The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-08
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

! two or three votes to give the Democracy a
quorum in either branch, so that the response
bility of the party for what the Legislature
may do or not do is stronger than usual.
failure in the enactment of such measures as
q wholesome regard for the good of the people
and the prosperity of the State demands,
while there must be the fullest responsibility
for the character of whatever legislation may
be had. The minority is in position where
ii can do but little; it cannot be responsible
Though small, the minority is able and ex-
Perienced, and both in the Senate and in the
| House, under proper and conscientious leader
ship will be enabled to commend itself and
the Republican party to the confidence OF the
people who care more for good conduct than
for mere partisan triumphs. The minority
should not be content to remain simply the
minority, and to do nothing more than OBJ
struct There must be positive action, and
every effort made to have the minority be-
come the majority in the advocacy Of what
ever is salutary and in opposition to what
ever is baleful. There are indications
among the Democratic members that the ma
jority is far from harmonious The large
preponderance in the membership is apt to
beget personal strifes and develop personal
ambitions. These are already manifest, and
they, necessarily and naturally, menace the
public good. It will be the duty and the
privilege of the minority to so act as to min
imize the injurious effects of these party
quarrels to the State at large, while not being
| specially called upon to tender their services
as mediators between the hostile factions
The approaching advent of national Dem
ocratic administration. has filled the Democrat
ic heart with longings for the spoils of office;
the Every hungry and very thirsty" hordes
are appearing on every hand, painting with de-
| sire, and ready to pounce upon anything
| from Cabinet position or a United States
senatorship to the paltriest place as waiter in
any government vestibule. This "organized
appetite" is having and will have it's influence
in every Democratic State Legislature, and
nowhere will it be more powerful and over
shadowing than in Indiana. where the Democ-
racy have as their leader the Vice president
elect, who has promised 'the boys" chance
at 30, 900 offices, at least Under these cir
cumstances the people of the State-we mean
| those people who are chiefly interested in good
| government and wise Observation-Disclosures
not expect much from this Legislature; if
they do, they will, doubtless, be badly disap-
pointed. Little will be done, except to grind
the numberless axes which hope to be sharp
enough to bring something down on and after
| the 4th of March.
! The question of the United States senator
| ship will cause no struggle Of course, Senator
meet and proper. He is by odds the most
popular member of his party in the State.
| Mr.. Hendricks is called 1.-The Favorite Son."
but he never was and is not now so 'solid"
| with the Democratic masses as is Dan Voor-
hees. Mr.. Hendricks, in his latest interview,
confesses that he has never enjoyed the lux
ury of clear and emphatic election at the
hands of the people of Indiana. Whenever
he has succeeded it has been by the skin of
his teeth. Mr.. Mcdonald, with his old
fashioned manners, a sort of rugged political
honesty, and, above all, his guileless inno-
cence, has never attained to popularity with
! his party. He has the respect of all, nomi-
nallv, but he has never won their hearts.
The Democratic. hosts shout only for 'Dan"
/ Voorhees,, and there will be real enthusiasm
in his re election. The Republicans have
only a complimentary vote, but it will be
worthily bestowed, without any unseemly
wrangle. The honor will be conferred so as
TO strengthen the party, and to give assur-
ance that, were it within their power to elect,
| the choice would be one which everybody
might applaud.
The retiring message of Governor Porter
will give the Legislature thorough insight
into the affairs of the State, and may be re-
lied upon for suggestions replete with prac-
teal wisdom, having only ithe good Of the
whole people in view. Indiana has rarely had
| a Governor with so complete mastery Of the
details Of his ofice-one who regarded its
duties and its responsibilities with such sin
gleness of purpose. and whose recommenda-
tons were more devoid of the flavor Of
partisanship. The report of State Auditor
Rice is also moro thai usually pregnant with
suggestions. With these documents before
them. the Legislature will have enough ma