The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-24

and death. With us it is absolutely the health
of political existence. II our republic shOnld
ever fall, and fall it may, 1t VIII not ne
caused by an enemy without. Against all ex-
ternaI aggressiOns this continent ana TINS
globe we are masters. Were we comparatively
less powerful our national perpetulty would DC
even more secure. IN sECh a relationship our
attention and concern would be directed TO the
maintenance of "A continuing place against the
aggressions of nations. But can have no such
concern; for among the "prlnclpalltlts ana
powers of this world" the republic is entnroned
supreme; the sole arDter of her destiny; tine CO.
lossus OF her own fate. Even IN her dissolution;
no Goth or Vandal could riot In her boodstalned
and smouderIng cities. If Goth or Nanual
she shall every have, they must he OF her own
people, the chaos of ignorance and corruption
let loose. Other governments rests on arlsto-
cratic castles, permanently sustained IN thelr
Jurisprudence; upheld by an army; welded TO
the crown by dependence and prlVlty or IN
terests, while our government mas FOR the neat
of the corner" the elective franchise OF the whole
male population.
Mr.. Townsend discussed at some length the
growth of liberty in the countries of Europe and
contrasted it with the present condition OF the
United States. He considered the causes ana
results of the great uprisings and disturbances
here, illustrating his opinions as follows:
Wisdom forbds that we shut our eyes to the
national experience of 1876 when the whole
people were nearly equally divided in opinion
aud feeling to which of two claimants had "A
right to the title OF the great office OF President
Ihat there were corruptlOns, ira9uS a'in
or that year, all history must agree. Charges OF
purchase on one side and fraudulent counts on
the the other, were freely INDUCED, aud Tor
time the ominous clond of civil war, lowered
on our hOusetops." Serious apprehs nslan OPP
pressed the souls of men. But the wisdom
ana moderation OF Congress aVerteu the nm
minent pe-il, and everywhere could he heard
the glad acclaim, "the crisis is past" what
crlsisf The crisis of civil war! And from tnat
ZINE forward, II has been IA question IN Ihe
minds of the patriotic and the thoughtful, now
10 provide against any such future hazard.
Such questions of title and right have con
tlhually, IN all ages and all governments, ut
populated nations and turned productive realms
into deserts and this crisis arose out of the cor
ruptlOn of the ballot by force, by fraud ana ny
violence. Against such breathmgs OF slaughter
the intelligence ana virtue OF our millions OF the
en1ranchlsed Is the only sure defense. Eiectofal
commissions and legal devise may be or In
estlmabe service in laying the storm In lts
incipient wrath. but the deep of public integri-
ty, is only abiding security, and he who
corrupts the ballot Is public enemy. ana strikes
at the root of free institutions. Certainly, IL Is
more honorable to lift the hand
with "seoton" against the life
of tho government. than sitting by its
nreside, destroying the only source OF its soeu-
rlty by cOrrupting its voters. DISCOURAGED
ana corrupted constituency may be turned aside
clean from the purpose of the ballot, ana the
franchise itself become the vehicle Of despotism
Napoleon being elected first consul. usurped
and placed on his brow an imperial crown, ana
the ignorant, corrupted and dazzled elec lors OF
Frauce, 10y an almost unanimous ballot confirmed
him in his despOlic title, casting away their en-
REIMBURSEMENT pearls before swine.
The safety of the republic fOrOds that such a
condition of things shall ever exist here as TO
Justify the poo man in saying this is a rich
mans government. In such a case strikes and
communes must have terrible Significance. To
make wealth an essential qualification in IA can
uiuate Is to plant thorn IN the side ut the 70
public.
Great problems rising IN for solution The
tendency is the overshadowing accumulation OF
wealth by few and thereby the nOnOpOlizlng
or great and exclusive privileges and adYan-
tages by indiviGuals and corporations, which
may act Oppressiyely and despOticaliy on the
welfare of the masses. Enterprise and She ac-
cumulatiOn of property must NOT be discOur-
aged; bus the abuse of the power residing in
vast wealth must be so restrained and regulated
as to prevent the monopoly OF commerce, trans
portatiOD, manufacturing and mining lest the
same, IN tlme take the place of despotlc prerOga'
tive. The elect or has against all abuse of wealth
the ballot Its intelligent and patriotic use is
ali-sutfcient. In the presence OF honest eec-
ti0hs all excuse for MODS and revolutions fade
away. the political chicauis5 who seeks it's pur-
chase, no matter ny what indirectinn, is a public
enemy; for a purchased election is not a choice.
such politician, like foul seducer, creepS Into
the nations life, polluting as he goes. He is
wickedly Ingenious, carrying about himself
the appearance of sincerity and honor; and by
cunning words purchases the electors vote,
Ike a cabbage In the market place. One is
misled and, IL may be, loses his personal dig
nifty as freeman forever. The other, with in-
telllgence to comprehend mis- offease, is i'll the
business of running his country Propositions
seeking the corruption of the ballot, deserve 10
he answered with blow Hitherto. in all The
emergencies of our country, the virtue and
patri0tism of the great honest masses, "nas
been the stay and dwelling place" of the re-
public. 1t is with the thin point of the arrow
that the political chicanst is piercing the great
heart of the republic. When the people have
realized this, believe they Will pluck the
row ont of his ignoble hands and sendlt through
the heart Of all his political hopes.
There was Brutus once, that would have
bro0k'd
The Eternal King to keep his place in Rome"
And will not the honest voter repel the political
corrupter and keen his state In the repubIcl
The exercises of the evening concluded with
recitation by Charles Krchbaum, representa-
tive of Ohio in the last Interstate oratorical
contest and music by Prof Levassor