The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-19
THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.
1t has been we'll said that the presidency is
position of so exalted character that it
a sentiment that COMFORTS with the dignity
of that great office. The presidency of the
United States is indeed at this time a
supreme honor. The head of republic of
10000 people, occupying a territory of
nearly 100000 square miles, in the last
quarter of the nineteenth century, should be
man in all that becomes man common
su1ate with the Importance of the place. He
should be man whose name in itself would
be regarded as the synonym of great ability
and high character challenging at once the
respect and confidence of the people.
The office is too big for any little man. All
great men really fit for the place no doubt
tremble in the contemplation of its response
bilities The little men who are intriguing
and conspiring for the nomination equally, no
doubt, are self-satisfed and confident of their
abilities to fill it. "Fools rush in where angels
fear to tread"
The American people will not now be salts
fed with nobody for President. Medioc
rity need not apply. The people are not now
in condition or temper to be pleased with a
rattle or tickled with straw" No little man
who is conspicuously unknown, who has been
active all his life in doing and achieving
nothing, is to-day an available candidate for
| either party.
The personality of the candidate this time
is most important. He must be great man
in all that greatness implies, man of tried
and established ability and character, honest,
having convictions, and the courage of them;
calm, self-poised governed by principle, and
not subject to emotional whims and caprices,
and withal true, true to himself and others.
He must be a man who has done his party and
country some service. He must be big enough
to have made some impression on the public
mind. He must represent something in him
self. His merits and worth must be manifest.
He must be Republican, loyal to his party
and its principles, and in his person identified
with its achievements and history. The
party has plenty of such representative men.
A new man would not answer the demands
of the times. If inquiry has to
be made about the nominee
by inteuogatories of ''Who is he" what is
he?7 and what has he ever done or said7'
good and sufficient answers may not be found
ready A ''Who is he?" or "What is he97 can
didate may prove 'What is itf"' The Re
publican party is rich in statesmen. Choose
from among them.
| Our nominee must be a plus quantity, not a
minus quantity, nor yet an unknown quaint
ty Any man old enough to be nominated
has lived long enough to have done or said
something to show his fitness for the nomina-
ton. If he has lived that long without being
| felt, or making any sensible impression upon
his times or party, he will be found wanting
when weighed in the balances. A leader is
wanted who is a representative of the life of
the party; who, by his own qualities, has a
hold on the hearts of the people; who will give
life and enthusiasm to the campaign; who will
represent in his own person those measures
which saved the life of the nation; who by
his force of character, will give assurance of a
| positive administration that will invigorate the
party and lead it to unquestioned success.
---zzzzz.zzzsan-