The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-22
THE OLD REBEL sNARL,

democracy North ana ooutn is proScrlptlVe
meanly partisan, and intensely sectional-it
proves nothing, and is without meaning:
''That the Democracy of the State of Ten
nessee looking from the home Of jackson and
Polk. now behold in the visit of Samuel j.
Randall, as in the election of Cleveland,
happy return to our place in the Nation as de-
signed by the fathers, wherein is no North, no
South, but one united people, and that our
distinguished fellow-citizen comes amongst us
not rs a stranger or a foreigner, but as
brother and felow-countryman"
Whence do you ''return to your place in the
Union" and why7 How did you get out of it,
and whyY What brought about the rebellion
but just such narrow, sectional prejudice as
exhibited by the Democrats of Nashville9 The
sentiments above recorded are exactly the
same that bred and fostered civil war in 1861.
The men who entertained like sentiments then
made war on "our Union" and brought on
conflict that cost hundreds of thousands of
lives, to say nothing of the vast treasure
wasted The Republican party of to-day has
better right and greater reason to inaugurate
rebellion than had the Democratic in 1861.
There is, however, this one great difference
between the two parties-the Republican is
national and therefore loyal; the Democratic
is sectional, and for that reason can see no
good outside the narrow bounds of the
South, and is eternally snarling and
threatening whenever it is crossed.
The Southern prejudice that culmi-
mated in 1861 in civil war cost the South
an awful penalty. Nor was the patriotic
North spared. Tens of thousands of the
men who now deprecate sectionalism either
personally suffered to save the Nation or lost
father, son or brother. These-and not the
Democratic party-are they who are anxious
! that sectionalism should forever disappear,
and that we should have "'union" in spirit as
in NAME The North has no prejudice against
any man or any party South that is willing to
recognize the Union as common heritage.
The North has no prejudice that will be al
lowed to stand in the way of the men who
once bore arms against the Union. There are
men right in indianapolis occupying places
of honor and trust, who once fought against
the soldiers sent out from this city and State.
For aught known to the contrary, bullets from
the guns these very men carried may have
killed some of our best and bravest. 1t mat
tiers not now. The loyal and patriotic North,
loving the whole country better than any sec
ton of 1.-THE North that paid such
fearful sacrifice that the govern
ment might live, raises no cry
against them, and only asks that one and all
pledge new allegiance to the great principles
upon which the Nation is founded. The
great Northwest stands with doors wide open,
not for immigrants from the Eastern States
man will be accorded the fullest political lib
I erty. If he believes the Democratic party is
preferable to any other, not straw will be
placed in the way of his progress, the only
thing desired being that he regard this Nation
a Nation in truth, and not two ill joined sec
| tons.
What is there about Hon. Samuel J. Ran
dali, a representative Northern Democrat,
differing from any representative Northern
Republican? Mr. Randall is fair sample of
the rank and file of his party-no better, no
worse. Throughout the war he was Demo
GRAFT. He was Democrat in 1868, when the
Democratic partys rallying cry was, 1.-THE
Union as it was with slavery and Democracy
in commando, the Constitution as it is with
out amendments in the interest of freedoml ,"
He was Democrat in 1864, when the Demo
cratic party in national convention assem-
bled denounced, the war for the Union
failure. As Democrat he prob
ably voted against all or nearly
all measures for the prosecution of the war
and the deliverance of the slave He could
not have kept his place in his party had he
consented to actively favor either. But these
are the "virtues" that commend him to the
Democrats of Nashville We take the resolu-
ton as passed as the sentiments of the men
who Endorsed it and formally gave it publici-
ty. 1t is nearly twenty years since the war
closed so that the excess of passion has had
time to cool The election is gone by, and a
Democrat has been chosen, so there ought
not be any of the bitterness of defeat in recol
| lections of it. If there ever is to be time
when Southern Democrats should be chart
table, it is now The Union in which you are
"again about to take your place." is in your
hands. Men who talk and write and resolve
as you have, have done murder for a quarter
of century in order to solidify the South and
obtain control. Your plan has at last sue
! l.