The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-25
OUR THANKSGIVING DAY.

ing and gostration. That is its ordinary use;
but there are times when the turkey and the
platitudes should be tempered with thought,
and, possibly, repentance that will bring
forth meet fruits. 1t is not to be denied that
there are many reasons for thanksgiving. The
nation is in peace and reasonable prosperity.
Neither war; nor instruction, nor pestilence
threatens us, and on the surface of affairs we
are getting along very we'll. But there are
some bitter herbs to be eaten with the tooth
some fowl to-day, and it will be we'll for us if
we take rightful cognizance of what there is
in our conditions of which we should be
ashamed and alarmed.
Passing over what might we'll be said upon
number Of topics affecting our national life
and political welfare, there are things that the
people of Indiana, and of indianapolis in par
ticular, need to look closely into
We should give thanks that majority of
the people of Indiana in their indignation, re-
buked an infamous attempt to disfrancLise
them and to steal their right Of free and equal
suffrage. But, at the same time, we should
remember that the battle for the integrity of
the ballot is but fairly begun. The same des-
perate tricksters and thieves are proposing
every means their desperation can suggest to
render of mono effect the verdict of the people
as expressed at the ballot box. The air is full
of the rumors of their Vaccinations and the
very bodness and openness of the
schemes seem to invest them with the
possibility Of success. On this national
Thanksgiving Day the people, in their homes,
and in their respective places of worship where
they may be assembled in obedience to exec
to reflect that freedoms battle once begun, is
beQueathed from bleeding sire to son. AS
was said by minister of the gospel, in his
letter printed in yesterdays Journal, the suf-
frage thieves are attempting to make it appear
that lit is theft to prevent their theft from
bearing fruit" The gerrymander was a de-
liberately arranged "steal" It was so con-
ceived and so executed It's passage through
the Legislature was secured by the meanest
and worst forms of corruption, as will be con-
clusively shown by legislative investigation
this winter 1t was fraud, intentional and
wicked, against which the people, who were to
be despoiled of their birth-right, were bound
to use every possible means Of defense. The
people, in the exercise Of their constitutional
and legal power, declared that that steal should
not bear fruit, and now the thieves are rend-
ing the heavens with their cries that what the
people propose to do, through their chosen and
appointed representatives, to carry out their
will. is itself ''theft" The Republican par
ty, in behalf of the people, has never proposed
to 60 outside of the Constitution and the laws
in its defensive measures, but it does pro-
pose to do all that can be done and may be
done within constitutional and legal linn
its to stay the power of the
rapists whose lust for office would
lead them over the dead body of their
victim in this State as it has in Southern
States, and as it would have done in Ohio and
Illinois had not the people, in their exercise of
self-deferse, ceased to preach the beatitudes
to the burglars but put them behind prison
bars through the terrors of the law.
Are the people of Indiana and of this city
and county properly awake to the dangers and
the duties of the situatione Will they 60 to
church to-day and unctuously thank God for
creature comforts, and then 60 home to eat,
drink and be merry, and conclude that all is
well about them9 There are in Marion coun-
ty men who have committed penitentiary
crimes against the ballot-the highest and
most dangerous form Of treason-and they
are boldly defying the apparently paralyzed
arm of the law. There is in this city of In
dianapolis one man sitting upon the bench of
a court, whose title to the place is based only
upon frauds and forgeries for which somebody
should DE sent to the State prison. This man
was sought to be placed there for special
purpose, and the criminals whose tool and
creature he is openly boosted to the prosecutor
that the indictments against them should be
made unusually strong as the cases would be
appealed to the "haven of refuge above"
The Criminal Court Of the county is openly
and boastingly referred to by the chief of
gang of arrogant law breakers as their
'haven of refuge" Every honest man
in indianapolis knows that to be
a disgraceful truth. Every honest man in In
dianapcls knows that the person who assumes
TO sit on the bench of that court should be-
hurled from the plaee without delay; but,
through some absurd and dangerous lethargy,
some fatal and foolish daliance with subtle