The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-12
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
In the Midst of Southern Rejoicing.
70 the Edi tor of the Indianapolis Journal:

In the Midst of Southern Rejoicing.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis journal:
"Good morning, coz,
Good morning, sweet Hero"
This was the language of Shakespeare, and it
seems an appropriate salutation for the success
full presidential candidate of to-day. The long
agony and suspense seems to be over and the
wires announce the name of the man, soon to be
Invested with moro than kingly power How
will that vast power for good evil be exercised
is the inquiry of many sincere patriots, who are
not partsans but Americansl The President
elect, is one of the class described by the great
delineator of humanity whose name has already
been given. when he said: "Some are born great,
some achieve greatness and others have great
ness thrust upon them" What service did this
man ever render his party or his country that so
many men of real merit were cast aside to make
room for himl
While write this the joyous Democracy are
assembled around the capital of the State cele
brating the great victory they have just achieved
over James G. Blaine, "who, like pluIned
knight marched down the halls of the American
Congress, and threw his shining lance full and
fair against the brazen foreheads of the defam-
ers of his country and the maligners of his
honor" l can distinctly hear, from the window
of nv hotel not merely the thunder of their ar
tlllery but the loud acclaim of their orators who
give voice to the happy multitude 1t IS but
twenty years-short, eventful years, since those
same cannon belehed forth their Joy
and eladness when those Democrats
with arms in their hands achieved victories over
the armies of the martyred Lincoln who was
struggling to fulfill the oath he had taken Ito
protect and defend the Constitution" and who
lost his life by his devotion to the Union of the
States 1t is"but twenty years since this great
and good man was characterized by these ora,
tors as a 'smutty old tyrant," who had usurpeo
the government and was waging war or ex-
termination on them. Having failed in their
efforts to destroy the government by armed re
bellion, they are now to take possession OF 1t as
the spoils of victory achieved by the ballot. 1t
isthe most bold daring and shameless victory
known to American politics. Are we to under
stand that history must be reversed that JEFF
Davis and his conspirators who undertook to de-
stroy the government were in fact the patriots,
and Lincoln and his adherents, Grant, Sher-
man and the rest were the rebels2 If this cleo
ton does not mean that fail to comprehend its
significance. The men whose voices hear were
not of the class known as ''doppeRheads.n They
put on the confederate uniform and did their
best to accomplish the ruin of that Constitution
and government for which they now profess so
much devotion. They openly boast that ''the
whirligg of time bring its revenges."
1t may not be in vain to refer to some of the
causes which led to this disaster to the great
- party of liberty, if not to the country. The Re
publican party unlike its opponents, is composed
of those who agree in the main, but will think
and act independently. The members cannot be
controlled by party discipline, and the attempt
to do it has nearly always failed. 1t was so with
the Wing party, the great progenitor of the pres
emit organization, who would not follow the
teaching of its great leader Henry Clay, but
suffered him to be defeated when it could have
elected him. would not say word against Mr.
Blaine, who is undoubtedly the Gladstone OF
America, but have not seen time in eight
years when he was an available candidate for
the presidency. He has proved to be some
stronger than those who opposed his nomination
supposed, while Cleveland WAS weaker eandi-
date than his friends expected. 1t fell to my
lot last spring to give some advice through the
Journal to those who were so vehement for
Blaines nomination, in which told them plain
ly that he would not be elected if nominated.
The only response it seemed TO elicit anony-
nous letters addressed to me through the post
Office, about to this purport: If you are not in
favor of Blaines nomination, you had bet
ter be quiet and join the Democrats. [
was quiet, but I did not take their
advice. 1t does look little aggravating when
we see that less than one-tenth of the Prohibi
ton vote in New York alone, or one half the ma
jority which Garfield got in Conkling's county
Of Oneida four years ago would have made
Blaine President. There is no doubt that the
active support of Conkling would have secured
Blane's election. 1t was not given, and those
who made the nomination knew then that it
would not be given, but they decided to take
the risks, and they have lost. In the heat of
debate Mr.. Blaine applied an epithet
to Conkling which inflicted wound
that would not heal in fifteen wears and the re
suit is known. do not, myself, think the Pro
hibihonists acted wise in opposing Blaine, but
do notpropose to apply any epithets to them
Theyshave taken a very grave responsibility and
if time shall show that they are fanatics or
FOOLS they will no, doubt acknowledge their
error and strive to make amends. There must
be liberation and some degree of union among
those who oppose Democratic methods
NJ L. BUNDY.
LITTLE Rock, Ark, Nov. s.