The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-02
AT THE FoRKs-WHICH FORKq
To-day is the day.

one fork or the other from habit, but the
young voter naturally hesitates. Which
fork, young man, will you take to-day? The
Democratic fork will certainly take you out
into some very dreary country and into some
very queer company. No Democrat likes to
have his rarty's history referred toexceptit be
some very ancient chapter; and if you tell
him anything aboutsuch portions of his party s
history as is within living memory he roars
out 'The war ended over twenty years ago.
or you are ''waving the bloody shirt" On
the other hand, you can't please Republican
better than to talk about the history of
his party. It is brief. It's first ma
tional election was only thirty years
ago. Since that time there has not
been year, up to $780, when Democratic
victory was not public menace. A Demo
cratic victory in 1860 would have perpetu-
ated American slavery. A Democratic vic
into two governments, and have been the be-
ginning of indefinite subdivisions. A Demo
cratic victory in 1868 would have defeated the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments A
Democratic victory in 1872 would have ruined
our national banks and currency and delivered
us over to the sham of fiat money. In 1876 the
danger of Democratic supremacy somewhat
lessened, for new generation had arisen who
had become partially leavened with the new
order of things-in word, after twenty years
work the Republican party had educated up
the Democratic party to point where they
ceased to be national menace, ard became
only a national danger Hayes's administra-
ton was the last step in the healing process.
Under him the wounds inflicted by the Demo-
cratic party South the aid often expressed
and always implied of the Democratic party
North, cicatrized so that in 1880 Hancock's
election, save its menace to our national
industries might have been a fairly safe
one Democratic principles to-day are still
dangerous. Democratic power depends upon
an organized and successful notification of
the Constitution of the United States. Does the
young voter want to join such party? 1t is i'm
possible that any party should permanently
succeed whose title to success lies in resisting
the organic law Of the land. Give every
voter in the United States an equal and fair
chance at the polls, and Mr.. Cleveland and
the Democratic majority at Washington
would have to pack their gripsacks and leave
for a more honest cupation-openly At
home the Democratic party is a pubic danger.
1t protects and legalizes the whisky traffic. It
does not deny that it is hand and glove with
the Liquor League. It's management of the
great charitable institutions is a stencil in
the public nostrils It's leader in the Gov
ernor's chair shamelessly advises the party
'to vote for the devil if necessary to pre-
serve party supremacy.
The Republican fork of the road certainly
leads to better country. The Republican
party has made its mistakes, but these mis-
takes have often afterwards become Demo
cratic principles. What would this country
have been had the Republican party been
defeated in 1860, or GA, or '68, or ~, or '76?
The Prohibition party is too small in num-
bers to be useful, and, besides, it is doubtful
whether their principle will bear the test
The Republicans are right upon the tariff.
The Democrats have not revenue reform men
enough, with an enormous majority in Con-
gress, to even debate an anti-protective tariff
bill. Unquestionably tariff reform is the best
card of the Democracy. But the sober, Sec
ond thought of the country is Enthusiastically
in favor of that tariff system that put down
the great Rebellion, restored specie pay
ment. and covered this country with self
sustaining industries.
Which party, for the last thirty years has
produced the greatest men? Under which
banner has the greatest intelligence and cult
ure of the country enlisted? Where will you
find the great majority of teachers and preach
ers? Which party has been the richest in elo-
quence, in craftsmanship and in great and
progressive ideas7 What great measures have
the Democratic party ever advocated What
of our great and successful national reforms
has it not bitterly opposed? The Journal
cheerfully admits that thousands Of Demo
-.
ardent temperance man can hope for any
whisky reform from the Democratic party is
beyond comprehension.
We regret we have not space to multiply
words. Young man, which fork9 That of
the party of Lincoln, Garfield, Grant. Sum-
ner, Seward Chase, or that of Jeff Davis
Slidell, Tweed, Vallandigham, Fernando Wood
and Jake Thompson9 Name Democratic states