The Indianapolis journal., 1884-08-20

ions invested in school property, was provided
| FOR by the wisdom of the Democratic party a
third Of century ago When history records
tfta fact as it is now doing. that no other Com
monwealth on the globe, whether an American
[ State or a European government, is spending as
much money according to population to educate
Its inhabitants as Indiana, the great work ac-
| complished by her Constitution will begin to be
realized. Let that mighty army Of youth five
hundred thousand strong annual attendance
on our free schools, the rising generation around
as, the children Of the State be taught the truth
on this subject, and let them know the true
source of tina vast and unceasing blessings which
they enjoy.
PoLIoY TOWARD FOREIGNERS.
But while examining the organic law Of our
Stats which the Republican party is so greedy
to amend, there are other great facts demanding
our attention and admiration, The wise and
liberal policy of that instrument toward people
of foreign birth has drawn to our rich and pro
ductive fields, to cur workshops, our coal mines
and our diversified manufaetories a vigorous
law abiding Industrious population from the
different countries Of Europe. The provision in
the Constitutional Indiana that every male of
foreign birth of the age, Of twenty-one years
who shall have resided in the United States one
year. and IN this State six months. and in the
township sixty days and m the precinct thirty
Gays next preceding an election and had de-
clared his intention to become acitizen of the
United States, was a qualified voter, met with
bitter animosity at the time of its adoption.
Such liberal bestowal Of the right of suffrage
was almost if not entirely unknown in the
United States prior to that period and
evils of the gravest character and mag
nitude were violently predicted BY
the opponents Of the Democratic party. No
such train of evils. however, has followed On
the contrary, the State has been enriched and
her prosperity advanced. According to the
there were at that time in Indiana 73, 446 males
OF foreign birth over twenty-one wears of age.
They constitute more than one seventh of our
entire voting population and they havee con.
trlbuted their full proportion to the development
OF the State, and the wisdom of our laws. When
the Constitution Of Indiana was in process of
construction Know nothing bigotry was abroad
III the land, and was making mems religious
opinions testof the qualification and eigibil-
ity as public officers. This odious and horrible
spirit was met and rebuked by tho Democratic
party In hsfallowing charter Of religious liberty
engraVen in the Constitution:
ALI men shall be secured in their natural right to
worship Almighty God according to the dictates of
their consrienees.
No law shall in any case whatever control the free
exercise and enjoyment of religious opinions inter
feYe with the rights of conseieue8.
No preference shall be given by law TO any creed
religious society mode of worship; and shall
Worship or to maintain any ministry against his con-
sent
No religious test shall be required as qualification
for any Office Of trust profit
No money shall be drawn from the treasury for the
benefit Of any religious theological institution.
No person shall be rendered incompetent wit
in consequence of ais opinion on matters of re-
ligion.
These great truths are now SO familiar, and so
Rn4uestiened, that it Is difficult to appreciate
their vital significance at the time of their adop-
tion, In the midst Of native American riots,
burning converts; and red handed murder, such
a declaration OF absolute religious liberation
rang out like. call from heaven enioining
peace and charity among men. Nothing nnbler
or more comprehensive for the security of free
consei6nce and personal liberty was ever drafted
into the fundamental law of 3. state. ancient or
modern May 1 not appeal to the people of In
diana to guard well such constitution It's
pages are all adorned by broad and liberal guar
antees for prosperity and happiness
PUBLIC CHARITIES.
Indiana has long been fanOus, toe, for her.
great public charities Behold her benevolent
institutions, where the blind see, the dumb
speak. the sick aue healed and the destitute fed
and clothed You find their blessed foundations
laid demand strong in that Constitution which
the Democratic party created, and with which
the Republican party has never been satisfied,
and now seeks to change. Article: 8, says,
It shall be the duty of the General Assembly to pro-
vide by law for tho support of institutions for the
education of the deaf and dumb and of the blind and
also for the treatment of the insane The General
Assembly shall provide houses for the correction and
reforn1afion of iirueile Offenders er county boards
shall have power to- provide farms as asylum for
those persons who BY reasonof age, in6rniity, or
other misfortune, have claims upon the sYmpathies
and aid of society.
These are grand provisions. love to read
them. They add charity unto knowledge They
associate Christian beneNuenee with religious
freedom, and have cEownAd the State with a
glory as impariahable as the stars. They have
hoo nied into
system of bALayolent instruction.. and care for
the unfortunate, a6lin her school system, stands
second to no other Americans State. Home
slanderers have DETAINED the institutions of In
diana because they are Of Democratic origin,
until In distant parts Of the country her gpeat
nass is but partially knowns i read an ARTICLE q
few days ago from one OF those hheleEs account
ing for the fact that Indiana was a. aDemceFatief
State because Of the low origin of her early set
tiers, and the consequent ignorance and infefiOr-
ity of their descendants Is it time for all
who honor their State, and are not willing to-
defle their own homes to- stand together and
tramPle such partisan calunniesi under f00hl
For my part shall make the truth known as
far as in my power, and place credit where
credit is due.
Since the adoption of the Constitution in 1851,
the Democratic party of Indiana has had control
Of her affairs majority Of the time, and is re-
sponsible for her most LIBERAL and progressive
legislation The separate rights of married
women, their prQtection from thaiE husbands
debts, their right to bring suits, and their indie
pendence generally as to their property interests
weresa all mainly secured under the leadership Of
a Democrat IN n Democratic Legislature las
sert, and history is my witness, that. every per-
manent feature Of public policy in Indiana most
conducive to the culture, strength and happiness
0f herlpeople, and to her wealth, credit and
glory asa State has. been conferred upon her by
the wisdom and patriotism of the Democratic
party.
But recurring again To the subject Of the
amendment sought to be- made through the
action of the next Legislature to the Constitus.
ton Of this State, there are some things in re-
gard to its alleged merits; its necessity; and its
utility as. mOras agent which ought, perhaps
to besaid.
No one questions the right of society to the
best methods known to experience for its pro
lection purifcation and advancement deny;
however. in. the most explicit andeompRehens
terms, that the prohibition Of wine or spirituous
and malt liquors, was ever an incident to civil