The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-09-04
SENATOR BEN HARRISON.
His Address Formally Opening
the Hoosier Campaign at
Indianapolis.
The Speech an Eloquent and For
chile Presentation of the
Party Issues.
A Demonstration Excelling i'm Magnitude
Anything Seen i'm Indiana for
Years.
undianapolis special. |

indianapolis special
Senator Benjamin Harrison formally opened
the campaign in Indiana in a speech at the Park
Theater, which was heard by 1900 people. 1t
made the occasion of Republican demon
stration of great magnitude, surprising any
thing of the kind witnessed here since 1850. A
torchlight procession, composed principally of
Plumed knights of Columbia and Blaine and
Logan Guards, bearing aloft banners and
transparencies, and headed by martial bands,
preceded the meeting and escorted the speaker
to the theater. There were 1000 uniformed
men in line, and the procession was nine squares
in length. All the available space in the theater
filled before the arrival OF the clubs, who
were unable TO gain admission.
Chairman New, of the Republican State Gen.
trail Committee, opened the meeting by intro
ducng Gov. A. o. Porter as presiding officer,
and naming a score of Vice Presidents. The
Governor put the crowd in excellent humor by
some happy illusions TO the Presidential can
didate, which evoked great enthusiasm. After
a song by the Central Blame and Logan Glee
Club there were three cheers for Blaine and
three for Logan too. Senator Harrison was in
troduced. His speech was a studied effort, de-
livered in the best style, and holding the atten-
ton of the hearers for an hour and three-quar-
tiers. The meeting closed with song, Well
Stand by Gartields Friend. The demonstra-
tion was a surprise to the Democrats in its pro-
portions.
Senator Harrison began his address by quot
ing George W; Curtis famous epigrammatic
description Of the Democratic paTty-the hum
cry, thirsty, unprincipled, cowardly party,
which fell from power a conspiracy against
hnman rights and now attempts to sneak back
TO power n conspiracy for plumber and
spoils." The Democrats now had generally a
high opinion OF Curtis sagacity-an opinion not
resting so much on this quoted speech as on the
fact that MIR. Curtis had now become an active
associate in the conspiracy for plumber and
spois." 1t had not been showed that Mr.. Cur
tbs had changed his opinion OF the Democratic
party. Mr.. Curtis and his associates had SEEM
ingly concluded that public morality would be
advanced by giving the Government to party
with no higher aim than plunder and spoils. ="
These Independents, in their platform, said they
were proud OF the great record and services of
the Republican party. He hoped they would
not make the mistake of supposing that
all virtue went out of the party when they
opened the door, or that the other party would
cease to be q Conspiracy for plumber and 81 oils"
by reason OF the sanctifying power OF their
presence There was not one OF these Independ-
ents who did not know, who had not in SUBJ
stance said, that the Republican party was in
stinctively on the right de@the moral side-of
public questions. There was not one OF them
who did not know, who had not in substance
said, that the Democratic party had an infahible
instinct for the wrong side-the immoral side
of public questions. These Cleveland Republic
cans affected to have discovered, since they
made up their minds TO support Mr. Cleveland,
that the Democratic and Republican parties do
not essentially differ upon questions Of public
policy Mr.. Curtis, Mr.. Schurz, and many of
their associates were understood to be civil
service reformers. Were they willing TO have
II
two platforms on the subject of civil service?
The speaker here read the civil service para
graphs in each platform-that of the Demo-
cratic party consisting only of six words
and commented on the two declarations The
one was full frank Endorsement OF the exist
ing civil-service law: the other was evasive and
incomplete, and would not be crossed by a re-
peal or the PR sent statutes. Senator Voorhees,
had denounced the new civil-servlce law and
had voted against il in the Senate. MIR. Hen
bricks, fresh from he convention, had declared,
I'm hQfo N he knew a nO wa Of 10
the honesty OF the present incumbents OF the
offices except by turning them out and putting
in Democrats He was sure that at least 10000
should go at once Every civil-service re-
former in the country knew that this reform
which had made such cheering progress would
be turned back TO its spring and the spring
sealed up IL the men who framed the Demo-
cratic platform at Chicago came into power. IL
civil-service reform was a minor issue, then
those who magnified 1t should say so; but they
could not part company with the Republican
party on the pretense that there was no issue
between the parties on the subject.
The speaker then contrasted the records, prin-
ciples, purposes, and methods of the two par
ties, and incidentally excoriated Mr.. Schurz for
some of his recent utterances. He then went on
to discuss the tariff, and gave brief history of
the rise, progress, and death OF the Morrison
bill. The weight of opinion in the Democratic
party was for "a tariff for revenue only"-one in
| the framing OF which no account should be
taken OF its effect on American industries and
American workmen. The Republican party
he'd 10 the doctrine that in fixing tariff rates
| the effect or the rate proposed upon American
! Industries and upon the wages of American
| workmen should be carefully considered
But the incapacity of a Democratic House of
| Representatives, continued the speaker. did not
| exhaust itself in the attempted tariff legisla-
| ton. The building of q navy-for we have
| practically no navy-was another question that
| uncovered the utter lack OF capacity, patriot
| ism, or statesmanship of a Demo ratio House OF
| Representatives IL is one that involves not
| only the national honor and influence but the
safety of our seaboard cities. 4 he highest mill
] tary and naval authorities OF the country have
| again and again in official reports TO Congress
declared that we are without a navy, and that
| our seacoast defenses are not worthy of the
name. We have no guns for our ships, none for
our coast Notifications. We have one first -cae
| wooden ship of wharf.-the Tennessee-but she is
| making her last cruise. A law of Congress pro-
vides that when the repairs Of a wooden vessel
| shall equal 80 per cent OF her value she shall
| be sold broken up. We have eleven
wooden vessels of the second class, and
| five OF them will not again be re-
| paired. The utter helplessness and naked
ness Of our country In the matter OF ships and
| coast defenses Is conceded by every American
| and known I'm every foreign court IL Is a sub
| ject of amazement and modification that, with
abundant resources, this nation should consent
to occupy so contemplate position among the
maritime nations of the world. There II more
| than one South American Government that has
1 n navy with which ours could not cope. IL has
| been said upon the highest authority that Chill
| has armored ships that could sail into the har-
| Dor of San Francisco and put that great city
| under contribution at pleasure. The speaker
| went on TO show how the attempts Of the Re
| publican party tending toward the beginning o.
| the construction of a navy had been frustrated
! by Democratic action, and pointed out the alb
| surdity of the position taken by Mr.. VOORHEES,
| that we should Immediately build mighty
| navy that could defy the world OF else continue
/ as unprotected as we are.
Turning 10 the question OF pensions, thu