The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-28
1he Editor of the Democratic Organ Boasts
that He Regards Lie in Campaign
as Better than the Truth.
The Little Boss Resorts to Mockery OF
Colonel Merrill's Religion.
The Dastardly Assault on Eugene Saulcy
Proves Political Boomerang-Features
of the Local Political Contest.

10 sometimes better and goes further than the
truth" Il questions what everybody knows,
and of which abundant proof can be had, that,
outside of his unfortunate meeting with Black,
seventeen years ago, Eugene Saulcy has record
Of which any young man might be proud. 1t
says that he never reformed, and yet there was
no need Of reformation, for Saulcy's one misfor-
tune is not charged against him as an absolute
fall from recttuda But to show that he never
reformed. the Sentinel says: "For time he
worked in the rolling-mill, butif he made an eff
fort to improve upon hisformer associations and
mend his ways it was not apparent until very
late gears" The dastardly assault on
the young mans character has strength
ened his multitude Of friends and
given them new incentive towork the harder
for his election. The attack has also brought
him many new friends and placed the Demo
cratic local management in a state OF hopeless
despair. 1t knocked the only prop they had on
which to base the hope Of electing even one man.
It has called attention to Mr. Saulcy's highly
honorable career as city assessor, and the many
excellent traits of his boyhood, which have been
fulfilled in his manly life No one ever went to
Gene Saulcy for favor that he didn't get It.
The humblest man and the lowliest cutcast
always found encouragement In his kindly greet
ings, and. oftentimes, substantial givings NO
one suffering ever came within his reach but
that he did all he could to take part
of the burden on himself AS a boy
he figured in several adventures that stamp him
as hero Nicholas MCCARTHY owed his life to
Sankey's readiness and bravery in saving him
from watery grave. There areothers for whom
he performed like service, and yet, in his modest
manliness, he never speaks Of these. He asks
for the peoples support only as citizen of
worth and capability From his earliest dayshe
has been hard worker, a fact the workingmen
Of the city, with one voice. appreciate as all
their force iupolitics is in Eugene Sankey's di-
rection. For no other purpose than to injure
him among the working people, who recognize
his worth as'a man.ehis endeaTors III their be-
half, his willingness esacrifcehimself in their
interest whenever called upon, was this
uncalled-for and malicious attack made.
1t Is worth remembering, too, that the attack
was made with the purpose of attracting votes
from knight of Labor in good standing to a
man who, in 1884, refused to comply with the
demand of the Cigar makers Union that he
should stop selling ''scab" cigars, boasting at
the time that he would be in business ten years
after his boycotters were dead. and it was after
he began to suffer from this boast that he sought
q compromise and agreed to henceforrh sell only
goods bearing the union stamp
A very encouraging phase Of the campaign is
the decided tendency Of the business and work
ing to place the candidacy for the auditor
ship upon plane of merit. capacity and general
worth. For month or more this idea has been
doing good service for Colonel Merrill While
the worst social and political elements, con-
$rolled by Coy, are against him, the-Colonel has
Steadily remained true to his principles of up
right manhood, amidst all the camor. abuse and
lying The little boss has made the defeat of
Colonel Merrill his especial concern, along with
his desire to elect Sullivan. Taggart relies on
this to carry him through. He publicly admits
the excellence of Colonel Merrills character. his
standing as a citizen, and that nothing can be
said against him. but ne privately encourages
Coy to set afoat falsehoods, innuendoes and vile
illusions to his Christian character.
Not long ago in his wrath at the gains the
Colonel was making, Coy could do nothing
worse against him than mock his religion.
"Merrill is nice chump to eleetioneer." said
Coy. "Ths is the way he goes at it: 4 am a
Christian man, gentlemen, and want the sup
port Of all good people Praise God, praise God;
OH praise God,'" and in the climax of his sacri-
lege the little boss. the would-be Billy McGlory
of social depravity and the Joe Mackin of politi-
cal villainy, fairly screamed, to the delight Of
his crowd 1t is this man Coy who has his col
lar on Taggart who regards his success as SUI
perntendent of a railroad restaurant the highest
commentator of his desire to take charge OF
the countys financial affairs.
The contrast between the two candidates is so
str,ng that it seems superfuQus to speak of the
merits of Colonel Merrill in connection with one
who has not proved his political manhood beyond
an abject submission to the demands Of the pen
itentiary element of his party. Colonel Merrill
is citizen of eminent responsibility, of high
business character, man of generous heart and
noble purposes. loyal to friends and country,
of 10 ifa oh md hon
orable. He is of such men who exemplify in
their every act the worth of living, of such men
who make society better by their influence and
example. Before Tom Taggart was ever thought
of as personality, Colonel Merrill was in bus
mess in this city. He was born in Marion
county. coming from sturdy race that helped
build the city. Thirty-six years ago he opened
his bookstore. This gives him the prestlge of
being tne Oldest business man in the city, except
one.
Up to the breaking out of the civil war the
business of himself and partner Mr. Moores,
was prosperous. The loyalty of both being of
the sternest order, each thought he should be
the one to represent the firm in the army. They
could decide it only by lot and that fell to Col
Merrill He sacrificed the pleasures of home, a
prosperous trade. gave up years of opportuni-
ties to increase his fortune to serve his country.
He went into the service believing, as he had for
years, in the freedom for black we'll as white.
He was brave among the bravest but as the war
went on Mr.. M0ores also enlisted leaving their
large business to the ladies of the family.
Mr. Moores never returned. His remains lie in
an honored soldiers grave. Colonel Merrill came
home to find his business gone and rival house
in high favor. He assumed the care of his dead
partners family and went bravely to work to re-
trieve his fortune. the debt he faced was dis
heartening but with nobility of manhood he al
ways shows he accepted the load. and in the
struggle of years has been day and night lessen
ing it little by little by the closest application TO
his business. His has been veritable fulfill
ment of one having his nose - the grindstone.
Now when his friends seek to help him, when
every decent man in the community has his in
terests at heart, the Coy gang seek to pull him
down by bandinage and mockery of his religious
character.
The Democratic county ticket, strictly speak
ing, has but one soldier on it, and he served
only long enough in the rebel army to smell
powder at Bonneville Mo-, June 18th, 1861.
This is the so-called Colonel Hicklin,
candidate for the Legislature. He saved bis
never stopping until he reached Nebraska City,
hundreds of miles away He fought for the
rebel side after that, from afar, and did all he
could for the rebel side by rejoicing at the death
Of Lincoln. The Repubii, ans, on their county
ticket honor in Colonel Merrill the bravery and
Sacrifices that saved the Union. The Democrats
honor In Colonel" Hicklin one who boasts of
bis rebel record. In Colonel Merrill the Repub-
heans and the community of business men, ire
spective of party, honor. one of their ciass--a
shiga tyre Of Christian manhood.