The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-31
THE FIRST MOVE ON THE BOARD.

Making no allowance for increase of popula-
ton by immigration nor for decrease in num-
bers by death or otherwise, there are now in
the United States no less than 2,047, 963 men
Of voting age who were not qualified TO cast a
ballot in 1880. Since the last presidential
election these two millions of young men have
reached the age of citizenship, and will for the
FIRST time exercise its privileges in q national
election in November next To them the de-
velopment of the campaign will be of peculiar
interest. \Clear-headed and honest hearted for
the most part, their onlysrebition is to do that
which shall tend to tie upbuilding and perpetu-
alton Of that grand republic into which they
we're born. Two million voters have de-
bouched into the great field of politics since
the day that Garfield and Arthur were chosen
to stand at the head of public affairs. Two
thousand full regiments of young men be-
tween the ages Of twenty-one and twenty-five
are forming into line in a national campaign
for the first time. The best and most intelli-
gent, imbued with a sense of the duties just
deYolved, will make a serious study of the
work before them, and it were we'll if all of
them could feel the full weight of their new
responsibility.
The plan of the fight now unfolding will
be studied with interest by the more thought
full, if, by any means, the aims Of the several
parties may be anticipated. These new voters
have already witnessed the meeting Of one of
the minor divisions in the field of politics.
The Greenback party, through its representa-
tive men, has outlined its campaign plans and
named its leaders. Consistent with former
declarations, it still maintains a holier-than-
thou position. 1t bids for the support Of the
new brigades by declaring that all other par
ties are corrupt, and that only it can offer
good government. To those old in strategy
and Interpreting the significance of political
movements this claim must go dow under
investigation. Nor will the young voter who
thinks for himself be slow to see that the
work of the indianapolis convention was cut
to fit snugfy into that which it is hoped will
be the result at Chicago in July next The
Greenback party, through the work done at
It's national convention, has stultified itself
and belied its professions. The Philistine
"widow7 has shorn this self-styled Samson,
md it is pitifully weak before even its own
ardent friends, the scott and mockery of
all parties. Loud in its professions
Of sincerity of purpose and single
ness Of heart, it has turned aside
aom its reform crusade to bid for the spoils
Of office. The young men of America will be
quick to analyze these things and to under
stand that the few in charge of the Greenback
movement, anxious to realize on their work,
haved devised a scheme whereby they hope TO
get at the emoiuments of places. There is
not u voter in the land that knows of General
Butler but knows he is not a Greenbacker in a
party sense. He knows, further, that General
Butler is a regularly accredited delegate to
the Democratic national convention, not as a
Greenbacker, but as an out and out
Democrat. The anomalous action, therefore,
of Il party going past its own men and select
ing one outside of it's lines and squarely in
the camp of a confessed enemy, deserves con
liberation.
The first movement made in the face of
these two thousand regiments OF new voters