The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-22

be and may continue to be the peoples gov
eminent, as the fathers of the republic de-
signed and intended"
What is your theory in reference to ap-
pointments to public Officer"
Fitness, not favor, should be the passport
to public service. There should be no re-
movas of government employees before the
expiration of their term of service except for
cause, and no assessments on their salaries
paid to them by the whole people should be
levied for the perpetuation OF the party in
power What we need and must have is a
system of civil service consistent and har-
mOnious with the nature of American gov
eminent, established and protected by law,
that, like government itself, it may be the
agent of law and not of men, to the end that
it may be kept free OF all corrupting depend
ence upon political favor and patronage.
Personally | favor the provisions of the
Pendleton bill in regard to appointments
in the civil service, and the Willes bill in
regard to the assessment of Federal office
holders"
"And how about the ancient question of
State rights?'
well, there you are again. We made a
distinct assertion in our campaign here of
our faith i'll the supremacy OF the nation,
within constitutional limits, and the integ-
rity of the State-an indissoluble Union of
indestructibe States. The constitution and
all its amendments, strictly construed and
Loyalty obeyed, form the basis and safeguard
| alike and equally OF the just authority of
| the Federal government and of the legiti-
mate exercise of local government in the
several States of the Union, by which we
form sovereign nation of inviolate and in
volahle States"
And all equal before the law?'
Yes equal rights equal powers equal
burdens, equal privileges and equal protec-
| ton by law under the government for every
i citizen 0f the rpnnblip without Ii m nf
rae, sex or property qualification, whether
IL be by tax on property or q poll tax on
| persons. We must have impartial freedom
of the ballot North as we'll as South East as
we'll as West, and the abolition of all laws,
| whether on the statute books of Massachu-
| sets or Mississippi, aimed at the unequal
limitation OF the right of suffrage and the
partial Withholding of the sacred and funda-
mental right of representation.
| You appear to be toerabiy confident so
far as the Democrats are concerned, but how
about tina Republicans"
THE Republicans go into the race weighted
down with the wrongs OF a quarter of cen
fury of power"
with what issue2'
| There is but one issue-the tariff They
| defeated Hancock on that issue because they
| sprung it on the country at the tail end of the
| campaign, when there was no time to discuss
| 1t. They made most effective use Of it. but
next time it will be different. They will
have to meet the issue on the broad grounds
[ have outlined as the platform of Massachu-
sets Democrats. They rely now. as hereto
fore, on the mistakes of the Democrats.
| Minorities always have greater wisdom than
majorities. There are no mistakes of the
past from which they cannot be relieved, and
! they have no trammels of administration or
office holding which prove their following
up the true interests of the whole country.
| The minority has the entire field in which to
work; the majority that part only of which
it holds possession"
Then you adhere to your faith in a great
| Democratic victory"
Il do, most certainly. Good night"