The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-22
INCIDENTAL INTERVIEWS.
A Bit Of Democratic Buncombe-The Fate of
Notwithstanding Official Reports

ut looks like strange gyration," Senator
Foulke remarks, in speaking of the late con-
demned Legislature, 'for the Democratic party,
the advocate Of slavery and of States rights,
and the bitter foe Of the enfranchisement of the
negro, to wheel to the right-about, as it did in
the last General Assembly. The representative
of the colored race, Mr.. Townsend, the Repub
lican member from Wayne county, introduced a
bill in the House abolishing all distinctions of
race and declaring that where any power or
right was conferred upon any person of one lace
it should belong, under the same circum
stances, to persons of every other race and
broad principle of equity, and the
simplest rule of republican government Yet it
was voted down by the Democratic majority in
the House, every Republican voting for it An
amendment, couched in exactly the same words,
was offered by me to the civil-rights bill intro
duced in the Senate, but the Democratic ma
jority defeated this also. In doing this the
Democrats voted down what the colored people
really asked, and gave them instead bill of their
own, prescribing certain penalties for the viola
ton of certain specified civil rights, although
this act came far short of doing to the colored
race that simple justice required by the bill of
Mr.. Townsend If l could believe their
version to be sincere, | could welcome
them in their advocacy Of the gen.
eral principles of the Republican party.
However, selfish reason forbids the conclusion
that this change Of heart is the result of con-
viction rather than of policy. The negro, being
voter, must be conciliated, and there is no bet
ter advertisement for the Democrat than bill
like this. There was something pitiable in the
record as contained in the Democratic organ of
this State, of the meeting of about fifty colored
men to ratify and rejoice over the passage of
this bill 1t is remarkable that even after the
most strenuous efforts of drumming, as
many as fifty colored men could have been
brought together for this solemnfarce of Demo
cratic ratification. The braZen impudence of the
resolutions passed at that meeting would be
even more surprising to those who do not know
of what the Democratic party is capable. Every
individual mentioned favorably in connection
with the passage of the bill was Democrat.
One would think that no Republican had aided
In its passage. The representative of his race
lower House for absolute legal equality not
even mentioned nor invited to the meeting.
They would have the negro believed that he is
their enemy and that their only true, original
friends, from time immemorial, are Democrats
There is one thing, however, that it would be
well for the negroes 20 remember. That is. that
every Republican in both houses voted for the
bill, and that every vote cast against it was a
Democratlc VOTE
THE UNKNOWN AND THE STRANGE
Senator Willard was in the city yesterday.
"How about that consulateP inquired a Journal
reporter who met him at the Bates House.
II don't know" replied Mr. Willard, with
doubtful and uncertain expression of counte-
nance, ''and he added, II don't believe any one
knows much about these things. came to that
conclusion early in the present epoch of history
L. 7
is solely on account of my health. l have been
troubled great deal with my throat during the
last few months, especially during the recent
session of the Legislature. My father died of
consumption when he was forty years old, and
as I am now thirty seven, am disposed to regard
any premonitory symptom of trouble with consid-
cradle care However, with good health, think
/ can live in America, or even in Indiana awhile
yet, with some degree of happiness, and certainly
with more profit than could by going abroad"
"Wheres Huffstetter2" was asked.
'Hufstetter has left the country, and sup
pose that he is now safely beyond the boundaries
of the United States His conduct was certainly
very strange. Two years ago he was the most
efficient assistant secretary that the Senate ever
had. and, as l claimed before the Legislature
convened, he merited a reelection. He seems to
have at once entered upon system of pecula-
tion upon the Presumption that it would never
be discovered but it was inevitable that it should
all be brought to light when the session ended,
because the Treasurers statement of the ac-
counts with members would show where fraud
had been committed. He started to live with
gayety that his income would not support, ard
he was tempted to 60 wrong to sustain it.
There's something of the old story about 1.-THE
old story that has told the ruin of many young
men,"
CURTA1LING OFFICIAL REPORTS.
''The new law authorizing the elimination of
certain matter from the official reports will
make additional work for you, will it not97
asked Journal reporter of Col. J. B. Maynard,
the clerk of the State Bureau of Printing.
ut will make extra work only when the
board orders it am simply their tool. was
opposed to that feature of the bill, because
believed it wrong. If a man is competent to
have the management Of State institution he
ought to be competent to decide what ought to
go into the official report from that institution.
He ought to be more capable of judging than
anyone who has no knowledge of the work of
the institution"
Amusement Notes.
The Light Artillery will give May party on
the evening of May II.