The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-17
THE PATTY IN OPPOSITION,

the minority of its principal rival, elections IN
several of the Southern States being so pal
pably fraudulent as to permit of no denial
Waving title to what is justly its own, the
Republican party is about to stand aside and
let the Democratic party take charge, the
turning point being plurality of some eleven
hundred votes in State casting l 200, 900 bal
lots, of which about 1000 are for minor
parties The serious duty of govern
ment is now before the Democratic
party, and it ought to understand that 1t Is
simply on trial during good behavior, thou
sands and tens of thousands of voters having
directly or indirectly made opportunity for
the Democratic party to again show its mettle
and to redeem itself from that odium which
for quarter of a century has attached to it.
The Democratic party in March next will
come into possession of vastly different
country from what they controlled last under
President Buchanan. The population has
nearly doubled, while the wealth has vastly
|
principally confined to Massachusetts,, Connect
lieut., New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania,
have extended to and beyond the Mississippi
on the west and throughout the South
Since the days of 1860 Atlanta has become
the rival of Lowell, and Chattanooga and
Birmingham are now competing with Pater-
son and Philadelphia. The railways that
then went to Wilmington and Altoona for
their rolling stock are now supplied in score
of cities, Indiana alone having some half
dozen such establishments, while the Pullman
Palace-car Company has built a city of its
own III Illinois Hundreds of millions of
manufactures, then imported, are now pro-
duced at home, and the people altogether are
wealthier and more prosperous than ever be-
| fore.
The Democratic party will miss some of the
ancient landmarks 1t will miss, first, the
''sacred institution" of slavery. The Repub
lican party was busy during its ascendency,
and got rid of many heresies cherished under
Democratic rule. The Democratic party will
miss somewhat of the brag and bluster of the
fiery Southron The race of States rights
DULLES and braggarts-thanks to calmer
thought and enforced meditation-is dying
out With the extinction of slavery the
South's plea for free trade was demolished
Free labor has awakened the South to the adj
vantages of manufacture, and with the estab-
lishment of mills and factories has come
the natural demand that they shall be pro-
tected All Of the South is not yet thoroughly
awake to the Importance of protective poll
CIV, because, under Republican rule, it has
been so thoroughly assured Of protection that
it has scarcely given thought to the possibility
I and the effect Of free trade and the introduce
ton of the product of the pauperized labor Of
Europe. The Democratic party has now to
settle for itself which faction shall rule it
great body of artisans and farmers who de-
pend on home manufactures for en-
ployment and domestic market. The
task before Mr.. Cleveland and his
advisers is one calling for the exercise of the
greatest caution, and most determined stand
against the dangerous clements of the Demo
cratic party, of which it is so largely com
posed What with the 'old South demand
ing things that dare not be conceded, and the
| do a1
by allies won from the Republican party, and
the conduct of affairs with which it is wholly
unfamiliar, the new administration will have
all it can possibly do, with every chance of
being called upon to surrender its trust at the
end of four years.
The duty of the Republican party is much
less onerous. With record of nearly quar-
ter of century well rounded up, including
the most stupendous achievements ever
accomplished, it now for a time
passes out of power. Twentyfour years
ago next March, the last Democratic ad-
ministration sullenly gave way to the new
party of the people, but not until it had
stepped itself in treachery and plotted treason.
From the steps of the Capitol the Democratic
party stepped to organized rebellion and the
Democratic war for secession, or, rather, for
the extension and perpetuaton of slavery, was
begun The fist duty of the Republican adj
miuistration was to grapple with this same
party that has now again come to the front
On the issue of that struggle between the
Democratic and the Republican parties depend
ed the integrity of the Nation, and all the
only less vital issues involved. History
shows that the Republican party