The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-26


Following the remarks of President Elliott,
an address on the question, "What Shall the
Issues BeY" was delivered by George j. Langs-
dale, Of the Greencastle Banner. In speaking
of the administration Mr.. Langsdale said:
The present national government is usurpa
fion, as much so as was that of King John when
ne seized UPON the crown of England. Cleve-
land occupies the presidential chair though the
destruction of maiorites in five Southern States
King John wore the crown through the destruc-
ton of Prince Arthur. We are ruled by Pres
tdent exercising the prerogatlves OF o KING For
the first time ia our history he shuts the door of
the White House against those who have the
right, as American citizens, to audience with
him. For the first time, he denies to the United
States Senate information on the files OF the de-
partmettA For the first tlme we have Presl-
dent whose will is only law. and whose methods
are those of an autocrat For the first time, we
have President who has placed the national
Treasury wholly in the hands of the bankers and
brokers of New York. Nominated by the money
princes of the Empire State, and elected by
them and the solid South, he puts them in con-
trol of that branch of the government which
places the finances of the country at their mercy.
In reference to the next presidential cam
paign he said
We are entering upon an unequal contest.
The solid South assures the next Democratic
candidate for President 153 electoral votes Only
New York and Indiana required in addition
10 elect Our opponents having learned how
easily many voters and election boards may be
controlled, and being utterly unscrupulous'as to
means, will hesitate at nothing to carry these
two States. This narrows and simplifieS the
contest as far as they are concerned, but not SO
with as, as there are but few States in which we
will not have sharp fighting to maintain our
selves There are conditions however, that are
favorable to Business depression and hard
times have been the accompaniment of every
Democratic administration, and the present has
proven no exception. Honest. capable,
loyal men have been turned out of
Office on the miserable plea of 'offen-
sive par tisanship," and, in numerous
cases, thieves, incompetents and ex-rebels in
stalled in their places. And to give emphasis
to the outrage it is all done under the pretense
of ''reform'-a pretenge so false that it ought to
send the party making it out of power. Result
ant evils already so apparent as to arouse the
people to the danger of such government and,
once aroused. they will sweep away the dishonest
devices by which our opponents expect to carry
ensuing elections. with the same patriotic vigor
and determination that they suppressed the re-
ibellion am in favor of beginning to prepare
for that struggle now Emigration is against us
IN Indiana Republican majority moving West
every two years-and there is a large floating
vote IN the State, the product of the methods of
wholesale corruption introduced by Samuel j.
Tilden in 1876. We cannot compete with the
Democracy by descending to this level, for we
thus become antagonistic to the law instead of
being its champions, and are at disadvantage
shorn of our strength It not only demoraliZes
all concerned but it drives our poor men out of
public ife unless they are willing to surrender
their manh0od
In concluding his address, Mr.. Langsdale pre-
scented, as basis of discussion, several sugges-
tions as to what the issues in the approaching
canvass should be. and these elected general
expression of opinion, the speakers being IT, D.
Cole Luther Wolfe, James T. Dryer, M. c.
CARRIER, George l. Reed and Thomas A. Good
win. The discussion, however, was simply in
the nature of an interchange of views for the
mutual benefit of those present Mr.. Langs-
dale's ideas of what the platform should embrace
were set forth in printed form for the considera
ton of his editorial brethren, and were dstrib-
uted among them.
1.-The Natural and Proper Relations of News
paper to Its Party" was the subject of an inter
asting address by Mr.. George L Reed, editor of
the Peru Republican He said:
The newspaper of the present day. in very
great degree, takes the place of the courier and
the orator of former ages It supplies all the
important news that was formerly carried by the
weil-mounted or swiftfooted messenger 1t
discusses questions of science. morals, ethics
religion, society and government as thoroughly
end intelligently as they were discussed an
eiertly by astroiogers philosophers and law
civers, in forum and temple, and market place.
This is why every newspaper editor must be
scientist, mental and moral philosopher, phi
lologist an historian, political economist
lecturer and teacher as we'll as q politician.
newspaper that fails to present facts or opinions
on all these subjects, in each issue, besides
of the ordinary and extraordinary happenings in
the neighborhood, the State, the country.
and the world, fails to meet the demands of the
times All this. however. is preliminary-if not
introductory-to the specific theme assigned me
on the programme: what Is the Natural and
Proper Relation of Newspaper to Its PartyW
Any answer to this question is speculative and
approximate rather than exact 1t is not rela-
ton fixed by law. one that may be ascertained
and demonstrated by given rules. 1t is
matter OF opinion. My view of the
proper relation probably differs from
that of the sanctiied Mr. Goldman or the elegant
and gentle George William Curtis. According
TO my view the relation Of these gentlemen and
the papers which they control to the party to
which they profess allegiance is a sort of cross
TO dictate the policy and the candidates of their
party they take up the founding presented by
the opposite party and become foster-mother
to him.
paper to its party is not defined by written law
or determined by fixed rules it is fairly well un-
derstood by intelligent partisans, whether con-
nected with the press or not Certain unwritten
obligations exist which require the performance
of certain duties. And the obligations and
duties Of a newspaper to its party and a
party to its newspaper mutual and
reciprocal. When they are mutually recognized
and faithfully observed the best results are
secured 1t is proper to remark here that the
relation of newspaper to its party is less
'organic" than formerly. whether reference is
had to the metropolitan press, or the county
paper. Twenty years ago the publisher pro-
posing to establish new paper, or having
ciothed in new dress one already established
was accustomed to send q confidential circular
with blank subscription list to a prominent
politician, or active worker in each township
with an imporing request that he procure as
many subscribers as possible to sustain the
party organ. And these solicitors would send
}n lists of names, seldom accompanied by the
cash That kind of sustenance to an "organ'
was az cruel to a railsplitter. In return for
fhe favor rendered, however. the editor and
publisher was held under imperious obligations
TO the politicians who had so befriended him.