The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-07
DISGUSTED WITH HIS PARTY.
Mr.. P. A. Ward WithdraWs from the Dem-
Ocratic County Central Committee.
A Vigorous Letter Reviewing, from a Self-Re-
specting Mans Standpoint, the Obnoxious
Character Of the Democratic Party.


active, working member, and yesterday, in the
following letter, rendered his resignation as
member OF the Democratic county central com
mittee:
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 6.
Simeon Coy, Esq. Chairman Marion County Demo-
cratic Committee
SRI herewith tender you my resignation as
member of your committee, to take effect on
the publication of this letter. do not indorse
the nomination Of w. d. Bynum for Congress,
consequently shall not vote for him in Novem
Der, and hence consistency demands my with
drawal from the work and deliberations of your
organization.
These facts, If alone, would be hardly worth
public notice, and should scarcely deserve pub
LEGATION; but there others, which this wretch
ed nomination has dragged to the forefront of
my mind that shall influence me to treat the gen
eral party ticket, at the next election. from the
stand point of a very imperial personal
independence, and that further cry for
their publication IN the ears of those very many
friends who Joined in last years overthrow of
the patry plotters who then dominated the city
Democratic nominations, who have since mis-
used Mr. Cottrell, and conspicuous in
their support of Bynum's brutal obstinacy.
] might dismiss notice of the characteristics
winch Bynum's conduct during the past several
months has exhibited, and which. to my
science, totally unfit him for a seat in the
tional legislature. but these are so coupled with
kindred characteristics in the entire mass of
ship that feel revolt of the crew is the one
absolute necessity of the hour to save the old
craft from plunging to the bottom. Private am
bitons personal aims and blatant demagogy
corrupting and leading that low intelligence
which, never absent, and always noisy, is
to day the dominant power in Democratic
councils find their interests advanced by
pleading false issues, discounting worth,
affecting sneers at cultured intelligence and en-
joying saturnalia, since the last national cleo
from which honest cltlZenshln
shrinks, and in the presence of which manly
mans sense of decency is shocked. Bynum's
nomination. and all of its nauseous history is the
natural outcome of this condition, and the
1ounderings of the party in the mire of general
contempt and disgust in consequence, will con-
tinue until the ship sinks, unless this leadership
is wrenched from its personal following, throttled
and flung overheard.
Few men, to-day, and l speak Of the Indiana
Democracy alone. are there conspicuous as lead
ers who dare show uncovered bosoms in which
the spirit of supreme selfshness dwelleth not,
and successfully challenge the worlds judg-
ment on the purity of their designs or the patri
otism of their motives. Some sinister infu-
ence, varied in its meaning in it's ways
but bodng i'll to the public good, is at the root
of the impulses swaying the most OF them. Com
mon earth made fellows are they, despite their
balmy professions, their rounded periods and
their vigorous protestatons. From the atmos-
pheric rhetorician of the Wabash down through
that unique combination of personal cunning
ana pOlltlcal renegaulSm now IN the RuDerna
torial chair, and aspiring to the seat In the
United States Senate once filled by Thomas A.
Hendricks-even to Mr.. A Sedenst:cker, the By
numite chairman of the late Bynum- Hagen
Creelman-D innin convention-they all have
their distinctive axes TO grind on the periphery
of popular favor and Democratic asinn-
| ity So deeply sunk in self are
| the motives of these men, as you
| yourself cannot fail 10 have lately observed
that the disguise with which they affect to
N q the remote features
their nudity a fact not at all distasteful to the
| believing blatherskites who are prominent in
| their personal following, but intolerably repuls-
| i've to the eyes of decency and honor. .d9
| Indiana's senior Senator talks pleasing plati-
| tudes TO the masses at home. but votes with the
| monopoists in Washington He poses before
the Irish element as q friend to their and
advocate of their aspirations, yet in the matter
| of the State treasuryship, not long ago. he
sulked from the side of one of their most
esteemed Observation-Disclosures minded, patri-
| otto Pat Shannon-and. to suDserve his own per-
| sonal ends, violated the promise he had made to
| the man who had been his benefactor in
seasons of pecuniary need. In furtherance. again,
OF patry, personal aims, regardless Of the shame
| it brought upon rejecting and selt-respectlug
| Irishmen in Indiana, and with capacity for
| clap-trap becoming to Jeremy Diddler," he
used his official position to scoop from the effer
| vescent scum of the Irish element the black
guardism of Lamb, and the lliteracy of Hanlon,
to impose on the machinery of his countrys gov
| eminent.
OF Chairman Seidensticker am reluctant to
| speak ILL He is the champion of paltry issue
more than he is the embodiment Of personal
craft. He is, believe, honest in his meaning
| as citizen. but woefully low in his aim
| patriot cannot help recalling to mind that
his variegated career in America shows him the
| representative of element in our popua
ton which, for many years past, has
| been playing fast and loose with the
| Democratic party, just as the pressure of the
| rrh 1i0 toy offo tod hn har an nf he
| beer interest. Friendly by turns, but never
| long, this element has not in the past. nor does
| it now refrain from iusolently proclaiming its
| purpose of forcing the Democratic party Of the
| country to aid in examining foreign customs and
habits down the threats of the American people.
| The boldness of its assumptions in this regard
was fttingly supplemented by Mr.. Seiden-
| stickers convention, last Saturday, excluding
| the duly chosen delegate from my ward, MIR.
| Davidson from his legitimate seat in that body.
| This is small matter to refer to in this connec
! ton. but it was a matter effected by the very
| small people who placed Mr. Seidensticker IL the
| chair, and who had been, doubtless, Creelman
| ized-pardon the coinage of a new word for this
| occasion-into the convention for this and
! kindred purposes.
AS | view it. the continued domination of
| those men whom l have named or implied as
| leaders, backed by such following as receives
| their special nursing, is a menace to justice in
| law. and to equity in administration. l see less
| danger on these points in temporary re-estab-
| lishment of Republican rule than IN continu-
| ance of the present conditions dominating the
| Democratic party. At all events, | am tired of
tramplne in the mire the party is now wallowing
| in. The role of acting a petty officer in its
| interest now lay down. Henceforth my ballot
shall be my own. Sparnng the dictations of the
primaries and the conventions" shall use it
| as my conscience directs. This may
| be treason to the Democratic party,
and, doubtless will be so held by the imbecle
| horde now ready to hiss their impotent wrath at
such as me. But it is loyalty to my govern
ment-it is loyalty to those broad institutions
whose very scope is wide enough to safely per-
nit ignorance, bombast. and beer to play at
statesrl anship under the very coat-tails OF W.
| D. ByDum q Co.
Acknowledging fully your kind and gentle
manly treatment of me during all the time l
| have been member of the committee remain,
| sir vours resOactfDlv II. A. WARD.