The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-03

INC LnemUeFS OF tuaL party LneH WIN hoNO Oe0H
disappointed in every promise made TO them, to
indorse this administration by electing the Dem
ocratc ticket in Indiana this year.
The soldiers lot has been somewhat like that
of the policeman in the comic opera, since this
Democratic administration came n-''not a hap
by one" Laughter and applause.
But my fellow-citizens, | do not intend to
keep you longer from that important work for
which you have assembled. The issues upon
which we will make an appeal to the people this
year are issnes that will touch the reason and
intelligence of our people We go into
the campaign partially dsfranchsed, but
with the resolution to overturn this iniqutous
legislation We appeal to the honest Democrats
of Indiana who do not desire to be endowed with
political power stolen from their Republican
neighbors to undo the wrong. Applause We
appeal from the politicians who gerry wandered
these districts in the interest of political pets
from the men whose ambitions and hopes
of success could not be safely sub
Initted TO fair vote of tho people.
We make our appeal to the honest and intell-
gent people OF Indiana to set this thing right and
believe they will do it. Applause l thank
you gentlemen, again, for your kindness, and
take pleasure in announcing that this convention
is now ready to proceed to its business
THE PLATFORM.
After the close of his address Senator Harri-
son called for the report of the committee on
resolutions. which was read by E. W Halford
Vhe chairman, as follows:
The Republicans of Indiana in convention as
sembled, invoke the dispaSsionate Judgment of
the people of the State upon the acts and record
of the Democratic party. Succeeding to power
in the ia tlonal government by virtue of unpar-
donable crimes against free suffrage it has dem
onstrated its incapacity and insncerity by failure
to redeem its pledges made to the people Prom.
sing economy in public expenditures, the appro-
priations made by the last Congress. and ap-
proved by the President we're of unparalleled
extravagance Its attempts to legislate on tariff
and finance served only to weaken public conf
dence, to paralyZe industry to check the return
ing tide of prosperity, and to interfere with
the regular and orderly reduction of the public
debt, which was so conspicuous feature of Re-
publican administration. Under its control
the civil service has been degraded
by the appointment. not only of un-
fit persons, but Of convicted criminals
to posts of responsibility and honor. 1t has scan-
dalized justice and decency by the methods in
augurated by the postoffice and other depart
ments to distribute the Offices TO party workers,
while 1t sought to placate the growing sentiment
against the spois system BY false pretenses. The
federal appointments made in Indiana are fair
sample of what has brought the cause of civil
service reform into needless disfavor and made
its success an impossibility under Democratic
auspices. The attempt of the Democratic House
of Representatives to make odous pension legis
lation By adding q special tax bill to every pen
sion measure (thus declaring that pensions
should not be paid out of the general treasury,
the spirit and language of numerous vetoes of
meritOrious pensions, and the failure of the Dem
ocratic House of Representatives to even recon
slider them before adjournment of Congress, re-
veal the continued enmity of the Democratic
party to the Union soldier and his cause.
Since its advent to power the old heresy of
State sovereignty has been rehahilitated Ia the
Southern States, where the political strength of
the party resides, the country has witnessed the
resurrection of treason and traitors, the Haunting
of the rebel flag, and the defiant expression of
sentiments at with the integrity of the
Union The flag of the United States has been
lowered in honor of who gained unique
infamy by his dospicable course as a public
enemy; the services and memory of men held in
reverence by loyal people have been attacked in
Congress by those VINO were formerly in arms
a gainst the government; persons have been ap-
pointed to high Office who have Extensively de-
cared the national government to be IA bloody
usurpatiou OF natural rights" and in federal ap-
pointments preferences has been given to those
who were most conspicuous in their service to
the Southern Confederacy. Anxious for the
full and complete harmonizing of all sections Of
the Union, VIC can but reprobate these evidences
Of hostility to the principles of the government
There can be no assurance of permanent safety
and security until all people unitedly honor the
Union, and as unitedly deplore the differences
which, in past years, so seriously threatened its
overthrow.
In its relations with foreign governments the
failed to maintain the honor and dignity of tie
Nation, and to protect the rights of American
citizens It has disfrapchised hundreds of thou
sands of voters in the North, By its failure to
discharge an imperous moral obligation, imposed
by the Constitution, for the admission of Dakota
into the Union, for the same reason that led it
to extinguish Republican maiorities in the
Southern States by fraud and violence
The last Legislature of Indiana was Demo
'ratic in both branches by a majority of two
thirds. It passed apportionment bills dsfran-
,hisng nearly half the voters of the State in leg
slative and congressional elections, thus
has accomplished elsewhere by the tissue ballot
and the shotgun.
1t failed TO redeem it's pledges to the Iaborine
classes made in its last platform, promising a re-
1uction in the hours of labor on public works
the establishment of bureaus of labor statistics,
he use of prison labor so as not to compete with
free and honest labor the prohibition of the EN-.
ployment of children under fourteen years of
age, and the prohibition of the watering of cor
porate stocks All bills which were even intro
1uced to accomplish any of these things were de-
feated by Democratic votes.
1t failed to pass bill to restrain the manu-
facture and use of dynamite for the purpose OF
life and property
1t failed TO amend the eXtravagant fee and sal
AIRY bill; it defeated measures introduced by Re-
pub!icans to limit the excessive allowances of
county officers; 1t refused to cut down the enor-
mons perquisites of tho Reporter of;the Supreme
Court; it refused to provide means for ascer-
tanning and recovering from the clerk of that
court sums of money due from him and wrong
fully withheld; it forced upon the State at great
expense and without just cause, an extra session
Of the General Assembly: and, although it ap-
propriated four and one half millions of dollars
It crippled our educational institutions by insult
fcient allowances, and left unpaid just debts of
the State, due to private citizens, by refusing to
pass the specific appropriation bill.
1t failed to provide the citizens of the State
with the speedy justice guaranteed in the Con
stitution, by defeating all measures for the relief
Of the overcrowded condition of the docket of
the Supreme Court.
1t failed to obey the imperative mandate of
the Constitution to enact law providing for the
registration Of voters in the interest of free and
ale