The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-10
Major Caikins's opening Address.

Fellow citizens: You have assembled here to-
day to listen to a discussion of the issues which
right and privilege to do Let me
say to you, in the beginning that
If you expect from me any personal abuse
Of my antagonist, you will be disappointed. l
have never yet found it necessary to descend to
the gutter of abuse and culumny and when
that time comes shall leave the political ros-
trum forever. l am not here to discuss past is
sues, but those of the living present l am not
here to talk about that awful civil war; for that
is settled and past. so much so, even, that if our
opponents should be successful IN this election
it could never by revived. The issues which l
propose to discuss are those which affect our
country. our homes our families. 1t does not
make 80 much difference to you, my fellow-citi-
zens, who the man is that represents you in
office rs the principles which he represents. You
are really the sovereigns, and it behooves you to
Eehect upon what principles this country shall
be governed for the next four years. The Re
publican party has always fought for principle.
1t drew the line between freedom and slavery,
and the principle of equality of all men was es-
tablished. In 1860 it declared that this. glorious
Union was not to be dsemembered,
the old flag. In 1864 it declared
that we would not submitto dishonorable peace
and we did not. In 1865 it declared that the
three amendments should be a part of the Con-
Btitution, and they were; and my distinguished
opponent presided over Senate which ratified
Che Fifteenth amendment, over the protests of
the Democracy. Laughter. In 1872 and 1876
1t refused to submit to insincere promises of re-
form in the government made by the Democracy.
In 1880 it declared for good money, and to-day
our money is good for Its face value all over the
habitable globe. All these things were settled
by the Republican party, and yet Governor
Hendricks now says there are no issues. Why2
Because our party has irrevocably settled them;
so that now they can't even be disturbed by the
Democrats We are now fighting another battle
for the protection of American home and fire.
side, and we will have to convert our Democratic
brethren to that also have already got my
opponent so that he won't even admit that he is
free trader or that his party is in favor of that
principle.
In all proposed revenue reforms, there are Just
two ideas. The first is, that our laws should
provide for enough revenue to supply the neces-
sities Of the government and at the same time
afford protection to American labor and Ameri-
can industries. That is the Republican idea.
The other is that it should provide revenue only.
That Is the Democratic idea
Ii this proposed reform means anything it
means that the revenue should be reduced, that
taxes should be lessened. The appropriation
bills passed by the last Congress-a Democratic
bOdy-authorized an expenditure of 1859 000 000
L want my opponent to tell me if he wants these
cut down; if so, which of them-the army BILL
the pension bill, the navy bill, or whIch9
What one of them does he think is too
hight In addition to these other appropria-
tions were made to pay interest, so that
the total was $3l0OO0,OOO Now what
WAS our revenue for that year2 Collected and
estimated! it was $343 600, OOO for the last Re
publican Congress cut it down $42 900, 900, which
leaves surplus of only $30,OO0I0O0, and that
was applied to the national debt Since the
war closed we have already paid off half of it.
The annual reduction of the public debt, under
Republican administration, has been as fol-
lows; In 1880, SIT 099 157; in 1881, $99 676 593;
In 1882 $l44, 626, $40; in 1888 1885, 24l, 649 and
this year, up to June 80. 800, 23s, 1929
The Democrt tic party has been in power eight