The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-25
DEMOCRACY OFFICIALLY ILLUSTRATED

people propose to do about it.
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DEMOCRACY OFFICIALLY ILLUSTRATED.
Never was Democratic hypocrisy better
illustrated than in Mondays proceedings in
the lower house of the Legislature. If De-
mocracy is anything now it is the sworn
friend of the soldier Is not Senator Voor-
hees the great Soldiers Friend, so named by
the Democratic State convention? True,
there was some doubt from 1861 to 1865 as to
just what soldier was the favorite of the
Democratic party-wbether he who fought
for the Union or he who sought to dismem-
Der it. But for a few years last past the
great Democratic party has asserted itself to
be the pronounced friend of the Federal sol
der and having said SO in its numerous plat
forms of principles has seemed anxious to be
believed Butin this direction, as in all others,
Democracy bellies its professions. Under the
thin glazing of patriotism the same old feel
ing of dissatisfaction over the results of the
war is cherished, and 1t needs but slight
scratch to reveal it, This scratch
was given by Mr.. Copeland, repre-
sentative from Jefferson county. Arguing
in favor of Mr.. Wilson's resolution that the
muster rolls Of the Indiana soldiery be put
in shape for preservation. he was interrupted
by Mr.. Heffren who asked whether GER
tain prominent Republican was not men,
Der of the Sons of Liberty organization. The
question was answered emphatically in the
negative and with proper spirit of indigna-
ton, when Mr. Patton, a Democrat, ex-
pressed regret that Mr.. Copeland should
make a partisan fight" on this measure.
Now, the latter had made no reference what
ever to the Democrats party or to any men,
Der of it, except to denounce in unmeasured
terms the raider, John Morgan, and the
treason of the Knights of the Golden Circle
and Sons of Liberty. who proposed to turn
loose the rebel prisoners in Camp Norton
assassinate the Governor of the State,
and inaugurate war in the streets of Indi-
annapolis. 1t was this that excited Mr.. Pat
toms ire and which he de-
nounced as partisan" Has it come
to this, that a temporary Democratic sue
cess tears off the mask of the party? 1t
would seem so, for week has not passed
since Mr.. Heffren, from his place in the Leg
islature admitted his alliance with treason
able organization during the war, and de-
family demanded: "What are you going to
do about it?" According to his own sworn
testimony, this Democratic leader was one of
ten conspirators selected to "take care of
Governor Norton and now, in 1888, he has
the effrontery to proclaim it without hesta-
ton, absolutely to boast of it, as if it were
something to be proud Of In the same spirit
ry of John Morgan and the Knights of the
Golden Circle and the Sons of Liberty These
are the kind of men the Democratic party
elect as legislators, and these are undoubted-
ly opponents of Democratic doctrines in their
purity These friends of the soldier (sic) are
not ashamed to confess the one that
he was a Son of Liberty, and the
other that to denounce treason and
the Morgan raid is partisan" and
as such must not be INDUCED in by Republi-
cans except at the peril of Democratic retort.
If there is any other Interpretation OF Mr.
Patton's position it is not apparent. and the
revelation Of this substratum of Democratic
perfidy and hypocrisy is so perfectly in keep
ing with the history of that party that it is
cause of surprise to nobody who knows what
Democracy really is. The party that can
send defiant and unrepentant member of
the Sons of Liberty and defender of the
good name of John Morgan 10 the Legisla-
ture of Indiana, where they hout their old
time dsloyalty in the faces of the people,
will not have to wait long to receive an I'M
mistaltable answer to their impudent and
insulting What are you going to do about
itP' te .