The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-18
PRETExT VERSUS PRINCIPLE,

not dwell together in unity when off duty and
gathered about their own campfire; so it is not
in the least surprising that these senators got
into a tangle over the discussion of the tariff
question. Senator Coke, of Texas, cham
pion of ante-bellum Democracy declared that
unless the Democratic party revised the tariff
before the adjournment of Congress it would
surely lose everything. Senator Mcpherson,
of New Jersey, with more modern ideas of the
purpose and effect Of the tariff, replied that if
free trade Democrats liked tariff tinkering bet
ter than control of the White House, they
should go On until they had their fill. The
latter senator has here pointedy drawn the
line of difference between Democratic and
Republican policy, to the evident
advantage of the latter. The Democratic
party, looking up to the presidency as the
contamination of all political ambition and
purpose, is constantly seeking some issue
some plea by which it shall obtain this desid-
eratum. AS result, it has repeatedly been
guilty of the baldest hypocrisy and demagogy
Nothing offering the dellsive hope of success
has been too dangerous, too chimerical, on too
hostile to the genius of the republic, for it to
spouse. l..
In 1860, when its maladministration had
brought upon it the condemnation of the PEG
pie, it threatened rebellion in the event the
government was not continued in its hands.
After the election of Lincoln, it" put this
threat into execution. The Republican
party could have "let the South 60"
and made its supremacy in the
North well-nigh perpetual. But the Repub-
lican party, then as now was above the presi-
dency, and viewing it as means and not an
end, preferred united country to political
supremacy at the price of a divided people
The country was preserved as one nation, and
the people continued the administration in the
hands of the party that set patriotism above
craftsmanship. In 1862 the Republican party,
through its President, issued the great Eman-
cipation Proclamation. Democratic politicians
appealed to the prejudices of the ignorant and
vicious, and confidently predicted that that
great measure would cost the party the presi
dency. On the 1st day of January, 1863 it
went into effect, and the party that issued and
enforced it resolved to stand by it. In 1869
the Republican party passed the Fifteenth
Amendment, giving to colored citizens the
right of suffrage. Again the Democratic party
thought it saw a chance to gain control of the
White House. and industliously
went to work to build its pros
poets on prejudice Indiana Demo
cratic politicians were so enrapt with the
scheme that they compelled the Democratic
members of the Legislature to bolt in order
to defeat 'the infamous measure;" but it was
passed without them, and the Republican
party was again intrusted with the admins
tration. In 1875 the Republican party de-
clared in favor of the resumption of specie
payments on January l, 1879. The Demo
cratic party again insulted the intelligence of
the country by appealing to the ignorant and
attempting to create financial distrust, but in
1876 the Republican party again triumphed,
despite these prejudices, and in the face of
fraud and violence throughout the South and
attempted corruption by Democratic man
ayers wherever it was thought possible. Since
then the tariff question has been at issue.
The Democratic party, true to its in
stincts, predicted direful things,
bankruptcy and financial panics I'M
less the tariff was at once reduced to the mini
mum The Republican party, still faithful to
the country's best interests, and above the
pitiful plea of demagogy stood by the princi-
pie of protecting American industry, and in
1880 was again given control of national af-
fairs.
In every instance during the past quarter of
century the Democratic party has been
wrong, and the Republican party has been
right. Every campaign has been fought in
face of prejudice and ignorance, and every
measure put forth by the Republican party,
and opposed by the Democratic party, has
been adopted rs portion of the polity of gov
eminent. So far as the Republican party is
concerned, the campaign of 1884 will be fought
on its merits based on the belief that the in
telligence and patriotism of the people are
still in the aseendency over ignor
ance and prejudice. The country
has lived to realize the wisdom of every Re
publican measure. That party pronounced
against slavery and rebellion, and those two !