The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-04
An Urgent Appeal for the Cessation of
Faction Fights What the Party
Has Done and Proposes To Do.
Views of Prominent Indianians on
the Work of the Administration.
The Presidents Course Warmly Com.
mended by Politicians and Educa-
tors-Views of the Ex-Delegates.
THE UNION LEAGUE.
An Address to the People the Political
Situation

Situation.
New YORK, Aug. 3.-The National Union
League has issued the subjoined address to
the people of the country:
"Enterihg, as the Republican party has soon
to do in many of the States of the Union, upon
political campaigns, fraught with mighty conse-
queDces as affecting the future OF the country,
IL Is the hope of the national council of the Union
League that the spirit of dissensi0n and bitter
ness which has been rife In sections of the
Union during the past few years, may die away
and be forgotten.
"There is no section OF the Republican party
whose advent to'power in the States and the ma
ton would be as disastrous to the best interests
OF the country would that of the Democratic
party. There Is no shade of opinion held by any
respectable number OF Republicans in the United
States that does not breathe the spirit of liberty,
of progress, and of good government In fuller
and better sense than the best utterance, the
best inspiration, and the best sentiment of the
Demooratic party of to-day. Paramount to all
considerations OF personal Acknowledgement, or
the advancement of factions, is the demand the
country makes upon the Republican party TO see
TO 1t that the reins of government be not wrested
from its hands.
Therefore it is that, reiterating the utter
ances OF our constituents, we appeal to the Re-
publ1cans OF the country that factions cease
among them, that the potent voice Of the people
speak TO the waves OF dscOrd every where, and
command them TO be still We utter no word of
elimination against onr brethren of any phase of
political sentiment. We neither discuss nor de-
eide any question that has been one of difference
between u.s. We look upon them ALL whether
aiming at personal preferment or representing
diversity OF political views, as lmmaterlal and
unimp0rtant when weighed i'll the balance
against the consequences of Democratic ascend
eney.
at would be thrice-toId tale to re-state the
political errors, failures, blunders and crimes OF
the Democratic party. 1t brought the govern
Its last administration. 1t promulgated and fos-
tered, through the great body of its adherents,
the fatal doctrine of State sovereignty and the
right Of secession, and that portion of the party
which did iOil in the omen euDnOrt of this
heresy did not raise its voice to rebuke it,
lowing to the unpatrtotic and criminal mall
administration of the Democracy, the Republi-
can party found a shattered and wrecked union;
a cOnstit ution defed and despised in eleven of
the States; hostile armies arrayed against the
life OF the nation upon the soil of the common
wealth. The Democratic party had dabauched
public sentiment; 1t had made patriotism dis
reputable in q large portion of the country; the
pnblie-Sreait was ruined, the industries Of the
country c1taiyzed, the flag OF the nation de-
spised ABROAD and degraded and powerless at
home. The Democratic party had proclaimed it.
self the champion OF slavery, and declared that
that blghtiIg and m0nstrous institution should
go into all the free territories of the country aud
1t ostracised the members of its own party who
raised up their voices in opposition TO these
dOgmas
''Wepoint to this record only to add that dur
ing the past quarter of a century, nOtwithstand-
ing that each one of these pernicious doctrines
has been overthrow, either on the battlefield,
in the legislative halls of the county, or by the
greater tribunal, the voice of a free people, no
where has the Democratic party apOlOgized for
or retracted any of its opinions upon these great
questions The Democratic party was directly
responsible for civil war, ana tor the blood Of
more than quarter of million of the best
citizens of the Republic: it placed upon the
nation the fearful burden of great debt, and
steadily strove to bring about Substantial repu-
diation of the obligation of the government to
pay it; its demand now to be put in charge of
the government implies that it will come into
power proud of its record, apologIZing for moth
ing, repudiating nothing.
sit is enough to say OF the Republican party
that 1t has made powerless for harm every prin-
ciple Lhat the Democratic party has advocated
during the past quarter of century. 1t has
stood in the gateway of power, with drawn
sword In its hands, beating back the aggressive
forces OF Democracy, and shielding the nation
from the baleful inf lences of the vicious prnci-
pies of Its opponents; it has restored national
iby; IL has reeducated public opinion; 1t has re-
established loyalty; it has made liberty univer-
sal and eternal it has oblterated all distinc-
tions from among before the laws of the
United States; it has lifted up the down-trodden;
it has encouraged the weak: 1t has rebuilt the
waste places of the nation IL has spread abroad
prosperity like mighty canopy.
"Under the benign influence of the teaehings
and administration of the Republican party,
material growth has come to us, such as no other
nation ever experienced on earth; we have grown
mighty in population; VIC aave grown mighty
in wealth; we have grown mighty in education
in intelligence, in virtue and Christian civiliza-
tiOn; our former circumscribed commonwealth
has spread itself out to the very waters of the
and enterprise has peopled every foot of soil over
which the American flag has jurisdiction, add
lug farms, villages cities ana States to the
terial strength of the country.
"The history of the Republican party is all
brilliantly studded with the gems of righteous
government; it has punished misconduct in its
own ranks; it has demanded fatnfulness to the
country; it has restored the credit of the nation
until 1t stands higher than that OF any other on
the earth; 1t has discharged Its sacred obligation
$50 bind up the nations wounds, to care for
him who has borne the battle, and FOR his
widow and his orphan" it has lifted the old
flag to place Ofhigher dignity and grandeur in
the great galaxy of the nations.
"The Republican party has not hestated to
remedy its own mistakes: it has not been blind
to its own errOrs;' 1t has not been cowardly; it
has never lodged behind devices for temporary
effect; il has always met the great, diversified
and growing questions OF the day and hour in
the spirit that brought IL into exstence it has
settled every question by the touohstone of its
own birthright-liberty, justice, freedom and
equality.
1.-THE Republican party stands to-day the
champion and protector of free ballot and pure
elections, and demands the security by law Of
the right of every man TO vote in accordance
with his own convictions. The Democratic party
has been and is the polluter of the ballot-box,
the enemy of free elections, and the promoter OF
dishonest election returns.
"Under the administration of the Republican
party America has opened wide her doors, and
the down-trodden and oppressed of other coun-
tries have come here TO seek an asylum and pro,
tection from tyranny aud poverty abroad; 1t has
restored the civil service of the country to tue
plane OF honesty, capability and faithfulness
from W hioh it was degraded by Democratic Gu
pdty; 1t has fostered education; 1t has protected
the labor of the country.
"By its legislative enactments and by the pro-
tests of Its conventions and the grand inteli-
gence of It's press the Republican party has
stood for years and IL stands to-day, as wall OF
fire against the determined assaults of the
Democratic party upon the industries Of the
country, with its perniciOus heresy of tariff for
revenue only, that dogma which, wherever II
the interests OF free labor. The Republican
party ia the only shield to-day that protects the
industries, the educated the inteliigent masses
of American lsborers from the hlighting in fuenoe
OF the cheap labor and degraded habits OF the
pauper millions of foreign lands.
"On this one great issue the Republican party