10 present an unbrokes.
front to the enemy. 1t was WORK riial
l Porter and Harrison, the one candidate huI
| Governor, the other for the Senate, NIGH
have labOred until doomsday and nOE &c
cOmplished. New, with his newspaper anc
| Committee, and Dudley, with his Marshall
office, would have worse confOunded the sit
uation. 1t was Dorsey and his able assist
ants from abroad and the liberal application
| OF what President Arthur declined TO name
that restored harmony and procured the
votes that made Garfield President.
All this is notorious and uncontroverta
Bile and was admitted by everyone for six
months after the election. Whatever glory
| there may be in the achievement, therefore
let it ~ 10 him who won it. If it was dis
reputable let his be the shame, and If other
wise let his be the glory. And whether i
was good or bad those who have proited by
il should not at this late day seek to Islander
the unrewarded leader in that fierce Octo
Der battle. NINDEX.
Washington, March IL.