The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-20
THEN AND NOW.

IN lotl the MlsSOurl hepuDLlCHD proposed
8 new Democratic departure, involving the
abandonment of thu old war issues, and the
acceptance of the work of Republican re-
construction. About the same time Mr..
Julian urged a new Republican departure,
in an article which we here reprint. In the
light of to-day il will not be without inter
est to the reader, whether Democratic or
Republican:
The Repu blicsn party has an honorable record,
and an organization already in the field it can
continue 10 govern the country; but It can only
90 this by radical reconstruction OF its ideas
and policy. Ia a word, IL needs, and must have
new departure. Let Us explain and part CulsTize:
The Republican parry must take new departure
on the tariff question. We do not say It should
take ground in favor of free trade though we BE-
heye, for ourselves, IN tariff for revenue with
Auch protection only as Is ialr incident 10 that
object Bat the old controversy between free
traders and pTOteCuOnlstg IS not necessarily in
vOlyed In the work Of thoroughly reforming
making the rich richer and the poor poorer. Ii
imposes heavy burdens upoa the mass OF the
peOpe, ana especially upon the poor, for the
benefit OF TlOnOpOlists whom Il hampers. We be
lave in the equal protection of the law for all
aud utterly repudiate that policy Of ''r0Dbing
Pc er to pay Paul' through which the salt, iron.
coal and other mOnCpOliEts under our present
pretent taflu laws have gown lnsolVent and fleh.
The trials OF the late war afforded some excuse
for great mistakes in dealing with the questions of
foCnce and revenue but these mlstsks must
now be corrected III the old Wing element
IN the Republican party will not allow
this 10 be done. then a new party viii spring
into life that will undertakett
he Republican party needs new departure on
the question Of civil service reform. Il stands
committed on this issue, while some OF lis most
Influential leaders ignore 1t, and others scout il,
If the party expects TO live. and to have honor
able place in American politics, 1t must meet tle
question at once, ana deal with il fesressly and
thoroughly. 1t shOuin begin the work by a dec
lsTGtiOn 10 favor OF the One-eTm principle for the
Presidency, and make IL plank II the platform
next year Nothing could be more shameful,
more dis ODOTing 10 political decency than the
conduct Of General Grant in using All the vast
power and patronage OF nis high Office in securing
his reelection for q second term, hurting frO9
office honest. faithful. and capable men, simply
TO make places for scsawaGs and thieves; turning
out tTied Republicans and unhinching lOyalists,
and putting In their places lifelong Democrats or
half rebels like Tom Murphy, OF New York. and
brOther-in-lRW Casey, OF New Orleans, snd heap
ing honOTs and emouments upon his poor kin.
while accepting presents OF fine houses
ard tempting lsrgesses in money from
men unknown TO lame whe are PAID OF In fat
places 1t Is not necessary for the Republican
party 10 make war on General Grant but If il
lacks the courage 10 rebuKe these. Ecandaous pro-
ceedings IT can scarcely hone 70 command the
respect OF the honest men In its rEnks. All its
professions in favor OF civil service reform next
tive and his mercenaries to force MIN upon the
party as its standard bearer, aud thus 70 brand
their professions as hypocriticAl and Tammanyize
our organization. Let the Republican party sig
naliZe its new departure on the question OF our
land policy It was greatly helped into power in
1860 by It's protested friendship for the homestead
policy, ana by writing its banners land for the
lAndes-.' Under the constantly increasing pressure
OF public opinion IL passed the homestead law OF
the truth demands this credit should be cOnsdera-
bly, qualified. The homestead act Is simply half
way measure; for while il offers home 70 the
pioneer on the conditions Of occupancy and inn
| prOyemenL there is no law to prevent
the Spectator from throwing himtef across the
path of the settler, and buying up great tracts of
| choice lands to be held for a rise in price, by
| which our Door pioneers are driven further into
| the frontier and on to less desirable lands and
relied TO pay the mOnopOlist the tariff ne may
exact. The simple remedy for this is law forbid
ding 10 and reserving the whole of eur public
lands in limited ailotments for actual settlers who
want homes. Again and again has the Republican
| party voted down all such proposed legislation
while holding the power TO exact st fer the past
eight or nine years. On this point il record can
| net be defended.
| II should also be remembered that the Repus-
lican party is responsible for the vicious Indian
policy iDRuguIated in 1861, by which millions Of
scTes of choice lands have fallen into the grasp OF
| SPECTATORS through PRETENDED treaties with our
| indian tribes, thus plundering them Of their
| rights, depriying Thousands OF white settlers OF
homes aud making void both the homestead
Republican rule also that nearly 90 600 COO acres
| of the public domain have been q snted to rail
| way and other corporations, without any condi
| lions or restrictions whatever in behalf Of the
landless poor. II the party shall refuse to take q
| new departure 20 these fearful evils, and this
| frighhul nal administration, and thus make good
IT. yaunted professions, it will prove itself I'M
| worthy future support
A new Republican departure IL not less nesded
| on the labor question. Here as on the land ques-
ton, party psrsdes its regard for the righs 81
| uorkingnen. and fondly points to the enancipa-
ton OF 4,oo0 0f0 of slaves. Let Il be hOnoreo for
! this grand work. IL should be remembered, how
ever, that the Republican party abolished slavery
Rot as voluntary act under a sense OF duty TO
| the slave, but on c0mpulsiOn. Is tried. with al
its might. not TO do It Il announced, again
and again, its readiness to leave these
| millions in chains means OF com
promise with their rebel masters We speak
of the party. and not Of course of the abolitior
eli ment in it. which always asserted the claims D
justice and humanity in demanding emancipation
! under the war power. The Republican party wa
finally driven into its assault upon slavery, il
order TO save the country and itself from destruc
ton. But its work is OlIy naf done. Chatte
slavery Is gone: but We haze left wage slavery, the
ownership OF labor By capital. which is simp,l
slavery in another form. The Republican part
must so accept il 10 must favor q reduction OF IN
hours of toll in the great factories and workshop
| of the country over which the Government ha
control. IL must show itself the friend OF on
pioneer settlers and of the rights of the people, b.
| thorough reconstruction OF our land policy an