The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-12

and the immediate result now fills one of the
most important chapters of the worlds his
tory. For a time the issue hung in
q scale that vibrated very near the danger
point. There were many who did not see
the country's necessities as clearly as did the
Republican party. Undeterred by this the
party went forth in the line of duty, and
came off conqueror. A hostile South was
saved from itself, despite an army of sympa-
thizers in the North, and none is so mean
now as to decry or regret the great work.
Then the party swung into sudden popular
ity, and its majorities were overwhelming.
The next duty of the Republican party as
representing all the people, was to make
permanent the results of the war. This
to .perpetuate the republic, not as a
heritage of the Republican party, through
whose efforts it was saved, but as
a possession of the people, from whom
the party derived its power. The thirteenth
amendment to the constitution had to be
supplemented by the fourteenth ana fif-
teenth. These were accomplished only at
the cost of many votes to the dominant
party which, according to the economy of
our government, must needs descend to
campaigns at stated intervals to try the YER
dict of the people.
The next measure of the Republican party
in the interest of the people was the settle
ment of the public debt, the issue being
whether it should be paid with conscientious
fidelity or advantage be taken of plausible
bubbles. The party succeeded in placing
the question beyond doubt and in favor of
the most honorable method of its payment
In order came the resumption of specie pay
ments This like all the other of these great
questions, was bitterly opposed by great
number of voters so that often the party
seemed about to be overwhelmed. There
can be no question that had
the party juggled with these
reforms it might have saved many of its con-
stituents. AS the representative of all the
people, it could not honestly do other than
it did, and now the entire record stands I'M
challenged, magnificent testimonial to the
wisdom and patriotism of the party honored
with the peoples confidence during the past
quarter of a century.
Again the Republican party is about to
come into the presence of the people to re-
ceive verdict. Last year the allegiance OF
many of this great jury seemed lost, but
after vainly seeking to better themselves,
they are now coming back to the support of
the men and measures which have so long
proved trustworthy. The party has been
honest in all its past history 1t has stead
lastly fought the wrong and upheld the
right. The augury is considered good for
the future, and another vote of confidence
for four years may reasonably be expected.
With the record of the past twenty-five
years as guide, the Republican party ought
to have little difficulty in shaping its
course. Up to this time the right way has,
in the end, proved the successful way. In
almost every instance wherein great reforms
were undertaken, if appeared as if certain
defeat awaited the attempt On the contrary,
each and every undertaking of the kind has
been so firmly established that not even the
opposition dare question their wisdom and
righteousness. The Republican party has
yet one plain duty before it, and that is to
secure the unrestricted right to vote in every
township and precinct in the United States.
1t should unqualifedly declare in favor
of universal suffrage, and in favor of accord
ing the right of government to make popu-
lar suffrage not only possible but actual 1t
may not please doctrinaires who still nurse
an abnormally- developed State s-rights in
FAINT to have the federal government take it
into its hands to insure vote to every man,
rich and poor, white and black, and to see
that such a vote, honestly cast, is honestly
counted but that is exactly what the Repub-
lican party should insist upon. This is
no partisan measure, but one in exact
accord with the spirit of popular institu-
TONS The people will indorse it. If they
should not, the Republican party cannot
better be defeated than in defending such
doctrine. We have seen the rule of bludgeon
and rifle and whip in some States long
enough Now let the party, in behalf of all
the American freemans ballot. The past
shows that the party has succeeded in all its
undertakings. 1t will not fail in this.
OLD MASTERS IN NEW HANDS