The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-13

L
fairly and sometimes by fraud, succeeded in
holding power twenty-four years. till at last the
American people, no longer condoning its
| faults or torglving its sins, hurled it from
| power, and again committed to the party of
the constitution and the whole union the adj
mlnlstratlon of our political affairs.
we won by the well-earned confidence OF the
country in the rectitude of our purpose, ythe
aid OF chivalrous and conscientious men, who
could no longer brook the corruptions of the
republican party. IL was a great, deserved,
necessary victory. The day on which Grover
Cleveland-the plain, straightforward, typical
American citizen, chosen at that electiOn-tOok
the oath of Office in the presence of the multi
tude-a day so lovely and perfect that all
nature seemed exuberantly to sanction and to
celebrate the victory-that day marked the
close OF an old era and the beginning of a new
| one. IL closed the era of uSurpatiOn by the
federal authorities and of illegal force of GEN
eral contempt for constitutional limitations and
plain law, OF glazing scandals, prohigate waste
and unspeakable corrupions, of narrow sec
tlonaliSm and class strife, of the reign of a
party whose good work had long been done,
Ii began the era of perfect peace and perfect
union-the states fused in all their sovereignty
into federal republic with limited but ample
powers; OF a public service conducted with
absolute integrity and strict economy; of re-
forms pushed 10 their extreme limit; of COM
prehensive, sound and safe financial policy,
giving security and confidence TO all enter
prlses and endeaYOr-a democratic administra-
ton, faithful TO its mighty trust. loyal to its
pledges, true to the constitution, Safeguarding
the interests and liberties of the people.
And now we stand on the edge of another,
and perhaps greater, contest; with a relation to
the electors that we have not held for a genera
tiOn-that of responsibility for the great trust
of government. We are no longer auditors but
accountants no longer critics but the criti-
cised The responsibility is ours and il we
have al faLan oil tho 4 10
that responsibility good, the fault is ours not
that of the people.
We are confronted by willy, INSCRIPTIONS
and desperate foe. There will be no speck on
the record that they will not magnify into a
blot nor circumstance that they will not tor
ture and misrepresent, no disappointment that
they will not exaggerate into a revolt, no class
or creed that they will not seek to infame no
passion that they will not attempt to rouse, no
fraud that they will not willingly perpetrate.
They fancy, indeed, that there is mo impos-
ture too monstrous for the popular credulity,"
no crime that will not be cOndoned. But we
stand at guard, fully armed at every point TO
meet them. Our appeal is not to passion or TO
prejudice, to class faction, to race or creed,
but TO the sound common sense, the interest,
the intelligence and patriotism of the American
people.
The administration of President Cleveland
has triumphantly justified his election. II COM
country. The prophets of evil and disaster are
dumb. What the people see is the govern
ment of the Union restored TO its ancient foot
ing OF justice, peace honesty and impartial en-
forcement of law. They see the demands of
labor and agriculture met so far as the govern
ment can meet them by legislative enactments
for their encouragement and protection. They
see the veterans OF the civil war granted pen
Sions long due them, to the amount of more
than twice in number and nearly three times
in value those granted under any previous
administration. They see more than 100000
acres of land, recklessly and illegally held by
the grantees of the corrupt republican regime,
restored 10 the public domain for the benefit Of
honest settlers. They see the negro, whose
fears of democratic rule were played upon by
demagOgues four years ago, not only more fully
protected than by his pretended friends, but
honored as his race was never honOred before.
They see a financial policy under which reck-
less speculation has practically ceased and cap
ita freed from distrust. They see for the first
time an honest observance OF the law govern
ing the civil establishment and the employees
of the people rid at last of the political high
waymen with "a demand for tribute in one hand
and letter of dismissal in the other. They
see its useless Offices abolished and expenses of
administration reduced, while improv d meth
DDS have lifted the public service to high eff
cheney. They see tranquility, order, security
and equal justice restored in the land, watch
full, steady, safe and patriotic administration
the solemn promise OF the democracy faithfully
kept. 1t is IAN honest government by honest
men,"
If this record seems prosaic, if it lacks the
blood-thrilling elements, if il is not lit with
lurid fires, if il cannot be illustrated by pyro-
technic display, if it is merely the plain record
of a constitutional party in a time of peace,
engaged in administration reforms, il is be-
cause the people of the country four years ago
elected not TO trust 10 sensation and expert
hotvax-oF krilliapf an1 olluripfV hut
ferred TO place the helm in a steady hand, with
a fearless trustworthy, patriotic man behind il.
Upon that record and upon our earnest eff
forts, as yet incomplete, TO reduce and equalize
the burdens OF taxation, we enter the canvass
and 20 to the polls confident that the free and
intelligent people of this great country will
say: well done, good and faithful servants"
To the patriotic, independent citizens, who four
years ago forsook their old allegiance and came
TO our support, who since that time have nobly
sustained the administration, the democratic
party owes deep debt of gratitude. That they
have been reviled and insulted by their former
associates is not only signal compliment to
their character and influence, but another evil
dence of the decadence of the repub-
lican party. Blind worship of the
machine-the political iuggernaut-is ex-
acted from every man who will take
even standing room In that party. The demo-
cratic temple is open to all and if in council
we cannot agree in all things, our motto is "in
essentials, UNITY In non-eSSenualS, nDerty; IN
all things, charity" To all good men we say,
"come in'-"good will neer halted at the door
stane." As four years ago you voted with us to
reform the administration, TO conserve our in
situations for the well being of our common
country, so join with us in approval of the
work so well accomplished, TO complete what
remains undOne. We ask you to remember
that il is "A "fatal error to weaken the bands of
political organization, by which great reforms
have been achieved and risk them in
the hands of their known adversaries."
-Four years ago you trusted tentatively the
democratic party and supported with zeal and
vigor its candidate for president. You thought
him strong in all the sturdy qualities requisite
for the crest task OF reform. Behold your
OF peace had so difficult and laborious duty
to perform. His party had been ont of power
twenty-four years. Every member of il had
been almost venOmously excluded from the
smallest post where administration could be
studied. Every place wss filled with men
whose interest IL was tOgthwart inquiry and
belittle the new administration, but the mas
ter hand came TO the helm and the true course
has been kept from the beginning. We need
not wait for time 10 do justice to the
character and services of President Cleveland.
Honest, clear-sighted, patient; grounded
in respect for law and JUSTICE with a thorough
grasp of principles and situatons with mar
velous and conscientious industry the very in
carnation of firmness he has nobly fulfilled
the promise of his party, nObly met the ex-
pectations of his country, and written his name
high on the scroll where future Americans will
read only the names of men who have been
supremely useful TO the republic.
Fellow democrats: This is but the initial
meeting in political campaign destined to be
memorable. IL will be a clashing of nearly
even forces Let no man here or elsewhere
hoIf nd Ofh ~ he