The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-03


tions OF this executive Imperialism, and q third
term had been filled by its most favored disciple
The people, like Senator Smith. felt that check
to this domination of individual within and
preference was necessary. Not to save us from
a monarchy. but 20 avert the establishment of an
executive system that might at any time thwart
or resist the settled purpose of the people through
whole four years term. Popular fear of undue
power, possibly in some cases, resentment of
assumptions that seemed usurpations in other
cases, vague appreheDsionS of disturbances OF
business, of State or national relations, of foreign
dlfncultles In still other cases. started the move
ment that ran out in the often Iudicrous, but
rarely ineffective extrayagances of the Log Cabin
and Hard Cider campaign. We were getting too
much President for our Congress- too much sail
for our ballast, and were putting ourselves in a
condition to be upset, if not f0undered, some
day and the time had come to stop.
Cooperating with this was derivative in
ffuence that appeared most conspicuouslv, prob
ably. in the avidity with which the people seized
upon Ogle's 'Gold Spoon speech and made
political cartridges of such trash as was fit only
for waste paper. If popular feeling had not
been excited by political action that it disiked
or dreaded. the miserable ''hog wash about the
spoons and plates on the Presidents table would
have been given as little consideration as it
would now, when nobody cares a straw for the
costly table service of the White House. But
here was new proof of the anti republican
tendencies of the administration, to the infamed
and versensitive feeling of the time The
Democrats-Judge Wick was one remember
protested that it the people gave the President a
palace they ought not to furnish it like shanty.
The representatives of foreign powers should be
treated here with the consideration that ours
received in their countries and these diplomatic
courtesies required such finery. 1t was all idle
Reason and sense of propriety were both weak
ened or effaced by the general apprehension of
undue executive power, and things innocent in
themselves were strained in corroborative
proofs.
The second condition that most directly and
potently affected the political feeling of the time
was the depression of business the scarcity of
money. and the repression of large portion of
our most remunerative industries. Times were
hard, and they had become hard under Demo
cratic management. Executive power had Sc
rlousy interfered with business by the veto of
the recharter of the United States Bank Exec
utlve power had been strangely and unwarrant-
ably stretched. Men like Swartwout, who had
been condemned by popular sentiment speaking
through the Senate had been defantly placed in
better Offices and exhibited their gratitude and
illustrated the judgment of the executive by
running away with millions of dollars of public
money. The abuse of executive power was held
by many to De one of the cooperating causes of
our financial troubles, and coupled with
Its notorious perversion to party or per-
sonal aims became. the impulse of the
greatest political movement of our history up to
that time Indiana was just beginning to feel
the full force of the waves of financial trouble
Harrisburg convention met Our system Of in
ternal improvement was in progress, our bonds
had been freely taken. our credit had been good,
and our prospects as fair as the congratuatory
messages OF the governors promised. Then the
hard times came Within two or three
days of the meeting of the conven-
ton that nominated General Harrison,
Governor Wallace had said to the Legislature in
his annual message: 1.-THE failure to procure
funds. as we had right to expect from the ex-
Ia Of toto how fol p1xy
part of the season, has led to great and unusual
embarrassments not only among the contractors
but also among the people. The State has,
in consequence, fallen largely in debt to the
former, and is without the means in possession
of discharging it," The State became virtually
bankrupt. Business houses, mills, factories.
farms were embarrassed or abandoned. The
condition of the whole country was deplorable.
and more likely to grow worse under the politi-
cal management from which it had grown up.
In these conditions the Wings offered man
identified with political and military history for
nearly forty years, an honest man and not rich
man, and the Democrats. illustrating the Latin
maxim whom the gods would destroy they first
make mad, laughed at the "log cabin" they said
he lived in and the hard cider" he drank. 1t
was the laugh of insanity preparing for suicide
In the temper of the nation it was the very thing
to spread popularity and fix it. There were no
gold spoons" in a ''log cabin" There were no
Prices, or Swartwouts, or other big thieves of
the peoples money among the supporters of
General Harrison. He had an angry and sus-
picious nation behind him, and to sheer at his
poverty was to make him the nations idol. have
thus tried to sketch briefly and imperfectly the
causes of the political phenomenon of 1910.
Following the regular order Of business the
club voted itself, at the suggestion of Col Will
French, an ''old settlers meeting" and interest
ing "reminiscences were related by Mr. French,
Mr.. Connolly. Mr.. Denny. DR.. Albeit, DR..
Wishard. Rev. Greenly Mclaughlin, Rev. S. T.
Gillette, Mr.. Smock, j. M. Tilford. and one or
two others. Rev. Lewis H. Jameson was
announced as the speaker at the next regular
meeting, in October, and Gen. Ben Harrison
was requested to make the address at
ing that he had spoken to the General, and
he appeared very willing to speak on the
occasion. After singing the doxology and a
benediction by the club chaplain, Rev. T. II.