The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-22
THE DEMONSTRATION AND IT'S MEANING

significance of the monster demonstration of
yesterday and last night an event probably
enthusiastically unsurpassed-by any
public outpouring III the history of Indiana.
Probably not less than 100, 900 strangers were
in the city of Indianapolis during the day.
Ohio overwhelmed us with uniformed clubs
to the NUMBER of nearly or quite 1000. In
diana towns and cities outside the
the unnumbered thousands that came to par
ticipate only as spectators. An idea of the
immensity of the crowd may be gained from
knowledge of the fact that twenty-seven
carloads Of people came from Springfield, o.,
alone, and other and nearer points contributed
proportionately. 1t was a day never to be
forgotten by any who participated in it., and
will undoubtedly serve as high water mark
for Indiana for many years to come.
What is the significance of this unusual
manifestation Of intense interest in ma
tional politicsR No internal discussions of
Importance nor foreign complications threaten
the peace Of the country. What, then, can
be the moving cause of the wave of popular
enthusiasm that has attended Mr.. Blaine in
his canvass during the past month? The In
dianapolis coming together of the people was
but one link in the long chain of like links,
the masses everywhere turning out with a
spontaneity never surpassed in the history of
this country. The first thought will be
of Blaine's personal popularity. His
magnificent services to- his country during the
past twenty years have won for him the adj
miration and gratitude of the people. they
are proud Of him; proud to feel that in him
America has a man the peer of the worlds
greatest men; man that can look squarely in
the eyes of the tallest men of the age. His
eminent qualifications as q public man have
won for them the admiration Of even his po-
litical opponents, and none but a mean man,
too narrow to be frank and honorable,
viii attempt to belittle his achievements. But
there is more than the mere man IN all this
While he attracts to himself hundreds and
thousands, anxious to personally see one Of
the greatest living men in the world, still
other thousands are DESTROYS of looking upon
the man with whom they expect to largely con-
coming four years. Men of business leave
their stores, mechanics leave their shops, man
ufaeturers their mills and farmers their homes
to attest their interest In those public
matters now engaging the attention of the
people. While no war, foreign or domestic,
threatens us, there is yet very much at stake.
The fundamental principles of our national
polity are in the balance and must be passed
upon. As the exponent of those doctrines
that the Republican has believed in and sought
to ineulcate, James G. Blaine is greater to-day
and more prominent than ever before in all
his illustrious career. The people are for him
not for what he has done, though they are
grateful for that-but for what
they expect of him. Being
large man, they ere confident chat he can car
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being wise man, they feel that he will be
able to discriminate; being strong man, they
know that every material interest of the Ma
ton is safe against the attacks of all corners.
James G. Blaine backed by the American
people, will be one Of the greatest Presidents,
fitted for place on the same high plane with
Lincoln, Grant and Garfield Friend and
helper of each in turn, and intimate friend
and councillor Of Garfield, his elevation
to the place honored by and in Them is but
the natural sequence of the logic Of events.
The people are aroused to the situation,
and with the realization of the exigeneies OF
the campaign are but showing the deep
interest they feel There may be no real
danger in a solid South. It's 153 votes cast in
opposition to the views of the ever-loyal
North may mean nothing. But the friends
of the Nation are not so sure that the time
has yet come to have the country IRE
formed by the men, still living,
who so recently tried to take its
life. Nor are they satisfied that the 152
Democrats who voted for the first step toward
free trade mean no harm. The solid South,
however, guileless it may be- is as much a
reality in 1884 as in 1861. The Democratic
party is the same. The possible dangers of
Democratic supremacy awaken alarm in the
breasts of patriotic men. The laborer is
alarmed by what he has witnessed in the
Democratic House. Hence, it is that so many
thousands turn out to meet and to
greet the man from Maine. Their
enthusiasm is but testimonial of the love and