The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-03
TWO METHODS.

The widely different methods used by the
Democratic and Republican parties in Indiana
are aptly illustrated by the fact that, at the
very time when the Democratic leaders were
concocting plans to overthrow popular cleo
ton and foist person of their own choice
into the Office Of Lieutenant governor, already
filed by the people, the Republican leaders
should meet to organize central club with
branches throughout the State, to circulate
newspapers and documents, and influence
mems minds by argument and persuasion and
the open discussion Of political issues. Each
to their way. The different methods illustrate
the different tempers Of the two parties. It
would be an interesting study for some politi-
cal philosopher to trace to their source the
causes that do impel and always have i'm
PEELED the Democratic party to adopt
forcible, fraudulent and revolutionary
methods in preference to those of an
opposite character. For proof that they do,
it is not necessary to look to the South, which
has been made solidly Democratic and is kept
so by force and fraud, and by preventing the
growth of political discussion and liberation.
1t is not necessary to cite the great Demo-
cratic conspiracy against popular government
which eliminated in the war of the Rebel
lion. 1t is not necessary to recall their re-
peated use Of violent or fraudulent methods
in other States to enable them to prevent an
expression of the will of the people or to
thwart it when expressed. We have exam
Piles righ- at home, in this State and this city,
some of which are fresh in the public mind
while others are even now undergoing invest
igation by the grand jury. The attempt, a
few years ago, to overthrow certain constitu-
tional amendments after they had been fairly
adopted by the people, by judicial decision
go clearly prepared for partisan purposes that
one of the Democratic judges could not
refrain from exclaimipg telegraph it to the
boys" was one instance. The gerrymander-
ing of the State with the deliberate intent of
sitting popular suffrage was another. The
audacious fraud recently perpetrated on the
tally sheets in this county is third. The
plot now Matching to nullify the late election
for Acknowledgements is of like intent and
purpose-all showing not only willingness
but an innate disposition and natural tend
ency on the part Of Democratic politicians to
resort to fraudulent and revolutionary meth
DDS of carrying out their own will against that
of the people.
The Journal does not believe in such princi-
Piles and methods. 1t abhors them. Aside
from their inherent wrong and the danger they
involve to the public welfare, they are short
sighted and suicidal. AS mere matter of
party policy it is great mistake to resort to
them. They invariably recoil upon the
party using them. The recoil may not
come Immediately, but it always comes.
The popular will grinds slowly, but it grinds
exceeding small. Legitimate and legal meth
DDS may seem by comparison slow in their
operation and tardy in their results, but their
operation is more thorough and their results
more enduring. No party ever profted per-
manently by palpable fraud or by dark
chamber conspiracy to defeat the will of the
people Better, infinitely better, the Repub-
lican method Of revolutionizing the State by
social contact, by disseminating Republican
literature, and by persistent appeals to mems
reason A man feels far more kindly toward
an idea planted in his h cad by argument than
he does towards one pounded in with aclub.
1t is time Democratic politicians were learn
ing that firing principles into man with
shotgun is the poorest way in the world to
make convert, and votes that are gained by
altering tally sheets do not stay very long
with the party that steals them.