The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-29
MR.. HENpERsos,s CONSPIRACY.

MR.. HENDERSOE'S CONSPIRACY.
Major J. w. Gordon pays his respects to
Mr.. Eb Henderson upon the preposterous and
dishonorable story alleged to be told by that
gentleman to Cincinnati Enquirer reporter
and reprinted in the Journal of Friday
Mr.. Henderson attempts to give the inside
history of the defeat of Hon. Will Cumback
for the United States Senate, and the part he
played in that event, together with the late
Judge Hughes and the Democratic members
of the Legislature. The narrative is fool
ishly false in many important respects;
and so far as it has to do with
explaining the defeat Of Mr.. Cumback is alb
solutely worthless as it has no possible rela-
ton to that matter. being out of the way by
is not worth while to discuss the false and
contemplate pretext upon which MIR. Cum
back was defeated, nor to suggest the animus
of that entire movement. That is quite we'll
known now, and it is enough to say that the
one man who came out of that controversy
whole and unsmirched, and who has proven
to be true man and true Republican ever
since, is Mr.. Cumback.
But Mr.. Henderson's story has a present
value to the people of Indiana and that is the
only reason the Journal gave it place. It is
true, doubtless, that the conspiracy to unseat
T ;p+
RED out as Mr. Henderson relates. 1t is also
true that Mr.. Henderson, after entering into
the plot, became the chairman of the Senate
committee on elections, and sat in an assumed
judicial character to hear and determine the
case which he had not only prejudged. but up
on which he had entered into caucus conspiracy
even before the session of the General Assem-
bly, began. Was there ever a revelation Of
greater moral turpitude made in the history
Henderson could have in thus turning States
evidence, when he himself must needs be the
greatest and only sufferer by the revelation,
we cannot imagine, unless it was to give
notice to his Democratic associates that he
was still at the head of the party organization,
and ready to repeat his foul work
for partisan ends and to secure the
defeat Of another Republican candidate for
United States Senator. We have heard, oc-
casionally, of a crowd of notified and beetle
browed scoundrels gathered together in the
back room of some disreputable hole, and with
leering eyes and salacious ears listening to
miserable debauchee relate the disgusting
story of his icentious life. 1t must have
been congregation of people and
an orator fit to be companions
to these libels on humanity who
could gather together, and gloat over such a
story of political corruption and depravity as
is now made public. The appalling fact is
that any man feels safe in presuming upon
the callousness of public opinion to acknowl-
edge the part he played in such unmitigated
scoundrelism, and that his presumption
seems to be well-founded It is not
possible that the people of Indiana
appreciate what this story of Mr.. Henderson
means, or it could not be received without
such an exhibition of indignation as would
forever make it impossible for another man to
so trife and tamper with the highest and most
sacred public rights. If such statement can
be received in comparative..silence! if it shall
not meet with instant and vehement rebuke;
if the party of which Mr.. Henderson is now
the official mead shall consent to continue
him in responsible and commanding position
submitting to him in State affairs as they do
to Sim Coy and "Sim Coyism' in city mat
ters, then the condition of public morals is
worse that we had supposed, and the battle
for right and justice, and for the sanctity of
the ballot and the safety of representative in
stitutions, is harder one than it has seemed
to be.
In the face of a party captained by man
who can boast of such conspiracy as Mr..
Henderson outlines, party willing to be led
by such man, and ready to carry out the
schemes he may suggest or that may be sug
gested to him. the people Of the State need
not be surprised to hear of any crime to over
turn the result of the recent election. and to
set aside the verdict of the popular majority.
-
REGARDING the new 'tHouse" telephone
which the local Wallace Telephone Company
claims TO have the right to use, Superintend-
ent Hockett, of the Central Union, said to