National Republican., 1886-11-16
HnrrIson. of Indiana.

Harrison, of Indiana.
The victory achieved by Gen. Bon. Har.
rlson in Indiana In November, 1855, was rs
CALAMITY fought for aud as bravely won as
that historic victory which crowned the
military fame Of bis illustrious ancestor In
November, lsll. The leader in the politl-
cal campaign which has wrcnched Indiana
from the Democratic column, aud placed
her In the "doubtluln list is worthy sue
cessor Of "Old Tippecanoe."
We call It victory, for such It is,
whether or not the legislature shall even
tually be shown to have a Republican ma
jority. Two years ago the state was car
ried by the Democrats, as Il had almost
uniformly been for fifteen years or more.
Probably there was not an intelligent poll
tician Of any party outside Of thsstate who
had doubt Of Democratic success this
year. Republicans had reluctantly aban-
doned the state of Morton and Lane to her
seeming destiny-to play the role Of tail to
the solid south kite. A Democratic legisla-
ture had "fxedn the senatorial and legls-
lative districts by gerrymandcr as inta-
nous us the congressional gerrymlnder In
Mississippi or South Carolina. "Nothlng
less than landslide" they said, could dc
prive them Of Harrison's seat In the United
States Senate.
When the Democratic administration
came In the Hooslcr Democrats were fcl
full Of federal provender. There was mover,
in any state, more shameful debauchery Of
the public patronage than was witnessed In
Indiana. Reputable supporters OF the al
ministration were put to the blush, but
their indignant protests were unhgc1el.
The genuine "unwashed" Democracy
laughed at every suggestion Of possible de
feat, and made their campaign a clmpllgn
of insolont swagger aud blatant boastlng.
How the campaign was carried on by the
Republicans is well told in the Boston 1t
rcrtiScr Of the 12th inst:
The Republicans organized Senator Hlr-
rison was their champion. lie mil two
speeches day through all the counties for six
weeks preceding election This mal wno, Mt
Washington, has the reputation OF being 50
calm and judicial, but at home the nauc or a
great public advocate, justified tho latter r1pI-
taton hy the exhaustive canvass that he mad.
Defeated for recollection in advance. rs it
seemed by tho Democratic gcrrymaudcr, ho
made fight against odds OF every description.
1t was home fight that he made, from house
to house, and his victory--lor, whether the
legislature IS made Democratic or Republican
by the doubtful vote, tits vlctory-morks him
as one ofthe leading men IN the party.
lie made the issue for civil service reform
which the President has allowed TO be 50
shomefully set at naugh' In Indiana, and for
protection to American labor To both the
answer was quick and satisfactory. Even
Indiana, which the spOsmen have claimed as
their own, showed its d,sippvoval OF the spoils
practices that have prevailed there Of la.c.
The lesson IN Indiana is an encouraging one
II shows that for clean government and a pro
teCtiye tariff the popular verdict can still be
secured. 1t harmouizos with Republican vic
tories won in other states on these issues, the
more welcome because they come in localities
where least expected. In Indiana It also
reveals a leader who has tho courage to m tke
n contest and the power to put Indiana into
the list OF doubtful states.
In go far as the President is in favor Of
honest civil service reform he may claim the
Indiana result to be a vindication OF himself
as against the spoilsmen. The doctrine pro.
claimed by Harrison IN his magnificent
campaign is the doctrine Of the Curtis letter
and the inaugural. IT was the violent con-
trast between preaching aud practice, be-
tween promise and performance, between
what was TO be and what wac, that made
Senator Harrisor's speeches so effective.
| He had but to point to the solemn utterauces
of the President aud to apply those words
TO the facts as they existed all over the
state, in order to show that "reformr was
the most wretched of humbugs.
| The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN states no.
tOrious fact when it asserts that, with a few
marked exceptions, the Indiana appoint
ments have been shamefully bad. 1t In
suits the intelligence of even the average
citizen to preach q sermon on reform for
his Gdiilcation and then proceed to put q
good and capable man cut OF Office to make
room for one who is known TO be an igno.
ramus and trickster. 1t eXcltes contempt
| 10 read such an order as the one on ''per-
nicicus activity In a state where all the
conventions-tOwnship county, aud state
were packed with and run by the fedora
! Ofllceholders.
1t is evident that the President will be
able to see In the chNstisement inflicted on
the spoilsmen Of Indiana Il vlndcation Of
those principles to which he was indebted
for the support of independent Republ
cans, without which support his election
could not have happened. 1t was necessary
to condemn bad practice in order to indorst
beautiful theory.