The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-10-14
the following glowing tribute to the
OreSent Administration:

the following glowing tribute 10 inc
present Administration:
"And cow, acknowledgements of Indi-
ana we enter this contest with high ana
earnest convictions of duty to our state
and TO our country. Indiana with thS
mighty development of her ineXhauStible re-
sources and the establishment and growth OF
her glorious institutions of learning and OF
Christian benevolence. under the auspices or
a Democratic constitution, and for the most
part under Democratic State control. appeals.
TO us to be true TO the broad and liberal prin--
cipleS on which all her greatness is founded
Whatever else may happen, the Democratic
party owes il To its good name and splendid
record in Indiana that the administration or
the State shall nos fall into the hands OF those
who distrust the people and who deny to 9TH
erS the same freedom and right they exercise
for themselves. But in q still broader sense;
we are called on 70 exercise our rights ana 70.
discharge our duties as citizens. The admin
istration of the Federal Government by Gro
YER Cleveland has been bitterly asSaiied.
misrepreSenIed and Slandered by the
Republican State convention. aud by
the leaders of the Republican party
in Indiana No two minds, perhaps ever
agreed in every thing nor does il follow that
n supporter of an administration necessarily
concurs in all its official details but am here
tonight TO declare. As far as my words will.
go, that the Administration of Grover Cleve-
lana 5 strong. clean, faithful to public duty
and worthy OF all acceptation by the Demo
cratic party and by the country. What pub
lie interest has suffered at his hands? What
public duty has been neglected? What pub
lie trust has been bet aged? In the more
than electric hight thrown upon every act OF
his Administration. and on every step of his
public life by the powerful and SleepleSS
newspaper press of the United States, he
stands clear and above reproach in his greSt
Office. Senator Harrison had much to say in.
his recent speech in regard to Democratic
pledges which he alleged had not been full
hled. He well knows, and so does the coun-
try. that the Democratic party in Congress
has no power to enact a law, nor To.
repeal a bad law heretofore enacted,
-snN-. .1,,lnu .NE =
lie money without the approval and the
concurrence of Republican majority in
the Senate. The Democratic party has nos
had the law-mak;ng power of this Govern
ment, embracing. as it does, the legislative
and executive departments. Il single day since
the 4th of March, ISL Every evil of legisla-
ton which has afflicted the country flows
from Republican responsibility If the SOL
dier failed to get his arrears of pension IL is
because the laws made by the Republican
party did not grant them. If he did not get his
bounty, il is because a Republican President
vetoed the bill granting it If the colOred
people were cheated out of their small hard
earnings aud savings by the Freedmen's Bu-
reau and by the Freedmen's Bank. it is be-
cause Republican laws were so made that the
thieves could break through and steal Sem
ator Harrison seems entirely TO forget the
responsibility of his own party, as shown
by the long and blOtted records. while.
he vehemeltly SrraignS the Democratic party
for what il has done and for what it has.
failed to do in the last eighteen
months. and during which time no enact
ment could be laid before the Democratic
Executive for his signature without having
first received the sanction of the Republican
party i'm the Senate nv colleague appears
to complain of the amount of the apprOpria-
tons made in the last session OF Congress,
and quotes an imposing array and a SpeciOuS.
arrangement OF figures, recently made by
Senator Allison, of Iowa Is it not enough to-
say that Allison was. and still is, chairman OF
appropriations in the Senate; that he re-
ported and voted for every appropriation
bill, and that Senator Harrison voted with
him? On the question, however. whether the
actual expenses or the Government have in
creased or diminished under Cleveland's Adj
m!nistration. | am content to rest the whole
case on the statement recently made BY John
q. Carlisle, the very able, clear headed and
mpartialminded Speaker of the House He
puts the total expenditures of the Govern
ment for the fiscal year ending June 70, 1886, at
Sl7. AS. 80 less than those of the preceding
year. The Speaker gOeSinto details, but none
are needed in support of a conclusion reached
10y him. The recent Democratic State conven-
ton of Indiana. in very comprehensive reso-
luton, indorSed the ability. the integrity and
the economy of the present AdminiStrat on.
Its ability is conceded by the people of alb
parties, and its integrity has not been QueS-
toned. and its economy has been proven by
the record. Mr.. Cleveland has broken no
pledges. If broken pledges. however are the
theme for this canvass would inquire how
the pledges, protuSe. continuous and album
dant. OF the Republican party to the cOlOred
people of the country have been kept! Mr.
Cleveland appointed, during the last session
and very competent cOlOred man to au i'm
portant office in the District of Columbia The
Republican party has eight majority in the
United states Senate and that body rejected
Mr.. Matthews when his name came before it
for Register of Wills. The love OF the Re-
publican party for the colOred citizen is
based on the same condition as its love for
the former rebel of the SOuUh-party service;
only that the rebel, when he belongs to tho
Republican party, gets Offices in abundance,
winnie the colored man, whether Republican
or Democrat. is left to feed on the crumbs
VIII ch fall from the Republican table. or
more generally left without any thing at all.
May we not expect the support OF all classes
who believe in an Administration which. I'M
der the most trying circumstances, has had
the courage of its convictions, and has been
faithful to all its pledges, either expressed or
impl ed?
'!The public eobt is being paid more rap
idly than the public creditors desire;
the surplus i'm the treasury, so enormously
Overstated two years ago by the Republican
candidate for Governor. is being rapidly re-
duced, nOtwithstandng the President With
held his signature to the Morrison resolution.
emaScu!ated and rendered worthless, as il
was. by the acton of the Senate. There is q
feeling of confidence in business circles and
Signs of returning activity and prosperity are
abroad in the land.
Let us Join voices hands and hearts once
more in the canse OF good government Let
not Indiana falter now, aud thereby omen a
breach through which the Repu blicHn party
with its evil methods, its pernicious prin-
ciples and its rapacIouS hor,leS may return
10 power IN PSI Indlana noldS the key TO
future Democratic national success. aud 70
the prolonged supremacy of u Democratic
Federal Administration. If q voice which in
storm and disaster. well as in sunshine aud
victory. has always been heard in the battling
ranks of the Democratic party will still I've
listened to- / invoke united. harmonious and
determined effort at this time in behalf of the
present and tue future welfare OF The Ameri-
can people"
The speech attracted a number of
Democrats from the
State at large, all of whom reported to-
the chairman of the State Central
Committee flattering condition of af--