The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-20
LETTERS FROM TIE PEOPLE.
National Election Law.

| To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
The factions which aided and allotted Repnb-
| lican defeat in the last campaign all claimed
| that the party's past career was successful but
| its mission had ended. It is not now my pur-
| pose, nor shall l take the time or pains to
| infinitely analyze problems of civil polity. Ma
| tional sovereignty was cherished abstract
idea with Washingt on while State supremacy
as embodied in the Articles of Confederation, as
well as in the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions
of 1898, was pet doctrine of the partisan JEFF
ferson, 'the father of the Democratic party" A
citizen under the clash of these conflicting doc
trines was taught to owe the first fruits of pa
triotism to the State or the Nation. One faction
taught that an exercise of power by the general
government was annoying and an usurpation of
the supreme right of State rule and local soy.
ereignty.
! am inclined to think the Democratic party
was begotten while its sire was intoxicated with
Jacobin notions OF hostility to all government
The contest between the two political forces was
sharp aud close when our Constitution was
formulated. The tenth amendment was engraft-
ed TO appeaSe sectional diseord and quiet the
demagogues. 1t was ambiguous. From the
phrase reserved to the States or the people"
the seditious have justified the whisky rebellion,
notification, and now boldly assert that those
who precipitated the civil war of 1861 were pa
triots and not traitors Under the influence of
particularistic doctrines legislators became af
ficted with mental paralysis in their statesman
ship. Each congressman grew to be
mere mouth piece of his immedi-
ate constituents. Territorial entities have
crowded statesmen out of the constitutional
temple of freedom. The idol of States rights
became fetch and party leaders were required
to fall face downward in its worship. 1t was
political sin for candidate not to pander to this
specious spirit of anarchy. The doctrine of So
cession as presented in the concrete by the Tate
unpleasantneSs, is as old as the confederation;
it has lived with and has been cherished and
nurtured by the Democratic party It's fangs
were fastened in the tissues of national life. It
became the mission of the Republican party to
nationalize the administration of law touching
matters of general interest, patriotism and pro
lection
l. Freedom in spite of the adverse action of
the Democratic party has become nationalized.
All ideas and practices of class and caste have
not yet been eradicated, iii fact, but no law
cognizes any other than equal rights. The fruits
Of liberty cannot be harvested in all districts,
owing to an excess of Democracy.
2 Democratic State currency has been sup
planted by a national currency to the approval
of all sensible citizens 1t is problem whether
Democratic supremacy will resurrect the effete
wild cats"
g. National systems ofinternal improvements,
commerce. education and other equitable and
benevolent projects have received progressive
attention and can be perfected by national con-
sderation
a. All federal control of elections is still the
special aversion of the Democratic party. l am
in favor of uniform. general, equitable, fair
and free election pursuant to national law.
1t should be uniform as to qualification
of voters time of holding and manner of
balloting counting and returning results.
1t should occur in all parts of the Nation, on
the same day commencing and ending at the same
hour. The guard and protection to voters should
be circumspect and command the whole power
of the nation. No fair election can ever be held
until under the provisions of Art. L., Sec f. of
the Constitution, Congress shall make the vot-
ers rights equally secure within the con-
tour of our domain.
5. The law of marriage and divorce could we'll
be made nationally uniform which would weed out
the sins of polygamy and polyandra.
The work OF the Republican party is incom-
plete, its mission will only end when each cti-
zen is imbued with patriotic impulses as broad
as the country. The individual the home and
family are elements of national structure, hold
them sacred. better them by education and the
protection of national law. S. P. THOMPSON.
RENSSELAER, Jan. 16