The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-03
Other Politicrl Issues.
poLYGAMY.


Other Politicrl Issues.
PoLYGANrY.
The Democratic platform is quite remarkable
for its omission of one of the important ques-
tions of the day. Not one word does it contain
against polygamy. This omissionmay have been
in Difference to the feelings of the head of the
ticket. However that may be, the fact is that
the platform is silent upon the subject Every
movement made by the Republican party to
suppress this disgaceful evil that rests as blot
upon our national character, has met opposition
from the Democratic party in Congress. And
now the Democratic platform has no declaration
on the subject, but it does contain this very sug-
gestive statement: 1--WE oppose Sumptuary
laws which vex the citizen and interfere with
individual liberty The recent elaborate ad-
dress of Senator Voorhees,. published as the
Senator's keynote. clearly discloses the purpose
for which that plank was inserted in the Demo
cratic platform. 1t is a bid for the votes of
those who believe that liberty means absolute
release from all control of law, and of those to
whom all lawful and moral restraint is irk
some.
The declaration Of the Democratic platform in
regard to soldiers pensions is startling, and de-
mands grave consideration The Republican
party has never found it difficult to most clearly
point out and describe just what soldiers it be-
lleves worthy to receive pensions from the
United States government One word makes
the definition of the Republican platform plain
and its meaning certain. tits the word UNION
As the scarlet thread that runs through all the
rope and cordage used by the British navy
designates at glance the nationality and own
ership of the ship to which the rope or cord is
attached, so the word Union is wrought into
and runs through every fiber Of the being of the
Republican party. The Republican party be-
w,
What soldiers does the Democratic party pro-
pose to pension3 If Union soldiers only. why
does not the platform say 500 That would have
taken only one word instead Of the dozen words
used in the platform. The word Union is
carefully avoided in defining the soldiers who
are to receive pensions at the hands of
the Democratic party if it obtains pow
er The Democratic platform declares in
favor OF the payment of pensions to worthy
soldiers disabled in the line Of duty in the wars
of the Republic, 1t seems to make no difference
to the Democratic party which side the soldiers
fought on. To the Republican party the side the
soldier fought on makes world wide difference
Are the voters of the United States ready TO un-
dertake the burden of pensioning the men who
fought to destroy our government If the Dem
ocratic platform does not mean just that why
does it SO carefully avoid the use Of the limiting
word sUniongm
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
The Republican party has successfully inaug-
Il
consists in making all minor appointments to
government service dependent upon personal
fitness and meritrather than upon political in
fuence and partisan interest, and in making
continuance in service dependent upon good be-
havior and competency. rather than upon the
success or defeat Of q political party. The
evils attendant upon the unchecked power of
patronage are thus, in some degree, abated and
the civil service is rendered more stable and
efficient. The reform is but partially completed
THE RQn1hlipQn afando D1od Oad IN ito
tinuance and extension to all grades of govern
ment service to which it may be properly APP
piled. This reform has always been, and now
is, opposed by the Democratic party, notwith-
standing its platform declarations One Demo
crat-Senator Pendleton-was honest and brave
enough to stand by his convictions Of
right and duty, aud heartily espoused this re-
form. He introduced the civil-s6rvice reform
bill in the Senate and labored earnestly in
securing its adoption That act sealed his po-
litical fate and closed his political career. The
Democratic party could not forgive him. When
he came before the Democratic Legislature of
Ohio, and asked reelection to the United
States Senate, he was defeated and buried out
of sight The civilservice reform bill is his
political tombstone. ITO the victors belong the
spos' is the Democratic watchword of this
campaign. General Butler. In his speech
in the Democratic national convention
another troubles you start off in your platform
at one point and say you are for an honest civil
service reform. Now, | will venture to say there
is not man in this convention that is in favor
of civil-seryiee reform, unless he is a school
master" And no one dared dispute the state
ment Mr.. Hendricks has already squarely an
nounced himself in favor Of a wholesale change
Of government officers and employees. In his
ratification speech of July IL, 1884, he says;
But my countrymen, Of the 100, 600 men who
now fill official positions in this country-from
what has taken place, we have no right to sup
pose that they are all honest The only way we
can know, is to make change. A month ago
everybody supposed that all the employees in the
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery were honest;
but now, at the very first examination, it turns
out that they are not And what Is the remedyi
Put them out, and put honest men in Wecan't
do that if we leave the same Presi-
dent and heads Of the departments and
heads of bureaus in" In an interview of
the same day, held for the express purpose of
publication. and widely published Mr.. Hendricks
said: There are 10000 officeholders in the
United States, and from Portland to Los Angeles
there is not Democrat holding prominent
position. 1t will be absolutely necessary for the
Democratic President to change, at the least
calculation, 80 600 of these. His party will de-
mand it. and rightfully, too Those statements