The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-28
The Moral Issue in Politics The New York
Independent" Demands Cleyeland's De-
feat in the Interest Of Good Morals.
Candidate Hendricks Writes a Letter
Opposing a Change in the Ticket.
Turbulent Proceedings of the Anti Monopoly
Convention at Bloomington, Ill.-The
Thirteenth Indiana District.
4 BUSINESS MAN,s view.

inRS OF His ParCye
Correspondence Of the indianapolis Journal.
New YORK Aug 26.-s'You surprise me very
much, said to gentleman doing a very large
business here He had said he intended to vote
for Blaine.
.'Well sir" he reioined II shall make no CON
cealment of my intentions; my vote for Blaine
will be given conscientiously and upon princi-
pie, and my influence to get others to do like
wise will not be withheld
The speaker was q gentleman whom have
known for good many years as consistent
uncompromising Democrat Ia stalwart of that
faith-honest, straightforward, sincere in all
things; he had but the one weakness, as thought
and this his blind adherence to that party
through good and evil report questioned oft
en- whether he ever reasoned well upon politics,
so unreasoning at times were his prejudices IN
favor of Democracy. / had left him severely
alone with his idol, looking upon him as an
Ephraim beyond the reach of per-
suasion and conviction. could ac-
count to myself for the detection Of large
masses Of Irishmen to the support of Blaine, for
the attraction that workingmen find under his
banner for the inspiration Americans draw
from such a leader. for the disaffection every
where manifested towards Cleveland. But the
exclamation Of my friend was q genuine sur
prise, and pressed him for an explanation.
What he said to crafty my curiosity and to sus-
tain the position he has taken is so filed with
pith and moment that gained his permission to
reproduce it in substance. suppressing his name,
as he. does not like publicity. l have said he
was a man doing large business here and when
add that in his line he transacts the largest. he
must be considered, while giving his views, as
one welding, by his wealth, social standing,
credit and example, powerful influence, even
in New York city.
He seemed at a loss for a moment where to
begin, but finally he plunged in media res by
saying;
tSir. the business of the country can't stand
the violence tits constantly subjected to at the
hands of political jobbers, especially when every
job seems to be a blunder and every blunder
costs u.s. the business men of this great business
center. millions in money Under the most fa-
vorable circumstances, when there is the least to
disturb business, it is bad enough. We are con-
tent to see business dull in every presidential
year, but even then. what do you suppose is the
actual cost to the countryP
II am not prepared to compute it, or even an
approximate amount / said; What do you
reckon the loss under the mostfavorable circum-
stancesp eli
"Ata not less than % per cent. of the entire
business of the country. There are thousand
reasons for this, all eliminating in the idea that
business men, in such a year, will await to see
what will turn up from political agitation. AS a
consequence, they make no ventures in trade,
they hold back their reserves IN money and en-
terprise and stagnatlon ensues. Begun here,
at the center, such check is felt to the furthest
limits of the Republic. This is Introductory
he continued, ito what / have further to say.
The colossal blunder Of the present campaign
began with the stupid, idiotic tinkering with the
tariff in the last Congress. A very narrow
minded, bigoted politician Of that Congress as
reckless of the danger and damage to the bust
ness of the country as pirate te-cruiser-snatched
up the tariff to tinker with it for bare political
advantage, and utterly regardless of conse-
quences to business. In the whole range Of
political legislation upon this subject, there
is nothing bearing the faintest resemblance to
this patchwork. The so-called horizontal
reduction was nothing more nor less thana q stroke
of the pen of these jobbers to rid themselves
easily Of what they did not comprehend, and did
not care to study. When you come to contem-
plate the varied interests in this country affected
by the tarih-sensitive and jealous in the ex-
treme at the mere mention of the slightest
change-you will understand how rude such
tinkeripg seemed. 1t was a blow in the face of
business men. 1t was exalting party over the
PROSTATE form of principles it was trickery sole
ly for supposititious party gain; twas the work
of demagogues, sir, at which craftsmanship
would hide its head
Here the mischief began-here was the in
ception of the proverbial blunder which, unfor-
tunately for the success of the Democratic
party. recurs, in some form, every four years.
just at a critical moment; just at such time and
coniuncture as to give the Republicans every
advantage. Before that Congress adjourned the
country had seen the mistake made by these
jobbers. The jobbers themselves had seen their
own mistake and instead of drawing back they
the House. 1t was an insult to the intelligence
Of the business men of the country; a stubborn
ness to serve the ambition of few demagogues
at the sacrifice of the party and the confusion of
trade.
II was then in hopes that the Democratic ma
tional convention would rebuke these superser-
viceable cobblers and amend the fatal tendency
Of the mistake But here the same mischievous
influences prevailed and made bad worse. Such
hodge podge of meaningless patitudes was
never before issued from a deliberative body.
Upon this tariff question the platform means
everything, anything and nothing 1t is pur-
posely obscure and misleading; it has not, in a
single plank, showed the sign of fair dealing; it
IS the work OF word makers, and has not the re-
semblance Of sound state paper; it is purely
the product of the politician. No statesman
would own il.
You know my fealty to the Democratic
party" the speaker said, and as / thought, in a
way to apologize for his warmth, "and was
vexed almost beyond endurance. l thought
this trifiing something like children playing
with matches in a powder-house. You have
seen how business has been thrown back upon
itself by the uncertainties of the times, and the
failures that have ensued, largely owing to this
political confusion. And here was convention
kicking ont OF its door all the tried and true
men Of the party as fast as they entered to take
their seats, and as salve to the wounded spirit
Of trade, serving out this gush and gammon.
..Well. sir. thought II al grave ristala: but