The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-05
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES,

On the great pflnclpisS LnaI unCefIe the
two parties Republic.nism and Democracy
are as widely divided az at any time since
1860, when the latter went into rebellion and
the former took upon itself the work of pre-
serving the Union 1t needed no great urg-
ing in 1860 to get men to vote for Abraham
Lincoln, for he represented vital issue, as
opposed to the dogmas of Democracy. Re
publicanism then was a protest against the
arrogance and sectionalism of the Democratic
party, and the people rallied to its support.
In 1861 the Republican party represented the
peoples only hope of Union preserved, a
Nation undivided. The people came to its
aid and entered the ranks of war to put down
the rebellion. In 1868 The Republican party
was the champion of human liberty
and emancipation. In 1864 fierce cam
paign was waged against the adj
ministration, and the issue was whether the
war was a failure. The Republican party, as
usual, was on the side of right, and triumphed
In 1868 and 1872 the issue was on the per-
manent hold on the fruits of the war, and the
complete rehabilitation of the govern
ment in all its functions and
the Republican party triumphed. In 1876
the Republican party lacked defniteness of
purpose, and came near being defeated. The
plea was that there was no material difference
between it and the Democratic party Argu-
ing from this, there were thousands who con-
cluded that it made little difference whether
this man or that were in Office, if no living
principle were at stake. "As a result, the
country came near being plunged into civil
war The effect of this scare was felt in 1880,
and the Republican candidate was elected.
But in 1854, in Difference to the demands of a
few Miss Nancys who dreaded offending any
body the attempt was made to turn the cam
pagn on "a business issue" solely. In point
of fact there was no issue in it, for while the
|. Republican party was honest in its defense of
the idea of protecting American industries,
the Democratic party made no open fight
against it, and adroitly played fast and loose
with the question, according to locality. Ger
tain Democratic papers in freetrade States
made pretense of advocating free trade, and
unsparingly denounced the '.robber tariff !"
But where free-trade ideas were unpopular
the Democratic papers and speakers were
for protection. That there was no
fight III that issue was apparent, and in no
State more than in New York, which proved to
be the pivotal one, the carrying of which by
less than 200 plurality gave Democracy the
| presidency. The Republicans of that State
knew that the Democrats would not be able
to disturb the tariff because of divisions in
their own party. There was no vital issue,
and enough Republicans staid at home or ran
off after strange gods to defeat the Republican
candidate. 1t is evident therefore, that Re-
pubicanism has triumphed every time it
stood out for principle and made direct issue
with Democracy, and failed only when it had
not the courage to do so.
AS the Journal has already shown, Tues
days defeat in New York was what might
have been expected The officious mug
wump not only coming back, but impudently
seating himself at the head Of the table, and
proceeding to apportion the fatted calf, threw
everything into the fire. The sturdy, sober
minded Republicans of the country districts
refused to rally at the polls, if the
incumbency Of office were the only
thing at stake. They took occasion
to rebuke those who emasculated Re
publicanism, and left nothing but the can
didates and a theory, plus personal NAL
ice and political hypocrisy. They didn't like
the idea of alleged Republicans insulting
men like General Logan and Judge Foraker,
who came into the State proclaining
the only cause that is worth fighting for, or is
at issue. A grand victory had just been won
in Ohio on the line Of battle laid down by
Senator Sherman and all leading Republicans,
| and the same kind of campaign would have
carried New York, for it would have given
Republicans living principle to fight for
One of the greatest issues of the present is
whether American elections shall be wrenched
from the hands of ruffians and swindlers and
made free and honest. The evil, fostered in
the South until it captured that entire Sec
tior, is spreading over the North, the ultimate
purpose being to control by fraud and violence
the election in enough States to keep Democ-
racy in power so long as the people will allow
these things. It's work has been seen repeat
edly, at Chicago, in indianapolis. at Cincinnati,
at Columbus, at Baltimore and elsewhere, and