The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-13
LIBEL I'M PICTURES.

SAS A9 OASS@ARHON
Mast in the way Of producing artistic pictures,
are an interesting study. There are two in
last weeks issue of peculiar significance. One
represents an Irish voter wearing a Blaine
campaign uniform, across the breast of which
are the words 'Plumed Dynamiter," while
in his hand is clasped an ugly-looking sheath
knife labeled sBlind Animosity." To finish
the insult intended to be put upon Irishmen
independent enough to vote as they please,
this Blaine Irishman is pictured with mouth
wide open and head thrown back, while adem-
John of whisky is being poured down his
throat. The other cartoon to which we wish
to direct attention represents General Logan
reviewing a line of relatives now in federal Of
fees. To add to the heinous offense of hold
ing a public place they are one and all de-
picted as imbeciles or rogues. The names and
positions of eighteen such relatives are given
with the cartoon, but to make up
the quota of this list the names of
two "former servants" and two "ex-private
secretaries are given, so that, in all honesty,
the worst that can be said of Logan's nepo-
tism is that fourteen Of his relatives are in Of
fee, three of whom are women. Let us briefly
consider the significance of these twopictures.
The publication of the former gives the lie
to the Democratic claim that no considerable
hodu oe Tr;cb Damnoyatc ono IN ravnlt This
year. An insult SO sweeping would not have
been put upon the Irishmen of New York and
Of the country at large were it not realized
that desperate cases must be treated with des-
perate remedies. That the representative IL
Illustrated organ of Democracy should feel
justified in depicting the Irish voter as a man
blinded by animosity and purchasable with
whisky is not surprising when it is con-
sidered that this is a fair Democratic
estimate of the character of that class of vo-
ters. That party, relying upon Irish preju-
dice and the persuasive power of whisky, has
for years held its allegiance, the
more intelligent Irishmen being cajoled
by promises of official preferment. Now
that the Republican party has nominated can
didates personally popular among Irish voters,
and that the Democratic party has named a
man for whom they can never vote and main
tain their self-respect, the situation has as
sumed so serious an aspect that heroic meas
ures must be employed. But it is very doubt
full if the means used will bring about the
object desired. What must be the feelings
Of any honest Irishman who sees this pictured
libel upon him and his people? Will it win
him, or will it repel hint The journal is
much in error if it does not widen the breach
and tend to still further ALLEVIATE the Irish
vote. No man of spirit can pocket such an
insult upon his national character. In an
other cartoon in the same issue, in which a
score or more public characters are portrayed,
the only Irishman present is represented as a
dog with a tin kettle tied to his tail. The
Democratic party is in such desperate straits
that not a number Of Puck or Harper's
Weekly (breyet Democratic) is issued with
out some malignant attack upon Irish
men, and in one instance Mr..
Blaine is caricatured as an Irishman,
shillelah in hand and dancing an Irish jig, the
purpose being to cast opprobrium upon him.
Republicans are content to let this business
go on, evidencing as it does the wrath of the
Democratic party over the Irish revolt, and
inevitably tending to forever ALLEVIATE the vote
Of that people from the party to which they
have so long and SO thanklessly adhered.
The other cartoon, setting forth Logan's
nepotism, is an u~nintentional compliment tc
the rank and file of the Republican party.
Who, indeed, should complain of Logan's
nepotism if not Republicans If Logan's
fourteen relatives were ousted who but Re
publicans would be likely to succeed to thei,
placesf The cartoonist unconsciously exposed
the chief sin Of the Democratic party in lay.
ing bare its covetousness. Undoubtedly many
a reliable Democrat contemplated that car,
toon with feelings that by no means assured
him that there was not somewhat Of irony in
its suggestiveness. The great body Of Repub-
lican voters, with friends at court, seem
to have given no thought to the
fact that several Of General Logan.
relatives were in places that they themselve.
might secure if they but raised complaint Of
nepOtisn. The artist lGratz) could not have
drawn the dividing line between the charac.
t~eristics Of the two parties more forcibly had
he set out to do SO. The constitutional weak,
ness Of the Democratic party is an inordinats
and forever unsatisfed appetite for Office.
The thought that it can not get into power is