The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-07
MONDAYS ELECTIONS.

MONDAYS ELECTIONS.
The result of Mondays elections is signifi-
cant of a determination on the part Of the
people to have good government. In Indian
apolis the people had seen the public money
wasted, or worse, and there was expressed an
intention to keep up the extravagant methods
that had obtained during the past four years.
This was more than the taxpayers cared to
stand, and the result was the defeat of the
candidates representing that idea. The Demo
cratic nominee was handicapped by the fact
that the present incumbent of the Office of
township trustee had increased the burden of
current expenses from 81, 900 to over $40, 900,
and it was the evident intention Of the party
to keep ii at that or a greater figure. There
was no excuse for this extraordinary expense,
and the people did their plain duty in so sig
nally rebuking it. Another thing in the way
of the Democratic candidates was the we'll
understood fact that they stood for all that
was vicious, all that was inclined to '1iberal'
lawlessness. The bummers, the gamblers,
the law-breaking saloon men and the Liberal
League as a body were all allied with the
Democratic party In its attempt to retain con-
troll of the township, and enjoy the spoils of
extravaganza management. Every element in
the city inclined to defy the law was on the
side of the Democratic nominees. And it is
quite certain that the remote contingency of
organized violence had somewhat to do with
bringing about the result that was reached.
Taken altogether, the victory Of Tuesday was
a triumph not only for the Republican party,
but for law and order.
At Evansville the Republican success was
no less a victory for all that is of good report.
There, as elsewhere, the Republican party
stood for better things. The election turned
on the question whether the debt Of the city
should be paid without dishonoring the city by
scaling or by repudiating it, as was suggested
by certain Democrats. The Republican nom
inees were elected. and the city is saved the
shame and humiliation of dishonesty. The
credit Of the city is maintained. and it is
morally certain that every citizen of Evans
vile will be the gamer by the result of Mon
days election.
At Cincinnati the Republican triumph,
which was overwhelming, was a protest
against a series of the most stupendous frauds
in the last State election, through which it
was attempted to steal several seats in the
Legislature, so hat a Democrat might be sent
to the United States Senate instead of Sena-
tor Sherman. The frauds were SO bold and
glazing that no apology could have saved then
from being condemned; but to the shame of
those who perpetrated them, no apology or ex-
PLANTATION was offered. The men who did it
and those who were to profit by it attempted
to brazen it out and to make it appear that ali
was regular and legal. They were so fragrant,
however, that many a Democrat could not in
dorse them, and several who had investigated
the frauds declared that they were confined
wholly to the Democratic party. The result
Of Mondays election means that this kind of
work does not meet the approval of honest
men whose highest wish is for good govern
ment.
The Republican party is fortunate in thus
having represented the better things in gov
eminent. It has succeeded because it richly
deserved to succeed. It drew to Its support
the very best citizens, some of whom were
Democrats who could not iudorse the perfdy
of their own party. The deduction to be
drawn is that it is morally certain that the
people Of this government will not let 1t 20
upon the rocks if they are brought to a real
ization of the fact in time to save 1t. It will
be so with all kinds of lawlessness. For a
time it may appear to flourish and to run riot
unimreded, but when it comes to a square
issue between law and order on one side, and
crime and loose morals on the other, the PEG
pie will pronounce in favor of the former
every time. This is something that some
people are very slow to learn and would gladly
not believe. It has been demonstrated often
enough to convince any observer of the senti-
ment of civilization. and fails to impress only
such as want to think the contrary. This is
why SO many times the lawless make a mis-
take in estimating the forbearance of the
public. Charity is long suffering, but there
is a limit that charity does not exceed, and
when that limit is reached, a halt will be
called without regard to the number or char
acter of those who may exhaust it. There is
no strength in vice that cannot and will not
be overthrow by the right. At times the
struocle has heen dasnorato and az +;rno. -