The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-20
THE LATE LEGISLATURE.
Review of Its Ubiquitous Proceedings by
Hon. w. ID. Foulke.

State Senator William Dudley Foulke, OF Rich
mond, in response to invitation, addressed
the Young Mems Republican Club, last night, at
their rooms in the Bates block. The room was
well filed, and the eloquent Senator delivered a
characteristic address, Astounding in instructive
political history, impartial review OF the
records of the two parties, and the deduction OF
logical and forcibe conclusions which none can
eontrovert. Mr.. Foulke given a most fat
tering reception by the club, and in turn enter
tanned his audience with one Of the most enter
tanning speeches in the history of the organiza-
ton.
After few preliminaries. the speaker
said he had come TO talk specially of the late
lainented Legislature, beginning with "Another
stone has been added TO the monument of
Democratic folly which has been building for
the past twenty-five years, and which is des-
tined to surpass the famous tower of Babel.
Whenever there has been an opportunity to Sc
cure favor with the people, the Democrats have
invariably Numbered and lost any advantage
that favorable circumstances have thrown in
their way A so-caled tidal wave has swept
over the country, resulting in general victory
for the Democratic party, and history does not
chronicle an occasion so froueht with oppOr-
tunities the present winter. And if ever the
party has made fool of itself, and neglected
TO take advantage of its position, the
Democratic majority of the late General As
sempy has been pre-eminentlv successful in
doing Az result there will be marked
revolution among the people of this State.
little Democratic legislation goes good wav,
and one session of Democratic Legislature will
snffice for many years TO come
"By conservative. straightforward policy,
their political supremacy could have been
secured for an indefinite period, bnt for a few
petty spoils OF office they have DESTROYED the
confidence of the people and have brou ght upon
them the condemnation IT the best members OF
their party. Before the last Senate
had become fairly organized the cloven foot ap
peared in the Introduction by Jason B. Brown
of Senate bill No. l, an act for
reforming the organization of the benevolent
institutions OF the State By it the power of
oppntnting their officers was transferred from
the Governor to the Legislature, in order TO
secure for party hangers-on. without regard TO
qualifications, the management of those institu
lions which, from their nature, should he very
near the hearts of the people. and should have
the most careful and judicious management.
This was act No. l. The second Infamous act
was the House of Refuge bin, where loyal
soldier and most competent official was turned
out OF office, and OF which the Governor, in his
veto message, said: "I am unwilling to be
party TO an act which does such injustice 10 one
rho merits nothing hut the most GENEROUS treat
ment hands" Then followed the
abolIshing of the Soldiers Orphans Home at
Knghtstown, Institution provided for the
care of helpless children whose fathers died in
defense Of their country. Aud last was the IN
famous metropolitan nelice hlli, where the right
Of local setf-gOvernmeut is denied the people of
two cities in order to find fat berths for Demo-
cratic nartisans Why il is perfectly mOnstrOus
that the Democrats could he stupidity blind
as to forever blight and DESTROY their prnsneets
IN this State In order to gain few petty offices,
which. compared with the sacrifice, are of little
or no consequence"
Mr.. Foulke then spoke of many little acts of
the majority of the Legislature, which
showed their animus TO be the
securing Of spoils, and that thew were actua:ed
by absolutely To other motive In the course of
his address the records of the two parties in ma
tional matters were compared, and the Demo-
Gratis were shown to have invariably onnosed
the Republicans in every important measure
and after they had become accomplished facts
they would indorse in their platforms the meas
> ures and principles which they had vigorously
opposed. The entire speech full of the most
Instructive and convincing argument. and was
most happy effort. At its conclusion Mr. Fouke
was rendered a vote Of thanks, and the secretary
a - Sf5iifT hta of the acTion in writing
Hon. Stanton ]. Peelle was interested list
ener and when Mr.. Foulke had finished, he was
called upon to address the club, Mr.. Peelle
asked TO be eNcbsed because of the lateness of
the hour, aud said that he would he happy to
comply with the request some other time.