The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-15
ASSASSINATION OF CHARACTER.


mail carrier has doubtless made himself solid
with Postmaster Jones, who wanted some pre-
text for getting rid of Stems, and was anx-
ious to accept any evidence, however dishon-
orable and questionable. It were of little Or
no moment if this were an isolated case Mr.
Stems could make the best of the odium
sought to be put upon him, and could seek
some other employment where tale-bearers
and liars could not modest him. But the case
of Mr.. Storms is but type of thousands Of
others just as outrageous. The people
of this city and State will not
soon forget the infamous methods pursued
to get Republicans out of Office and. at the
same time preserve the Democratic party
reform record. A clean sweep of Republicans
from one end Of the country to the other
would be infinitely more honorable than the
dastardly methods that are now being pur-
sued-that Of smirching the fair name Of Re-
publican employees on ex parte testimony, and
allowing no defense. It is not saying too
much to say that no high-minded man would
be guilty of having anything to do with such
Infamous methods. 1t is q blstering shame
that the Democratic party has not
yet produced man with the courage
to stand up and denounce these outrages in
the manner that they deserve. Is it to be
concluded that the Democratic party is made
up Of men like the indianapolis postmaster,
who allows mans character TO be blackened
in order to make case against him; men like
the fellow who smashed the ballot box in def
| ance of the order of the court; men like the
judges who could find no ofense in that act;
men like the unknown Democrat who broke
into the court house and destroyed the ballots
of an election in order to prevent the detec-
lion of his rascality in the election, and men
by the thousand who dare not speak out
against any of these outragesf What kind of
reform can Democracy guaranteed Does the
country want to be reformed by men whose
conscience seems dead to every honorable i'm
pulseq
Speaking for every Republican, so far as
heard from, in Indianapolis, in the State, or
in the Nation, we feel free to say that it would
be appreciated as a favor if every Republican
in the public service were at once discharged,
and allowed chance to retire without being
waylaid by scoundrels and informers Let
"clean sweep" be made, nor will it be used in
argument when the next campaign comes
around. Republicans ask only fair play.
They are willing to fight against
any odds, only asking that gentlemen, honor
able men, not assassins, be pitted against
them. Many Republican in the service,
with family depending on him. would much
prefer to be assailed by a rufian in the dark,
armed with slung-shot or club, than by these
cowardly thugs who have been invited to lie
against them with no recourse for self-de-
fense
Gentlemen Democrats, it is evident that
you want the offices and are anxious to get rid
of the Republican incumbents. The desire is
easily understood, and you are welcome to
them. But is there not some other method
of dispossessing than assassination The
power wholly is within your hands
You surely ought to be able
to devise some honorable means Of doing this
thing. The method now in use would shame
the veriest wretch that ever put knife to the
throat of mother or strangled babe
Twisted and distorted as the Presidents order
has been in indianapolis and elsewhere, it has
become The club in the hands of the fellow
who. under cover of night, turks in alleyways
to strike down honest men on the way home
to their families 1t has encouraged the
meanest specimens of humanity to venture
forth and to put on the front Of public bene-
factors. It has emboldened scoundrels Of
every degree to make use of their
villainous talent in the way of lying
and tale bearing. The inevitable outcome of
this thing, if it be fostered further will be
to drive honest Democrats in shame to retir-
acy. The way to Office now is through the
Shiny door of SANDER. The premium of Office
is offered the man who.s base enough to ira
duce his neighbor, or, not manly enough for
that, is dastardly enough to procure or allow
another to do it for him.
1t may be that this country has descended
to depths that call for this kind of reform"
but certain it is that partisan scoundrelism
never before attained such growth. AS now
constituted, the Democratic party is
in the hands of men engaged in
aiding and abetting the moral
assassination of their FELLOW citizens. Such
as have managed to crawl into place volun-