The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-09-23
Congressman Holman, Against Whom the Most
Newspaper Attacks Are Directed.
4OLNANS INFLUENCE UPON LEGISLATION.
HIS Views Regarding an Appropriation for
the Army and Navy.
As to- Newspaper Abuse the Quality of
Fruit May be Inferred by tire Num-
ber of Clubs Lying Mt the
Root of the Tree.
Special to the sentinel.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1S-HOn. William S.
Holman more than any other member OF the
National Congress is awarded the honor of
perpetual newspaper vituperation. But his
character as a publicist is so faultless, there
is so much of it for those who take a correct
or even conservative view of affairs to COM
mend, that the attacks fall harmless at his
feet. Possibly he is in utter Oblivion as to
the extentiOf the swarm, never feeling
sting for the reason that his history from the
beginning is without wounds to poison and
to-day glows with health.
interviewed by reporter of the San Fran
cisco Call, Mr.. Holman lately expressed his
views on thesubject of reducing the appro-
priation for the army and navy. This gives
the Washington Post what it certainly con-
slders an opportunity to get even by Observ-
ing editorially.
Just why newspaper reporters interview HOl-
man we are unable 10 conjecture. His petty hob
bies are few and fiagrant. Everybody KNOWS the
domino he wears. Everybody can cOnnt with ab-
solute certainly upon his advocating pit able par
simOI BUSINESS win reference To ever p sition out
side OF the remote HOOser district ne so eXqulsle e
~ represents. Why, then should the san Fran
cisco Cali repeat to Us with fatuous air OF hav-
ing Just heard OF II, that Holman IS IN favor OF
reducing the army and navy appropriations in the
next Congress- And why should the Cali allow
itself 10 be suspected OF assuming that anybody
cares what Holman favOrs? He can always be re-
lied upon to vote and 10 argue on The side of
Sha f boy an and ID stngy way OF doing things; but ne
not likely 10. An interview with him, therefore,
can be neither newsy nor significant. Il would
be rather too absurd to cake any utterances OF
Mr.. Holman's the text for serious argument as
10 matter of national policy. There is no occa-
sion 20 do more than remark that the American
coast defenses, and, now that they have ad-
ministratiOn in which they can safely rcp0se con
dence, they intend 10 have them.
The writer of the above i'm the bOIdeSf
terms inscribes himself a donkey. There is
something revolving in the aniInEs of
these newspaper insects that curiosity i'm
pels us TO ask the reason. The whole country
has witnessed the public life of this eminent
Indianian for the last twenty-five years
without making the discovery here emblaz-
oned. For years the public has attached the
largest Importance to his utteranees, and
there is not more conspicuous figure in the
countrys politics.
More than any other member of the Ma
tional Congress, | have the highest authority
for writing, William 5. Holman has i'm
pressed and engrafted his views in the legis-
lation of the Republic. He comprehended
by intuition and has devoted his life TO the
advocacy of the whole plan of Democratic
salvation. More than to any other publiclst
for having rescued the Government from the
profligacy of Republican rule, and brought
II back TO the purity OF the fathers, the
honor is due him. A study of the Congress
every argument employed to dispossess the
party of spoil, waste and extraya-
gance first acted upon by
Mr.. Holman. In writing that he
represented all that was best and most hope
ful in our politics and that a proper appre-
citation of actual merit would elect him to
the Presidency Mr. Dana was correct.
Though scholarly and book man, as famil
lar with what is written of the occult sci
ences as he is with the details of legislation,
he has never flashed upon current literature
as a refOrmer, q free trader or q prOtectioniSt,
has he chosen TO distinguish himself by
displaying glittering individuality in any
of the side shows. On the contrary, he has
moved within his party. bringing il up to
his views. and, without Poising as a political
leader, received the silent acknowledgment
of his contemporaries of promising the high
est order of leadership.
To show the full extent of Mr.. Holman's
impression on Congress, vast volumes might
be written, but few paragraphs will suffice
for this article. OF this-the old rule-ad-
vantage was taken 10 vote away i'm the last
days of a session of Congress the vast sums
of money that exerted an influence 50 i'm
moral upon the country, fostering the
schemes that have disgraced our history and
leading to the destruction of records. IL
reads as follows:
No appropriation shall be reported In such gem
eral appropriation bills or be In order
amendment thereto, for any expenditure not pre-
nnless in continuation for appropriations for
such public works ana objects AZ are already in
progress and for the contingencies for carrying
on the several departments Of the Government
March -, ls.s.
Upon the engrossment of any bill making ap-
prOpriatiOns of money for works OF internal Inn
prOyeIncnt of any kind or description, II shall be
in the power Of any member 70 call for division
Of the question: so as 10 take separate vote OF the
Honse upon each item OF improvement or appro-
Priauon contained in said bill, or upon such
items separately and others collectively, as the
members making the call may specify and II one
fifth the members present second said call IL shall
OF the question and put them 70 vote accordingiy
February 2 1876.
The THle that closed and hermetieally
sealed the opening into this character of
fraud-zpaying private debts out OF the Ma
tional Treasury is OF Mr.. Holman's writing
and reads as follows:
No appropriation shall be reported In any gem
eral appropriation bill or be In order amend
ment thereto for any expenditure not previously
proprations for such public works aud objects as
are already in progress Nor shall any provision
existing law be I'm order. except such as being
german 70 the subject matter Of the bill. shall re-
trench expenditures BY the reduction of the num-
per and salary OF the officers OF the United states
by the -edueti0n OF the compensation OF any per
son pal out Of the Treasury OF the United States
or by tre reduction OF amounts Of money covered
by the BILL Provided, That II shall be I'm order
committee having Jurisdiction OF the subject mat
ter Of such amendment, which amendment being
gtrmaln 10 the subject matter OI the bill shall re-
trench expenditures.
There is nothing hashy In that. but IL has
history telling largely of public economy;
and there are Republicans OF Presidential as
pirations who would rather have the honor
OF its authorship than TO possess Jay Goulds
best paying railroad.
This Indianian who has done 10 much 10
the honor Of the State can certainly take
care OF himself on the army and navy appro-
priatiOn. The following extract from a
speech he delivered In the House some years
ago doubtless expresses his sentiments to-
day:
Our isolated position gave MS ample security
against foreign invasion. We derived still greater
security from the nature Of our institutions of
government We were entering upon new ca
Tecr, then unknown 70 the governments Of the