The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-19
THE DEMOCRATIC SPIRIT.

The Democratic party is the same enemy
to popular progress to-day that it ever has
been. Forgetting nothing and learning
nothing, it is a shoal in the tide of advance
ment, sand-bar in the current of history
Its attitude in Congress is hostile to every
vital interest of the Nation. The Republican
party, without a majority in the Senate anu
without working majority in the House, is
practically bound hand and foot by the Dem
ocrats. Pledged to tariff reform, the Repub-
licans have endeavored to secure legislation
whereby a wise reduction may be made. In
this, as in all efforts to effect reduc-
ton of taxation, the Democratic
members have stood in the way
While shouting loudly for civil-service re-
FORM they have dshonored the Pendleton
bill and opposed every possible practicable
step in that direction. Their insincerity is
manifest everywhere in all they do To
make political capital, business of an impera-
tive ma ture is delayed and postponed until
Democratic Congress can come in and have
it all its own way. If the present Congress
fails to effect reduction of taxation as de-
manded by the people, the blame will be
laid where it belongs. The Democratic party
of obstruction cannot escape its responsibility.
The same disposition to ignore the public
welfare IN the interest of presumed party
necessity is evinced in the Indiana
Legislature. From first to last the
aim OF the Democratic majority has been to
claim everything in sight. No precedent or
statute has been allowed to impede the grand
rush for spoils. In but one instance has the
Democratic party in Indiana kept its faith,
and that was with the liquor league. De-
spite all precedent to the contrary, the
pending amendments were incontinently
killed at the demand of the liquor allies of
the Democracy. The Democratic law regu-
lating the benevolent institutions, now
found to stand between Democratic aspi-
rants and few petty officers, is repealed at
the bidding of the spoilshungry, and these
State charities are TO be turned into cribs for
feeding party strikers. On Tuesday
the work of the Heffren House was COM
peted by the passage of the metropolitan
police bill, placing the care of the largest
cities of Indiana beyond the reach
of the people and in the hands of
a partisan commission. The Bureau of Sta
tistics, the Department of Geology, and
everything else, are to be prostituted to the
lowest party uses This attitude is thor
oughly in keeping with the party's stand in
the past. Never, when in position to back
Its professions by deeds, has the Democratic
party given evidence of sincerity in its pro-
LESSONS for better government. Its cam
pagns ring with calls for reform in all direc-
TONS To listen to Democratic orators a
stranger would think that the purest, BEST
most disinterested men of the Nation were
members of that party, only wanting oppor-
tunity to transform this thoroughly human
republic into an Eden of purity and bliss
Again and again have the American people
placed the feet of the Democratic party on
the threshold of general success, only to see
sacred pledges II is so now.
The public deluded by the heightened
professions of the Democratic party, thought
to give it some little encouragement in order
to again test its honesty. The National Leg
slature was taken from Republican control
and given over to the Democratic party.
The result is already at hand. Encouraged
by present triumphs, the party has come to
believe that victory is assured in 1884, EN-
boldened and defiant the true spirit of De-
mocracy reveals itself Party pledges are
dishonored, and the cry for reform is swal
lowed upin the universal yell for spoils.
The Democratic party is dangerous-it can
not be trusted Incompetent and dishonest,
it invites distrust and presages disaster. 1t
will be driven out of power in 1884 at the