The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-16
SENATOR HARRISoN's SPEECH.

at the Grand Opera-hou last night, is pre-
sented to the readers of the Journal this
morning in full, and may be read and judged
on its merits. 1t is a dispassionate, logical
exposition of the questions that now engage
the attention of the people Of Indiana, and
which are to be passed on in the coming cleo
ton. All the points of interest are discussed
with that fairness for which Senator Harrison
is noted. Nothing is evaded, nothing dis
torted or misrepresented. He naturally de-
votes the first part of his address to the prom
Uses of the Democratic party in the last
campaign, which he proceeds to contrast with
the failure to fulfill. In this he demonstrates
that none of the fine promises so eagerly
made have been kept, but, on the contrary,
all have been dishonored, some openly and
fagrantly, and others by neglect and omis-
sion. The general government is in no respect
better than it was when under the control
of the Republican party, while in many it is
infinitely worse, and is still on the down grade.
duct of the national Treasury have not been
kept, but have been ignored, when they have
not been disowned and dishonored. The sur
plus in the Treasury, instead of being reduced
in accordance with the pledges voluntarily
made by Mr. Hendricks and ~others almost as
prominent before the people, has been allowed
to accumulate till now there is nearly $780,
000,0 900 more in the vaults than there was
when the Democratic party came into control
of the Nations finances. Nor has the public
debt been reduced, as was promised by the
Democratic leaders. The showing in this re-
spect is wholly to the advantage of Republi
can administrations. The entire question Of
national finances is comprehensively can
vassed, and it is made plain that in no respect
has this administration kept faith with the
people; the surplus is still increasing. the debt
remaining unpaid, and the bill of current ex-
pense steadily and rapidly increasing.
| From the consideration of national ques-
tons the Senator naturally passes to those of
State interest, and the first great question
diana is the gerrymander perpetrated by the
last Democratic Legislature, whereby the
| State was so redistricted in the interest of
that party as to make almost impossible any
change by the people, howe yer much desired,
unless it meets the approval of the Demo-
cratic party's manipulators. More than this,
the redistricting was made in such manner
that it was intended to make impossible any
successful revolt, even of Democrats. There
was purpose in all this involving more than
the intention to capture the United States
senatorship and ten of the thirteen Congress
men from Indiana. The Liquor League is
thus given guarantee that no legislation they
do not approve shall be passed. 1t is idle for
any one to talk of increasing the tax on sa-
looms, or to regulate them in any manner. if
this outrage on popular suffrage be not re-
buked. The voters of Indiana and the tax
payers cannot say what they want on this or
any other question, for the reason that the
Democratic party has arranged the slate so that
the majority cannotr rule. The Senator states
the position of his party clearly on the question
of dealing with the saloons, so that there
can be no doubt Of the significance of the
resolution on that point in the Republican
platform. Concluding he touched on the
great questions of labor and of pensions, which
he promised to treat on more fully in his SUBJ
sequent speeches in the campaign.
The speech as an entirety was one that will
have vast effect in giving direction to the
campaign now formally opened. From now
on till the polls are closed in November next,
the issues of the campaign will be fully met
by the Republican party through its expo
nents. 1t is already evident that with any,
thing like an equal chance, unhampered by
the villainous gerrymander that is intended to
disfranchise the people of Indiana, the State
would be swept from one end to the other
And as it is, the prospect is that the people
will not fail to attest their condemnation of
the scheme whereby the Democratic poll
ticians hoped to carry the State in their peck
cts without regard to the will of the people,
Senator Harrison has sustained his reputation
as leader among the people, and statesmen
of whom all Indianians may be proud
|
Mr.. BAYARD says he doesn't know any