The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-08
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A CAMPAIGN OF REASON.

worth. The voters Of this country have come
to high appreciation Of their duties as citi-
zens, and will exercise the right of suffrage
this year with more deliberation and discern
ment than ever before. From the outset a
spirit of greater circumspection has been man
fest The action of the great conventions in
the selection of candidates has been matter
of careful investigation, and the two platforms
of principles put forth have been subjected to
close study and comparison. Every feature OF
the campaign thus far has been treated to rigid
scrutiny, and no movement IN the game OF
politics has been or can be made without the
certainty of most careful examination. Ali
this augurs well for the future of politics
There will be less buncombe, less Jugglery
with important questions, and, as conse-
quence, more sincerity of purpose in the con-
duct of campaigns by all parties. The Demo-
cratic party greatly erred in ignoring these
facts when it enunciated its Delphic utterance
on the question of tariff, admitting, as it does,
of almost any Interpretation desired, yet not
without leaving doubt in the minds Of all.
The Republican party was above such trick
cry, and offered to the public an unqualified
declaration on this, as on all other questions,
relying for success on the justice of its cause
and the desirability Of maintenance of the
policy proposed.
In view of these facts, it is imperative that
the Republican campaign, in harmony with
the Republican platform be conducted on
strictly Legitimate principles, and that the
fight be made on the merits Of the issues,
There is no occasion for clap-trap or 'ihurra.
The personal popularity of Blaine and Logan
is conceded. They are men whom the people
admire, and whose public services have won
for them the applause and confidence Of all
classes. Let that go for what it is worth; but
it should be supplemented by the fullest and
their merits. It is especially urgent that men
new in campaign work should fortify them
selves with thorough knowledge Of the his
tory of the two parties, Of the working Of the
policies Endorsed by each, and of the character
of each as portrayed by its services in shaping
legislation The excellence of the Republican
party as contrasted with the Democratic, is
too pronounced to warrant any Republican in
proceeding to side or irrelevant issues Even
IL. II
were all that could be desired in man named
for the presidency, there is enough in the
record of the party that has brought him out
of obscurity to defeat the best and ablest man
that ever lived. Mr. Cleveland is not the
man to rise above the level of his trainers and
hackers, and when the onslaught of $4,000
hungry Democrats wide Hendricks utter
ance Of July II, 1884, is made on him to sup
ply them with Office he will not be able to
withstand it. A Democratic success means a
clean sweep of the offices, to make places for
Democratic bummers and ward politicians
It means much more than this. It means the
imperihng of that system of finance that has
done so much to build up the solid prosperity
loss amidst some Of the most gigantic wildcat
speculations ever attempted in the history of
the world. It means the overthrow of protec-
ton and the opening of our markets to the
disastrous competition of the pauper labor
Of Europe 1t means a possibility of pension
ing "all' soldiers, irrespective of which side
they fought on. 1t means an attempt to re-
fund the cotton tax, and, if the triumph is
great enough to warrant it, it means a desper-
ate fight to make the government pay for the
slaves, the freeing Of which Mr.. Voorhees, has
denounced as 'robbing their owners of their
vested rights under the Constitution"
Let every man who expects to deliver Re
publican speech this year make sure of his
qualifications. Let him 60 before the people
animated by the knowledge that he is one of
the millions who are quite sure that the Re-
publican party, past, present. and in
its guaranty of future good, is the
best political organization that has
rendered its services to the country. He
should appeal to the people, equipped with
every essential fact that may be demanded
He must approach the public knowing that its
intelligence viii not tolerate deceit, or any
attempt to mislead He should 60 to
them as one honest man goes to another, inn
bued with the sincerity Of his purposes and
the gravity Of his mission, to persuade by argu-
ment and fair presentation Of the truth on
all questions that may be raised. Let every
thing be done as between man and man, the
hope Of the party resting on the fairest under