The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-06
THE QUESTION TN INDIANA,

Is there man in Indiana who believes that
the liquor traffic should be compelled to pay
the extra expense it puts on the people, the
Democratic gerrymander proposed to put a
plaster over his mouth, so he might not hope to
make his wishes known in the State Legisla-
ture.
Is there man in Indiana who goes further
and believes the traffic should be prohibited,
his mouth was to be closed by the gerryman-
der, that he might not make his wishes known
in the body that is to make the laws of the
State
Is there a man in Indiana who would like
to maintain the measure of protection afforded
by the tariff, he should have nothing to say
about national legislation on that question in
the United States Senate, for the Democratic
gerrymander proposed that no man not a
Democrat should be allowed voice in the
election of Senator.
Is there man in Indiana who would like to
know the truth about the condition of the
State treasury, his mouth was to be sealed
by the gerrymander, devised by the Legisla-
ture that refused to let the people see into
the treasury when it was stated, officially,
that there was probability of a large short
age
Is there man in Indiana who would like to
have the insane properly treated and fed on
wholesome food, and to know just how things
are conducted in the hospital for the insane,
his mouth was to be stopped by the gerrymander
so that it might be useless for him to vote for
investigation?
Is there man in Indiana who believes that
the election should be conducted on honorable
principles, and that one vote should count as
much as another, the gerrymander was to tell
him to shut up, or to vote the Democratic
ticket?
Is there a man in Indiana who still believes
in the principles of the National party, he
must be made to realize that he is voting in
the air in the election to be held next month,
his vote as effectually as though he were not
allowed to cast one.
Is there laborng man who would like to
see some of his own comrades elected, and
some of the principles he believes in incorpo
rated in legislation, he too must keep still in
the presence of the gerrymander that was to
nullify in advance the effect of his vote.
Is there man in Indiana who believes that
the majority should rule in this as in other
States, he is confronted by the fact that a
vicious and corrupt Democratic minority
so arranged the legislative districts that an
honest expression of the majority might be
out of the question.
The gerrymander was to do for the free and
intelligent people of Indiana what the shot
gun did for States in the South; what the
tissue ballot did for South Carolina, and fraud
did for Cincinnati and Ohio. In the year
1886 it was to be made impossible that the
majority in Indiana could get their rights at
the election. It is a shameless anomaly
without parallel, and if allowed to 60 unre-
buked will work inestimable harm to the
State and her vast interests of every descrip-
ton
This is the leading question of the present
campaign in that it underlies all others.
Without free and honest election without
each ballot being given an equal representa-
ton and equal effect in determining the pol
icy of the State, it is folly to talk about popu-
lar government in Indiana. Will the honest
and independent voters of the State fail to do
their duty in this most serious matter?