The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-30
CURRENT PRESS COMMENT.

The attachment to natiOnalism among the Repub-
Means or the North ought TO be and is strong and
loyal the attachment Of the Democrats in the South
is to State sovereignty No side issue should ever
rsYe.a Republican from his party any than it
does Democrat. Prohibition is in sense politi
cal question: it is a matter for each community to
settle for itself, and Southern Democrats have shown
moro wisdom in handling it than Northern Repub-
ieans have shown, though the latter have worthier
and higher political principles to defend by cnging to
their party.-Chicago Tribune
IT seems to that the Republican party, recogniz
ing that for better for the Democracy is in
power should sustain the better purposes the better
agencies of administration, and the better men of
that party. 1t should support the President, so far
as he IS true to the reform pledges which carried him
into power, and visit with scrutiny and con-
dennatlon 1ag1 ant violations of those pledges The
great function of an opposition party in constitu-
tona government is to be the watch dog of the gov
ernmenta watchdog that keeps out the thieves, not
one that flies at the master of the house for the time
beng.--Springfeld Republican.
INSTEAD of going the rounds of the same old oppo-
stior the spoilsnen would gain variety if not force
by recognizing the present status of the civservce
reform movement and by trying what they can do to
widening OF the territory of its State and municipal
application. There is danger that Congress will
repeal the law and less danger that the lucrative
powers OF the oidfashioned Democrats will wear
away the Presidents resoluteness. But there is Gke
hood OF the application of the law to other States and
cities that appreciate it's benefits which every day be-
come more apparent.-Brooklyn Union.
A LAND which grows such men as General Grant
cannot be wholly given to sordid money getting,
need its citizens stand in dumb and shaed assent
before the frequent charge of gross materiasm To
the vexed aud satirical mind of Juvenal Roman So
clety in the first Christian century eaten through
and through with Getestabe vices. But his contempo
rary Pny pictures for the soberer pleasures and
noble occupations of chaSte temperate, and refined
society Stag and dross, and false metal we have
but it is only the thoughtless and unobservent the
soured and cynical critics who do not look deeper
down into society and understand its worthy and
solid fabric it revealed in the terrible shock
and tumut of the civil war.-New York Times.
rTtyu AL -
vince the public that John Roach is dishonest ship
builder who obtained contracts under false pretenses
and skinned the job with the connvance of naval
officials. Ninety per cent of his business has been in
connection with the merchant marine, and, in
parsOn with his transactions with steamship compa
MES his government contracts have been of second
arv Importance. As the builder of ia iron steam
ships he has fulfilled contract after contract and
never been charged with cheating his customers or
cheapening his work. 1t has been reserved for the
present administration to make the discovery that he
docs not build ships in accordance with the plans and
specifications, and that he is liable for every dollar
paid to him under the contract.-New York Tribune.
IT is that to- al abstinence is the only tenn
perance and sensible people know that it is not true
and while they will support every reasonable effort to
check or to prevent ntemperance and to mitigate its
evils, they will not sustain the policy of prohibition
The progress of enlightened sentiment is not toward
that policy. but away from it. The temperance peo-
pie who seeking good is through legislation
would accomplish much more if they would 50 mod
crate their demands to make them acceptable to a
party through which something practicable might be
course, and insist upon prohibition nothing, they
may succeed in maintaining organization and in
standing to be counted, but they will accomplish
little for the of temperance and will make other
parties independent of them-New York Times.
IT is useless any longer to urge that the Indians
gradually learning the business of agriculture,
and that their great estates therefore to be-
come in time a of income that will relieve the
government of all charge for their maintenance. The
sober truth is that they little q selfsup
porting condition than they were when they first
entered upon these fertile and inviting lands and the
expense of taking of them becomes larger instead
of smaller every year There is imperative call
for reform in the present Indian policy as whole
1t is inherently clumsy and wrong and if the course
OF the administration concerning the grass leases
shall serve to bring about general inquiry to tho
manner in which Indian affairs administered, the
misfortune OF the cattle may in the end to
be pubic advantage.-St. Louis Globe Democrat.
THE principle that apparently underlies the forma
ton of presidential cabinet is to agree upon gen.
eral plan of action, select competent and allow
them to carry it out in such a manner may seem
most advisable. In this way men of ability work
together in the cause and yet each one be able
in his own department to dix pay whatever of ndivid
uality he may possess. According to the Cleveland
STYLE, however, the Secretaries than
many head clerks to carry out the wishes of the Pres
dent and the latter persists in his effort to impress
his peculiar and not altogether envable individuality
upon the departments in the way he has done for the
last four months the natural consequence will be that
every of ability and sefrespect will retire from
position where he is bat the Presidents speaking
tube, and the Cabinet will be filled with lay figures
guaranteed TO any desired position and remain
in it until put in another.-t. Louis Globe Democrat.