The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-18
DEMOCRACY AND EX-UNIoN SOLDIERS.


DEMOCRACY AND EX-UNION SOLDIERS.
The indianapolis Sentinel affects to be much
"pained" because of ill-treatment of the
soldier by the Republican party, inasmuch as
the gallant old General McGinnis was not
nominated for mayor. In the first place, it is
well enough to say that General McGinnis is
not troubled himself, but is Loyalty and
earnestly supporting the man who defeated
him for the nomination. In the second place,
it may do to say that had General McGinnis
been the nominee no one would have opposed
him more relentlessly and unscrupulously, in
the interest of the Liquor League and its
candidates. than this same Sentinel which now
slobbers with hypocritical tears.
But let US take a brief look at the attitude
Of the Democratic party in its treatment of
the Union soldier since it has had the oppor
tunity and the ability to show its animus to-
ward them. There was the office of United
States Attorney. A gallant federal soldier,
one who had borne himself with distinguished
credit, was peremptorily removed, and John
E. Lamb appointed in his place Was Mr..
Lamb soldier If so, his record is not
available just now, and the Sentinel can do
favor by reproducing it. Three internal
revenue collectors have been acknowledgement
Mckay, Captain Kirkpatrick and Major
Carter. They all served with honor through
out the war; Who has been appointed to sue
coed them? DR.. Hunter, Tom Hanlon and J.
o. Henderson. If either of these gentlemen
ever served a day in the army, we are not
aware of it. But then, this same gallant Gen.
George F. McGinnis held small place in the
postal service. He was superintendent of the
mailbag repair department The ''reform"
and soldier-loving administration sought him
out, peremptorily removed him, and gave his
place to man who was never other than a
party ward worker, and who never served in
the army that anybody ever heard of.
But more than this: 1t is proposed to re-
place General R. S. Foster, a most distin-
guished federal officer, by man named Haw-
kins, of LaPorte. A correspondent of the
Commercial Gazette gives the record of Haw-
kins, thus:
'He is Virainian by birth, and during the
war was bitter and malignant copperhead,
shouting on more than one occasion for Jeff
Davis. He was farmer until 1872, when he
was elected trustee, sold his farm and entered
int He
sheriff OF LaPorte county. In politics he is
worker dangerous man, believer in the
worst of the machine methods If he lived in
the South he would be the prince of bulldozers
He stops at nothing to gain his ends, aiming
always at success. He believes in the use of
money to carry elections, and has been for
years the medium through which the Doodle
has been dispensed to the faithful in the
northern part of the State. He is a bitter
opponent of the federal election laws, and has
often expressed himself in decided terms
against them. He belongs to the lower or
baser strata of politicians, and is, without any
moral qualifications, the brutal being largely
developed in him. He will not shine in any
social or moral position.
''He is not man of much intellectual force,
and never originates anything, but is the ma
chine through whose force and power the
party leaders work If appointed marshal he
VIII any ulIuSolI Will Tie Saloon 6lomOQC, anu
in local politics will Use every power of the
Office to advance the interests of that element
The State officers will take him into their
ring and he will be the connecting link be-
tween them and the local bosses. With him
there will be a perfectly straight edge from
Governor Gray to Sim Coy, the leader of the
hummer element"
This man Hawkins is being urged for the
marshalship by Vice president Hendricks and
by Senator Voorhees,. This is the record of
the Democratic party, briefly put, in its
treatment of Union soldiers in the dstri-
button of important political Offices, which,
for the time being, is at the party disposal.
In view Of it it would seem to behoove the
Sentinel to dry up its crocodile tears and hold
its peace The Indianapolis Sentinel in the
character of the soldiers friend is one not
calculated to arouse the pleasantest memories.