The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-19
SURPRISING THE REPUBLICAN VOTE

SURPRISING The REPUBLICAN VOTE.
The proposition TO redistrict the State for
congressional purposes is a piece of Demo
cratic greed Characteristic of no other political
party under the sun. In the minority in In
diana by 5000 votes, that party already has
nine out of thirteen representatives in Con-
gress; and this may yet be increased to ten by
unseating an elected Republican to make
room for a Democratic pretender, as was the
case in this district when young English was
given the seat to which Mr. Peelle was elected.
1t is now proposed to so change the congress
sional districts as to give the Democrats
eleven of the thirteen representatives to
which the State is entitled In brief, the
Democratic party, representing minority,
now has sxty-nine per cent of the congress
sional delegation, leaving but thirty-one per
cent for the majority But the Democratic
party is not content with that, and now pur-
poses arrogating to itself eighty -four per cent.
and conceding but sixteen to the majority.
This wholesale way of DISTINGUISHING
the voters of Indiana has no parallel
save where Democracy is in power
in other States. 1t is no less hateful to the
idea of popular government than is the abso-
lutte wiping out of the black vote of the South,
whereby thirtyseven members of Congress
are returned as Democrats from districts that
are undeniably Republican on fair vote.
Nor does the evil of Democratic methods of
repression end with the theft of scores of seats
in Congress. 1t extends to the election of
President and, as in the election of Cleve-
land, their candidate is chosen because legal
voters are Systematically and openly denied
the right of suffrage. In South Carolina and
Mississippi the bull-whip does the business; in
Indiana the Legislature makes reform"
question merely of little diplomacy.
Where will Democratic rapacity endP A
fair apportionment in Indiana would make the
congressional delegation stand six Repub-
licans and six Democrats. with the remaining
one in doubt A fair election in the South
would give the Republican candidates
not less than fifty of the solid
South's electoral votes, whereas the
Democratic managers, without awaiting
the formality of election, confidently set down
it's 1913 votes in the Democratic column, and
then keep them there by methods that would
shame the heather, and ought to send its per-
petrators to prison. There is such thing in
politics as fair play, just as in war there are
honorable and dishonorable methods. If the
genius of the American Republic means any
thing it means that the majority shall rule.
In certain events, however, it is necessary
that the minority should administer public
trusts. But this does not signify that this
minority should take to itself four-ffths of the
law making power of the land. In Indiana,
as the congressional delegation now stands, it
takes but 81, 900 Democratic votes to elect a
congressman, while no less than So 500 are re-
quired to elect Republican. Under the new
apportionment, asprorosed by the Democratic
members of the Legislature, %, 100 Demo
cratic votes will elect congressman, while
the average Republican congressional vote
must be 10000. In other words by action
of the Democratic minority, an Indiana Demo
crat has over five times as much infueyce
at the polls as has a voter holding
any other than Democratic views. Although
such an apportionment would be technically
partisan infamies practiced in the South.
There the ex-rebel casts two votes-one for
himself and one for the colored man, who is
no longer allowed a voice in elections AS a
result, the vote of General Beauregard counts
for twice as much as that of General Grant,
and we have a Democratic Congress and ad
ministration in defiance of the will OF the
majority of the people. Southern soldlty
will hardly obtain in Indiana, though accom-
plished by 'lawful" means. 1t will not be
popular. we think. for the pa 900 Democratic
voters of Indiana to have eleven representa-
tiyes in Congress, VIII lie the remaining PSI, 900
have but two. The accident of third and
fourth party in the field should not work dis
franchisement to the majority.
We have spoken of the congressional ap-
portionment Equally rascally and infamous
worse. IL that be possible-is the proposed