The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-23
INDIANA POLITICS.
The Hoosier State Wheeling into the Re
publican Column-An Interesting Incl
dent of the Campaign of 1876.



pending in the United States Court was
chairman of the Republican State committee
in the campaign of 1876, which resulted in
the election of President Hayes. After the
State election of that year, which, it will be
remembered. resulted in a Republican de-
feat an incident occurred which has never
come fully to the general knowledge and
which even yet has some interest as bit of
the inner history of those stirring times.
Two or three days after tie Indiana cleo
ton of that year, when it had become GER
tain that the Republicans had met with de-
feat. there was meeting of many OF the
leading men of the party at the rooms of the
State Committee, in indianapolis. After
full and unreserved discussion of the sit
| uation it was unanimously agreed that Re
publican success in the State at the presiden-
tial election the next month was not posi-
ble and at first nearly all of those present
declared that it was useless to make any
further effort in the State. But it was
suggested that it would be advisable to
keep up a vigorous fight for the sake of
the moral effect it would have in other
States. This vas assented to by every one
present, but the proposal was met at the
outset by the difficulty that the contin-
| uance of the contest would cost money.
1t was suggested by Colonel Friedley and
! agreed to by the correspondent OF an Eastern
journal, who was present, that it would be
possible TO raise money in the East. After
more discussion, it was decided to send
committee East TO see what could be done.
and Colonel Friedley, with the correspond
emit was appointed the committee for that
purpose. They departed on their mission,
but ON the way stopped at Columbus, o., to
consult with the candidate, Governor Hayes.
In long interview, the situation was placed
fully before him, and he was asked to give
them letter. He hesitated for little time,
! but finally, taking up his pen, said: well,
suppose it is like letter of acceptance and
must be written" He then wrote brief
| note, couched in general terms, to the effect
that the bearers were fully informed of the
situation in Ohio and Indiana, and, in his
| judgment their advice should be needed.
Armed with this document, which, on
| their suggestion, had been addressed to ex-
| Governor Edwin ID. Morgan, the envoys pro-
| ceeded to New York. On their arrival they
went to the Office of Governor Morgan and
! placed the letter in his hands, After read
| ing it in a manner which plainly showed
that he was puzzled, he handed it to the late
| Fhurlow Weed, who happened to be pres
| ent, with the remark Here is letter
| from Governor Hayes; what does it mean?"
The political acumen of Mr.. Weed was not
at fault for moment he glanced over
| it. and said with that conciseness which was
one of his traits: SIT means money"
Governor Morgan asked whether with the
| sum named, Indiana could be carried.
Colonel Friediey promptly answered in the
negative, but added, that unless the fight
was kept up in that State, there were grave
doubts whether Ohio, where the contest had
| been very close would not also be lost.
| After a full discussion this view was &C
cepted as correct; the money was obtained
| aud Colonel Friedley returned home. the
event justified his view, for Indiana was lost.
| and OHIO saved by a narrow margin.
Being asked to give his views of the politi-
| cal situation in his portion of the country,
| Colonel Friedley continued: We'll, you
| know that we choose our State officers for
| four years at the time of the presidential
| election, and as there are no members of
| Congress to be chosen now, there are no indi-
| cations that are very distinct. The interest
is confined to the national nominations OF
next year, and the Democrats seem to be
| more disturbed about that matter than we
are. The story of McDonald's great popu-
larity in the State is not true, as a single fact
will show. When his term in the Senate
| expired and our Republican, General Harri-
son, was elected in his place. Mcdonald was
not paid the usual compliment of nomina-
! ton for reelection, but Isaac p. Gray. known
among us as Little Ike, because of both his
| physical and mental size, was named in his
| place.
mo. SO far as Indiana is concerned Nc
Donald is not a Democratic probability So
| far as we, on the outside, in Indiana can see,
| the personal relations of Mr.. Tilden and Mr..
Hendricks are friendly, but nobody whose
| opinion is worth anything believes that Hen
bricks would do anything to secure the sec
| ond place on a ticket with anybody. Still
although this fact is well known to every
| body, there are quite number of Democrats
| in our State who. are strongly in favor Of
! their old ticket of 1876, for they certainly are
not for Mcdonald. Hendricks can have ac-
| tive workers in the entire Democratic party
| of the State if he wants them.
ION our side the Republicans would greatly
| like to have either Senator Harrison or Post
master-general Gresham, and it is probable
| the State will go to the national convention
| united in favor of one or the other-which it
| is now impossible to say; there is no boom
| being worked in Indiana for either, but the
| Republicans believe that either would be
strong in the country at large, and that either
would most certainly get the electoral vote
OF Indiana matters now are.
| LAS to the condition of affairs in 1894, it is
| of course, impossible to say. But there is
one thing which must always be taken into
/ consideration, and that is. that no candidate
| for President can carry Indiana on a free
trade platform Singular as it may seem to
many who d. not know the fact, we have got
| to be almost as much of protection State hs
/ Pennsylvania This has been due to the great
| and rapid increase in our manufactures. and
/ and especially the increase in such establish
uents in different branches of productive in
dustry, ns the great plate-glass works at New
| Albany,
IF things go on for any length OF time as
they have in the recent past, Indiana will be
as certainly Republican State as Illinois or
Iowa. know we have heavy load in the
large Democratic majorites in the counties
along the Ohio river and in Allen county,
where the railroad center OF Fort Wayne il
situated, but in spite OF all this Democratic
| free-trade foolishness is pretty certain i'll the
! long run to make Indiana Republican. Our
! Democrats are out and out free-traders and,
as they never learn anything new in politics
until it is too late, it is not probable they will
in time to discover the present tendency of
public opinion in our State"
As to purely State affairs, Colonel Friedley