The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-14
'PIan" Buchanan Airs His Views.

Il have known Mr.. Mcdonald for twenty-five
years, and while l am opposed to him politically,
l do not think the Democrats could put up Il
better man for the presidency" This was in
answer to a question propounded by a reporter
as to the chances of ex-senator Mcdonald to Sc
cure the Democratic nomination for the presi-
dency. 1t came from James Buchanan, a Re
publican, and well-known lawyer of Indianapo-
lis. Continuing Mr.. Buchanan said: Il do not
take much interest in politics now, but l can
vouch for the good qualities of Mr.. Mcdonald as
a statesman. But there is one man l would vote
for if l could find anybody to nominate him, and
1 shouldn't care who didit That is Ben Butler.
I should like to see him elected President; he
would do something. He is honest; there is no
doubt about that. If there was anything against
his record it would have been found out long
ago. Butler is not q good party man, and that
is why l like him. He is willing to sacrifice
party interests for right and justice"
And yet he was defeated III Massachusetts"
Yes, true, and polled %, 600 more votes than
he did a year ago. There is no doubt that he
was defeated through the aid and counsel of
Democrats all over the country, who feared that
if he had been reelected Governor of Massachu-
sets he would be a formidable rival for the pres
idency. There are lots of men who would sacri-
fee themselves to accept the position
rs Republican success assured in 16S4P
Hard to tell. The Republican party is a war
party, and war parties for some years after their
success always ommand a large following. The
Wings elected Taylor President after the MeXi-
can war, but it was the only President they ever
elected. United on the question of slavery, men
Joined the Republican party, but on other ques-
tions-banking. economic, and other issues,
there has been no blind allegiance. For years
men have voted the Republican ticket although
they did not believe in the principles of the Re
publican party; but there was no other party for
them to belong to. The Democratic idea has
been anything to turn the Republicans out, and
the Republicans anything to keep the Democrats
out. The Democrats, as a rule, have furnished
material for keeping the Republicans in. In
Virginia, lately, they exhibited more folly and
wickedness in killing negroes.
''That is one thing l blame the Republican
party for. They do not protect their own votes.
| am opposed to this Democratic idea of States
rights; that, while the United States will protect
you in China or Russia, in this country it must
yield to the State. This theory has no founda-
ton in law or fact. You pay taxes to the United
States. For WHAT For that mythical thing
called protection Yes, you can find that protec-
ton in Asia, but in your own country that pro-
tecting power is powepless. Why, sir,
would protect every citizen of
the United States, no matter if he was white,
black or yellow, and if twas necessary to do it l
would kill every Democrat in the South. For
years the Supreme Court has frowned on this
States rights doctrine, and now that the bench
is Republican it falls into line and declares the
civil rights bill nconstitutional because it was
not ratified by every State. Why this is just a
gag for the Democrats"
"Then, l suppose you dontsee much necessity
for the existence of the various State legisla-
tures!'
Il think the business of the country might be
carried on with better economy by one federal
legislature. OF course there are some local mat
tiers which can better be regulated locally. 1t
would be a convenience to have u uniform sys-
tenn of laws. Another thing. We must have a
1--- e -. D -
Our present way is b~ungling and defect
i've, and it shows how weak it is in that
the trainers of the constitution provided
a lOophole in case the electoral college proved a
failure. An election can be thrown in the
House. Twice during the last twenty-five years
the country has nearly been precipitated into a
civil war over the presidential election. In an
cient times the bitterest and fiercest wars were
over the succession to the crown. and to-day our
people are are not much better informed ON such
subjects than they were then. / want to vote
directly for the man | want to see President,
and not have a man nominated by a convention
and give me no chance to express my hke-o dis
like, If there are forty candidates, let them all
stand, and the one who receives the greatest
number of votes be elected. This would prevent
fraud, as it would be impossible to have fraud
where there are millions of votes cast, and
there would be only one danger-a tie
vote. That would be almost i'm
possible to happen. There are some
ten thousand officers elected every year in the
United States@ am not sure about the number,
but at any rate there are a great number-and a
tie never happens. The Governors, the Lieuten-
ant-governor or the Secretaries of State of the
various States, could meet in Washington and
canvass the vote. This would ensure fairness,
as it IS hardly likely that the entire board would
be of the same political complexion. In the
same way, | am opposed to legislatures creating
United States senators. | would have them
voted for the same as your councilmen, appor-
tioning a senator to a certain number of votes.
N,.u Dhn1n leland Nth fax-nD 4 hn- QUO
contained in this congressional district, holds
one thirty-eighth of the power of one branch of
the government. Talk about equality, where is
the equality in government in this?"
Would you make the Senate smaller than at
present9'
Il believe in a large legislature, as then there
is not so much danger of the members being pur-
chased. This country has seen its representa-
tives bought up by land grants, credit mobiliers
and contracts, and the larger the body the less
chance there is for such things to happen, unless
You presuppose that no honest men exist, and L
haven't come to that state of thinking yet. l
would make a senator's term the same
as a representatives; if he did his
duty and the people wanted him back
they could return him-if not, he could stay
home. Judges should be elected for n term.
say a year, and not for life. This giving the
judges of the Supreme Court of the United
States and the circuit judges life positions is I'M
republican and contrary to the spirit of our in
situations. [ don't know that the circuit judges
are any better or as good as the judges you have
in this State, and even here | think their terms
are too long. You don't think good men could
be secured for only a year! l don't believe any
trouble would ever be found in filling the
Offices"
Designs of the Free-Traders.
Washington Special to New York sun.
Mr.. Randall has been semi-oficially informed
that he must be quiet or go to the wall. Plenty
of other instances could be named. They all
show, like the expressed determination of the
leaders, that there is to be an aggressive move
ment to commit the party absolutely and un-
equivocally to the doctrine of revenue only, and
to push out all who don't agree to that view.
The plans that have been laid are beginning