The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-01


ries. The stab they gave the Republican party
for the ACQUISITION of the Territory of Alaska is In
harmony with Democratic thought. Let me re-
cite little history 1t is well known that that
Territory was acquired by purchase from Russia
During the recent war we were rerpetually
menaced by Great Britain and France They
threatened daily to recognize the rights OF the
Southern Confederacy as government dc tacto,
according to it what is known as bellgerent
rights. Our government had declared an en-
barge and closed the ports of the Southern Con
federacy against foreign commercial intercourse.
For long time it was feared that the govern
ment of Great Britain would openly declare IN
favor of the Confederacy. While this
question was at issue they massed
large fleet in Canadian waters. and France
landed foreign army in Mexico OH our borders,
and after its conquest placed on the throne the
Inflated Maximillian The waters of the dulf OF
Mexico were also covered with a French fleet.
In this hour of dire calamity and distress, Rus
STA was our friend It will be remembered oy
the older citizens that at the critical moment
large Russian feet appeared on New YORK mar
Dor. It's presence in our waters was severely
criticized by French and British journals. No
one can say to-day what effect the fleet OF that
friendly power had upon the destinies OF this
country. When the war was successfully ter
minated and the supremacy Of the government
re-establshed, it was thought to be indeilcate to
offer to Russia any indemnity in money for this
friendly act but it was known that she desired
to dispose of Alaska, and as an act of interna-
tional courtesy, well understood at the foreign
office, negotiations were entered into by which
Alaska was purchased, not because America de-
sired the territory, but for the purpose of show
ing our friendly feeling for this great power
that had shown us such friendship in the day OF
our emergency Viewing it from this stand
point it is no wonder that the Democratic party
condemned the wisdom of the policy of this
government in the acquisition Of Alaska. 1t
could not be expected that the convention domi
mated by sentiment such as controlled the
Democratic convention at Chicago could find
any good in the policy or act of international
courtesy that had borne so heavily upon the
great bulk of that party there represented
1t was an exhibition of sublime impudence, how
ever, on the part of the convention to declare
that the Republican party was responsible for
the decay of our merchant marine. They declare
themselves in favor of building it up but omit to
declare that they were the cause of its destruction
1t is true that they falsify history by asserting
that the Republican party was responsible for it's
destruction, when the fact remains, which all his
tory will record, that our merchant marine was
destroyed by the rebel cruisers, put afoat by the
unfriendly hand of England during our recent
war. England, always awake to her own inter
ests, did not hesitate to violate international
law for which an international tribunal held her
responsible at its close, that she might gain an
advantage over US. Quick to perceive that in
the destruction Of our merchant marine hers
would take its place. under guise of building
confederate cruisers, she armed and set ahoat
pirate ships that fed upon our commercial ma
rine and lit up the heavens with our burning
vessels In the face of this history the Demo
cratic party have the audacity to declare that the
Republican party is responsible for its destruc-
ton The Republican party has attempted to
restore it, but has been met at every step
with the opposition Of the Democratic party and
while pretending to be in favor of restoring it
they have never uttered suggestion as to how
it should be brought about In the light of
these facts, the Democratic resolution upon that
subject will find no place in truthful history.
and deserves no place among men except along
side Of Cervantes's bombastic effusions of Don
Quixote
In the Democratic State and national platforms.
will be found vague illusions to civil service re-
he W. = SalliaUo nt
favor Of the reform measures Instituted by the
Republicans Mr.. Hendrickss recent declara
tiO ~ ~? speeSn alset ene conxen
aneston d even IF bic ,,raYeas were less
certain than they are. the recent overthrow Of
that distinouisbed Democrat i, Ohio Senator
Pendleton. leaves no room for doubling
that the Democratic Marty Is utterly onnoseG
to ciyil-seryice reform such as has been entered
upon under Republican rule It is trne that
Senator Pendelton was the author Of the nresent
civil-service law in 90 far az q senator NAV he
fine author of anv law which he intTod1,cas and
espouses Tt Is also tr.ue that the ornaments If
that NJ ~, tla c.oa ~ ar, Tr;tad 1ta+ 800
Pendeiton fond bimself confronted in ts
ace by bold unrelentinp warfare ,1pon il III Is
t1sle that All the onnosition IL Il IN tbe lower
House was from the Democratic side. and the
first onnortnnifv which fine Democrats of1 Ohio
got to show their annreciation for leoislat;on
of this kind thew hrr;ad MI. Pandalton ;I : tanl-
of standard nil 90 deem that bie beet fr;ande yro
dict that there will he no noltical resurrection
for him This Is 4 practical illustration Of Dem-
ocratie reverence for civil-service reform II IS
-
their acts sneak louder than their words. NJ
suIn m therefore the resolutions Of tbe Demo
cratic platform as Compared with their acts do
not consist r. 80
-, -
IhoE eHAiAcTEk oR DESiocKAoY.
While 1T pretends to love abstract virtue, it
hates concrete reform. Hfalsifes inits platform;
it attempts straddle on the tariff; it condones
cipher dispatches, nurses reputation, commits
fraud on the ballot box, snborns witnesses,
nurses Iorgery, denies me Jury-oox STAINS the
@ 0l n a