The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-27


character for the psst few days L do not be-
heve remarks on the bill will do any good.
do not intend to refer TO this measure as
nefarious, damnable or anything of that
sort, Tor such words would be complimentary
to IL. II this Is to be the attitude of the re.
form OF the Democracy which we have heard
so much OF, | say God pity the American
Government There is some consolation to
me in legislation of this kind, when think
OF TIE history OF gsrrvmander In Indiana.
The Republicans, in 1872 made an appor.
tionment bill which took nine OF the Con-
gressmen and majority OF the Legislators;
yet IN the succeeding campaign the people
arose against il and reprimandsd the Repnb.
lican party By defeat. IN 1879 the Demo.
cratic party repealed the Republican gerry
manuer and made one OF their own equally
as unfair What was the result? Again, as
is always the fate, the people, because they
believe IN equity and Justice in politics as
well as anything else, elected Legislature
that sent General Ben Harrison to the
United States Senate instead OF Hon. Joseph
y. Mcdonald. Yet do believe that IL this
bill could be made more Infamous, the ma
j0rity OF the House would vote for t.
] will invite your attention 10 tho little
County of Floyd-DemocratIc-y hardly
large enough for one Representative. yet II
Joined 70 another OF Democratic majority,
and another and another until 10 helps send
four Representatives here. Jennings County
and the Republican majority is so Joined 90
another county OF larger Dsmcc a-io ma-
loriiy until the voters OF Jennings are dis
franchsed, Clay Comfy, D5m13faI1, Isl 20
favored that 70 is used 70 help 20 elect three
Representatives.. Toe Constitution says ths.
the districts shall be composed % c ninuAus
counties. While this does not violate the
letter OF It, yet it violates the intention.
Here Is Nermillion County Republican put
IN with Democratic Sullivan TO rob the Re.
n -
where during the war the County COM
missioners had put on the record
an order seeding from the Union.
Is this fairness? liz this the
beginning OF reform fake the counties of
Miami and Cas- aud K8sciuskO and Wabash.
All changed aud 30 loODed 20 disfranchise
Republicans. The two Democratic have q
much larger representation % a smaller pop
ulation. Every place where q Republican
majority can be diglranchised ID is done
More than thirty counties that have Demo.
cratic ma orities are not only permitted to
vote for one but for thres DsmocNtic Repre-.
senlAuVes. quite 10 the contrary are the
Republican counties. The counties. richer.
larger, that have more schOol-houses
churches and therefore Repub ican-nearly
twenty -hve-there the people are permitted
10 vote Tor one, very rarely two, Representa-
tives. AS a part OF my speech, / propose 10
read quotation from Hon. Thomas 4. Hen
bricks on the Republican gerrymander.
Reads. This Democratic gerrymander,
which gives them, lacking two, twothrds
majority, shows the Democratic fear, witch
l believe is well grounded
Mr.. BROWNING ] should not have
risen but for the personal attack on me by
The gentleman who has Just taken bis seat.
did not glory IN what he calls the Demo
cratic shame on this floor. l did say that
Democrats had been yelling bloody mar
der for quarter OF a century, and nov let
the Republicans try it and gee how ii goes.
! am not ashamed of this measure. The
pIOudest moment in my life will be TO 90
home and say TO my COnsti tuents u helped
make another Democratic county or two
lake your Republican map ana look az your
own picture. You may Just as we'll as not
make up your minds 10 step down and out.
You viii have 10 20
Nj. BR0WNLEE II thsre was qles-
ton OF property ia this, there would DC
plenty Of Democrats come to our aid. Bat
owing 10 politics one-third OF the voters
must be disfranchised, and the mouths OF
Democratic members ara closed The truth
comes home 20 me at this hour that the
Democratic party has no faith in itself, with
al its pledges OF reform, and 50 on.
They are so void in fact OF their ability TO
manage the affairs Of government
that they propose 20 steal their
way in. So they make ready to
secure themselves in advance from all mis-
takes. II is no use to talk OF this long. The
bill will pass. But in the minority, as / am,
I shall go down with my boots on. The old
Democratic wagon can not be repaired. You
can't point out the warp in the boards and
the shaggy wheels. 10 is there. In spite OF
all this, the Democratic party will . down
with its broken promises open the BOOKS in
all. But this bill through aud from this body
we appeal to the people.
MIR. KELLISON: 1 regret that [ am not
in physical condition to speak as wish,
My connection with my first ap portionment
bill is not a pleasant one. Or twelve years
of fidelity to the Democratic party, / have
now found il necessary to leave the major
ity. | want to stamp this measure as infa-
nous. l can not support it, looking st my
oath. Why should I follow a Democratic
caucus, when l have been taught from
infancy that the Democratic ps<ty is
one OF Justice aud equity.
have been pronounced an apnstste If TO De
consistent Democrat, TO stand squareiy By
my oath and support justice is an aDostste,
then write me dow as one. / can say to
those blinded BY party zeal that IN the
Northern part OF the State We study princi-
pie and vote it, and therefore our vote fac.
tuRtes. The Constitution Of the State says
that the number Of Representatives shall
be appOrtiened according TO the number OF
mails inhabitants This does not do that.
There are nearly , 600 more males IN Mar
shall than ia Pike County, YET
this apportionment 10 not observed
Here are scores of others. Is
this carrying out either the spirit or the
letter OF the Constitution ! am here ID
protest against all this injustice. l 20 back
to the year 1873 when began 70 take an
active part IL politics Then the one great
issue was the Republican gerrymander
listened 10 the speeches referring TO that in
fanny and il set my blood boiling and has
always, and say to the Democratic party,
beware. No one can question my DemOc
rscy. have never voted for any one bat
Democrat I have talked 20, have heen
spoken 10 by Democrat OF this floor, whose
hair Is winter than mine bat whose Democ-
racy does nOt ante-date mine one year, and
have been looked upon by him as a broth
sr. The aim I had in vie ~ IN So Dporting the
Democratic PARTY and putting il in position
to control was TO correct abuse and cause re-
form. Is this TO fail? Then you