The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-20
nnnaINa THE ISSUES.

0OOQ1NO AAA A0ROA0t
Daniel w. Voorhees,, as one of Indiana's
representative Democrats, and as member OF
the United States Senate and candidate for re-
election, seeks to reduce the issues Of the
campaign to the most contemplate proper
tions. In his speech at Terre Haute last
night, intended and understood to be the
formal opening of the Democratic campaign
in this State, he contented himself with be-
littling every question of magnitude and with
an appeal to the meanest prejudice What
ever may be said Of Senator VOORHEES,,
he is not fool. He knows, as well as his
readers know, that the one topic to which he
confined himself has no relevancy to the ma
tonal campaign. If a ward politician had
delivered such speech in beer-garden, the
unities would have been preserved, and there
would have been no incongruity But for a
member Of the highest legislative body in the
Nation, and ina campaign involving the policy
of government in its legislative and executive
branches, to descend to the petty methods Of
pot-house politicians, is disgraceful to all con-
cerned and confession, by the plainest i'm
plication, that Mr.. Voorhees, prefers not
to discuss the issues Of the cam
paign on their merits Such dodge
by man of smaller mold and of less preten-.
tious claims might have been overlooked, but
in man occupying the position Mr.. Voorhees,
does it is at once humiliating and shameful.
If the issues Of 1884 could be squeezed to
the pitiful dimensions that Mr.. Voorhees, has
given them; if the danger Of Democratic con-
troll were not present; if the Democratic party
had not nominated the enemy of labor and
the defender of monopolists; if Thomas A.
Hendricks had not proclaimed the intended
assassination of eivil-service reform by declar
ing that not less than $4,000 federal officers
must be summarily dismissed to make room
for partisan bummers and place-hunters, the
Republican party might consent to come down
to his low level and discuss this question, to
the exclusion of all others. But the people
have not yet forgotten that this very issue
was fought over but two years ago, and that
in 1882, when the Republican party cham
pioned the right of the people to vote on any
and all questions affecting the organic law of
the State, msior'+ vas returned in favor of
this most reasonaDA. deposition, and the mo-
ton failed in the Legislature only through the
votes of few senators who had been elected
before the issue was made. Without touching
on the merits of prohibition, which happened
to be the question on which an expression of
popular sentiment was asked the Republican
party now, as then, is in favor of the people
having every opportunity to make and to re-
make the laws under which they are obliged
to live. The question of prohibition, as an is
sue between the Republican and Democratic
parties, is not at stake now, and nobody better
knows it than does Mr.. Voorhees, We repeat,
therefore, that his attempt to turn the issue
Of national campaign on glass of whisky or
a key of beer is contemplate, and beneath
the dignity Of the man he should prove him
self to be. And if he succeed in his attempt
to arraign the liquor interest against the Re
publican party, he will have done it more
harm than have all its enemies combined.
His evasion Of the great questions that now
engage the attention of the American people
is but confession that he prefers not to dis
cuss them. The Democratic party will not so
easily escape. 1t will be held to the record.