The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-30
READ the SUNDAY JOURNAL tomorrow Price
three cents
THE DEMOCRATIC SWAMP.

Keppler, Pucks cartoonist has been in this
country long enough to get hold of sufficient
American politics to get them horribly mixed,
and, as we have shown, he frequently hits his
friends harder than he does those whom he
does not like His latest effort is double
page cartoon in this weeks Puck. It repre-
sents Cleveland as eucalyptus tree rising out
of Democratic swamp On either side
are shadowy figures rising like miasmatic
vapors, and these he, as the eucalyptus, is
dispeling. But the figures are worth study
ing. On the right is typical Irishman,
labeled "Ward Bossism;" just below John.
Kelly, and beneath him, up TO his chin in the
Democratic mire, is a third Irishman bearing
the motto 'Dynamiter," So much for Keep
piers evident hostility to the Irish, and in
this his sentiments are undoubtedly those of
the Democratic party, which is now at a
white heat Of wrath over the way the Irish
are asserting their defiance of the party lash.
On the left, nearest the benefcent eucalyp-
tus, is an outlined donkey labeled Stupidity"
Next is rufian with revolver, and labeled
'sBourbonism" Beneath is the familiar face
of Butler, andabove is the ghost of tx. Z. K"
If stupidity incarnate was ever manifest, it
certainly is in this picture First the con-
fession is that the Democratic party has been
miasmatic swamp of pestilence and evil. 1t
was poisonous with the reeking odors of
Ku-kluxism, Bourbonism, Kellyism and
criminal stupidity. But what is there in
Cleveland to give even the faintest assurance
that all or either of these things can be dis
sipated, and that the quagmire of Democracy
can be made wholesomeY Is it not fact,
patent to all and exulantly admitted by the
Democratic party, that its only hope Of sue
cess is predicated on ''solid South, con
ceived in iniquity and brought forth in
Bourbonism, sectional hatred and ignorance?
What has Cleveland or his party ever done
what can they do-toward Riding the South
of Bourbonism, which is but another name
for intolerance and political murder9 One
might as reasonably attempt to take the
heart out of man and expect
him to live as to take Bourbonism
and assassination out Of Southern Democracy
and expect it to survive. But Keppler has
blundered upon a great moral truth here The
Democratic morass, using his own words has
been reeking and rotten with reasonable and
law-defying Bourbonism It is SO still, and
Cleveland, nor any other Democrat can hope
to purify it out of existence. That removed,
the party colapses.
But the most glazing stupidity exhibited in
this curious cartoon is the wanton insult put
upon the Irish voters who for so many years
had been faithful adherents of the Democratic
party. That a man with an unsavory record
like Cleveland's can purify the Irish vote out
of the Democratic party could hardly origi-
nate in any brain but that Of Keppler, who
hates the Irish with an intensity that forbids
discretion. The confession made by the car.
toon is most humihating. The inference is
that the Democratic party, under the man
agement of such men as Seymour, Bayard,
Tilden, Thurman, Hendricks and Melon
aid, has been miasmatic morass,
filed with the poisonous exhalations of
corrupt, dangerous and murderous elements,
and that its old-time leaders have been power
less to remedy the matter and to deliver the
party from its thraldom And now the mayor
Of Buffalo, man SO small as to never be
heard of when big men were in demand, steps
forth to deliver not the country, but the
Democratic party from itself The feelings
of those old in the party service may be imag-
ined, as they contemplate this brilliant
piece Of picture work. The Irish
vote is in stampede and defes man
agement, though desperate effort
is making to wheel it back into line. A few
more bits Of artistic work by Keppler will set
tie the business, his hatred of the Irish will
be satiated, and his party win be spared all
anxiety concerning how they will vote, for it
will be morally certain that they will not vote
for Cleveland. The Democratic morass is, in
deed, rotten with Bourbonism and bossism,
but the country is not nor is the Nation in
need Of the services Of ten-cent mayor and
ex-hangman to deliver it,
ALL the news. teIeeraphic. State and CITY in