The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-23

diurnal opinions to a cheap letter-writer that
Mr.. Meagher, of Vigo county, is eligible be-
cause he was not actually performing the
duties of justice of the peace at the time the
County Commissioners passed an order re-
ducing the number of justices from five to
four, it being claimed that they thus abol-
ished the office to which Mr. Meagher had
been elected. Mr.. Mcdonald is reported to
say:
'tAll that there is in Meagher's case is a
pretext. 1t furnishes the Republicans with
that which they so earnestly seek-a pretext
thin and shallow though it be-to unseat a
Democratic member of the Legislature, and
thus prevent the election of a Democrat to
the United States Senate. If they can bring
about tie in the Assembly, and delay an
election, they will be content to drift along
for while, waiting for an opportunity to put
their revolutionary methods in operation and
elect a Republican Senator They will have
some advantages. They will organize the
House, and they have the presiding officer in
the Senate. | hear it said the Republican
Lieutenant governor will cast his vote if there
is tie ballot. | do not believe he will make
such an attempt. Colonel Robertson is man
of sense and decency. He will not endeavor
to do that which he knows ne has no right to
do"
The first point of interest in this is that Mr..
Mcdonald arrays himself against the men who
are claiming the illegality of Colonel Robert
sons election; but that's only because Insults his
purpose to foreclose Governor Gray from sena-
torial aspirations. If it were not for this, Mr..
Mcdonald would go as far as any other mem
Der of his party in upholding any revolution
airy or arbitrary scheme that might be suggest
ed. We are warranted in this conclusion by
the insincere and dogmatic manner in which
he talks about the Meagher case Mr.. Nc
Donald knows that the matter Of Meagher' S
ineligibility is not a new thing. 1t was
known at the time he was nominated, but
passed over because the Democrats did not
care to offend him, and they believed there
would be so large Democratic majority in
the Legislature that it would make no differ
ence. Mr.. Mcdonald also knows that the or
der of the County Commissioners reducing
the number of justices was not relied upon, or
thought of in connection with the matter, until
it became important to try and keep an incl.
igible man in his seat. These are matters of
fact perfectly within Mr. McDonald's knowl-
edge, for he was consulted about the matter
Then Mr.. Mcdonald also knows, as lawyer,
that the Supreme Court of the State, four
Democratic judges uniting in the opinion, de-
cided but short time ago. that the taking of
the oath of office and the filing of the bond
vested the title and qualified the officer. Mr..
Meagher took the oath Of office as justice and
filed his bond, and thus the title of the Office
vested in him, and he was thus qualified
and ready to discharge the duties of justice
when case should be brought before him.
There is no power that could divest Mr.
Meagher of this title, no power that could
undo the qualification he had voluntarily
assumed. Mr.. Mcdonald knows all this, and
yet, in the role of lawyer he declares that
all the talk of the ineligibility Of Mr.
Meagher is mere pretext, and that there is
nothing in it. 1t is not creditable to Mr..
Mcdonald, but it goes to show how the itch
for office will affect even the most honorable
of Democrats