The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-01
A CHANGE OF HEART.
Editor Linn's Reasons for DESERVING De-
mOcracy and Embracing Republicanism.

Editor Linn's Reasons for DESERVING De-
mOcracy and Embracing Republcanism.
Wabash Courier.
With this issue of the Courier all ties which
have in the past bound it to Democracy are sew
cred. To those who have watched the Courier
closely during the past eighteen months this in
telllgence will not come in the form of a start
ling revelation, while others, that class whose
thoughts rarely penetrate the surface of a sub
ject, and whose mental pasturage is too scant to
admit OF them reasoning from cause to effect
will regard the change one marked by sud
denness and lack of preliminary work rivaling
the conversion of Saul of TarsuS. So closely al
lied are the two great political parties on the
more important issues of the day that he who
leaves the Democratic ranks cannot rest on neu-
trail ground. There is but one harbor, but one
place of refuge, and that is within the bound
aries of the Republican party. With that party
the Courier has joined its fortunes, and hence
forth all that it can command in energy, ability
and untiring industry will be devoted to the work
of popularizing and perpetuatng the principles
of Republicanism.
In making this change, it is due the Demo
cratic patrons of the Courier that full explain
alton of the causes which have led to it be given
them. They are these:
/. The course of the Democratic party during
the past eighteen months has not been such as to
inspire confidence and respect among that class
of Democrats whose liberality of thought and
progressive ideas encourage the breaking away
the moss-covered banks to which it has so long
been moored. The Courier is liberal and pro
gressive and it cannot act in harmony with a
party whose proudest boast is that its doctrines
have undergone change since they were first
promulgated
2. A newspaper can be of no benefit to any
political party unless it is in full fellowship and
hearty sympathy with all the principles embod~
led in its faith. The Courier cannot act in full
fellowship with presentday Democracy. and to
longer refrain from confessing this openly is to
be guilty of species of deception for which no
valid excuse can be given.
3. The project of supplanting the Courier
with rock-ribbed, dyed-in the wool Democratic
paper has been canvassed for months among
Democrats whose displeasure the Courier has in
Cured by its decent and just treatment of Re
publicanS. The movements of these diSgruntled
Democrats have been known to the editor and
proprietor of the Courier for some time and if
no better nor no stronger reason existed for his
change of front, he could justly be excused on
the grounds that it is better to walk out of the
ranks OF the Democratic party than tarry and be
kicked out.
4. The editor of the Courier chafes under any
influence which restraints him from dischargng
with enthusiastic zeal any work in which he may
be engaged. To be circumScrbed to the narrow
limits defined by the local interpreters of Jacob
Townsend Democracy" is to smother all enthus-
asm and make the task of publishing Demo-
cratic newspaper not only repugnant, but actually
revolving to his feelings
Wnlle these form but a fractional part OF the
reasons-all of them deeply grounded in candor
and justice-they are deemed sufficient by the
writer, Lee Linn, to eXonerate him from the
charge Of having acted in other than good faith
in taking his leave of Democracy He expects
to have his motives impugned; he is aware that
abuse without stint will be heaped upon him;
but having the courage of his convic bas he
will not shrink in the face of calumny nor
weaken III the presence of the gauntlet which
ne will be made to run by his late Democratic
friends. The privilege of changing ones views is
one which should be accorded a man unques-
toned. To withhold this privilege is to spit
upon the Constitution, and bring into ridicule
Americas proudest boast, that even the hum
blest citizen is guaranteed the right to worship
God according to the dictates of his own con
science, and vote as he pleases. The writer
knows that his action will wreck many friend
ships which he values highly; that N y Demo
Gratis for whom he entertains the kindliest feel
ings will become embittered against him. and
lament the poverty of a vocabulary which adj
mits of no stronger cpithets than those contained
in the sentence, He is a liar, william. and a
horse thief. The Courier under the new de-
parture, will be even better local newspaper
than it has been in, the past, and those Demo
Gratis who want live newspaper in their homes
would do well to permit their names to stand
undisturbed upon the subscription books. The
writer asks nothing more in this matter than
simple justice and in bidding farwell to old
party associations he does so with malice toward
none and charity for all