The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-24
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.

THE tendency of the Supreme Court has al
ways been-nOt "during the war period" only
toward the construction of the constitution
which Judge Harlan favors, and that construc-
tion will intimately he accepted i'll regard TO the
matters in controversy IN these cases, and this
dissenting opinion fix the lawof che land.-louis-
vile commercial.
THE North Is impatient to be done with every
element of politics savoring of sectonalisIn. aud
would he glad 10 inaugurate a new line OF battle;
but such an evil as this of minority rule Is too
serious to be tolerated, and must be nppern0st
until finally put down by making the right OF
suffrage practical and actual throughout the en-
tire country.-Chicago Inter Ocean.
RICH and poor, high and low, corporations and
individual citizens should stand upon exact
equality before the law. AS n rule, corporations
seek to control the law to discriminate in their
favor, but the iury-box should be the shield of
all classes and conditions, regardless OF wealth.
poverty, power, obscurity, race or color; and it
will be a sad day for all, for both property and
poverty, when prejudice or Partially shall de-
form the sole judgments OF the law in its own
Observation-Disclosures Times.
WE cannot say of any State to-day what Web
ster said OF Massachusetts,, In his time: sit con-
tains fewer very rich ana fewer very poor per-
sons than any portion of the globe" Let an-
other money panic occur, and socialism may be-
come active if not defiant here. country in
which every man votes Ia favOrable TO socialist1e
plans. All the questions that have disturbed
society in older and more densely-settled coun-
tries will come up here In due time When there
are no more farms to give away, people may be-
gin to ask for free city hOmes.-ChlcagO Times.
THE purpose OF a written constitution is TO fix
the law. We must adhere TO the law written,
or lose ourselves on sea of Doubt and con-
fusion The meaning of these amendments lthe
Thirteenth and Fourteenth ia plain. One abol-
ishes slavery, aboishing what Is commonly
known as siavery-not giving power to punsh
acts which may, by forced construction, be re-
garded as badges of slavery. The other prohib-
its any estate" from Infringing upon the rights
of citizens. If their clear meaning could he dis
torted to Justice Harlan's view, 1t would only
be to gain Temporary advantage IN matter OF
little practical moment by the eacrlnce OF great
prncpes.-New York Tribune.
HERE is our suggestion TO the Democrats, and
we charge them nothing for it, Let the tariff
alone repeal the tobacco tax, abolish the Nor
mon Legislature, amend the sub-Treasury sys-
tenn and spend millions for coast defense and
very little for small rivers and harbors. There
ia a sensible, patriotic, constitutional rro-
rramme that will make gOoi capital for presi-
Dental campaign. The chances aTa, however,
that we will get other satisfaction from
making this suggestion than he consciousness
OF having done our duly by offering If fer con-
sideration. We have not acquired much faith
in the wisdom of the Democratic party. 1t has
never yet neglee ted tirst-class oppOrtunitr to
do foolish thing. and 1t is rather old to change
it's ways.-Louisviile Commercial.