The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-19

/
expenditure ?" What is "a purely rev.
enue basis" if it is not a basis on the
''level of a wise and necessary expendit-
ure? Does Mr.. Harrison imagine that
| the people cannot discover a circumlocu-
ton so obviously intended to deceive?
| Why should Mr.. Harrison recoil from
admitting frankly that Mr.. Cleveland was
right when In his famous message he told
| the whole truth in these words: ''The
simple and plain duty that we owe to the
| people" SAYS President Cleveland, sis to
reduce taxation to the necessary expenses
Of an economical administration of the
government. and TO restore to the business
of the country the money which we hold
in the treasury through the peryersion of
governmental powers" What is the diff
! ference between "a wise and neces-
sary expenditure" and the "neces-
| sary expenses OF an economical
administration OF the government"
| BY such artful lodging, by such adroit
/ phrasing, Mr.. Harrison hopes, on one
hand, TO gain credit for favoring reduc-
/ ton of taxation so as to remove the sur
| plus, and on the other hand to make the
| people believe that such reduction is
the very essence OF English free trade"
| \ lawyer, with professional pride and
/ just self-respect would hardly submit such
! a brief TO a high court. Mr.. Harrison
/ evidently is not willing to trust the peo-
! pie with a clear understanding of his
| policy, if he has any. 1t is to be hoped
| that every voter in Indiana will read this
| message, and from it determine, if he can,
| the attitude OF the republican party upon
the question OF prohibition.
FREE WHISKY.
The ethics of politics, from Mr.. Har-
rison's point OF view feels the terrible
strain OF the whisky plank in the Chicago
| platform. The public conscience has re-
! sponded promptly to such inquiries as:
/ Which is better, free whisky or free salt
! Which is preferable, free rum or free
lumber for homes? Which is the most
christian, to burden the product of the
| still or to lift the load from the clothing OF
the poor? How has Mr.. Harrison re-
| sponded? Let us see. Wool, or the sub
! ject OF wooden goods, is not mentioned in
| his letter; nor is lumber salt or any
other article necessary to the
life and comfort of the people
given any notice whatever. The most
artful thing in the letter is the evasion of
the name of whisky or spirituous liquors.
He does not even refer TO the taxation of
liquor. lie says: eve are not likely to
be called upon, l think, to make present
! choice between the surrender of the pro-
tective system and the entire repeal OF the
internal taxes" What does he favor in
| regard 10 the free whisky plank of his
platform? Is he fair and honest and
| courageous? Is he for or against free
/ whisky? Can any citizen, can any friend
OF his in the state OF Indiana find out from
/ this letter what Mr.. Harrison really is in
favor of upon this burning subject? He
is said to be a christian and man OF high
honor, nor do judge him here; but what
commentary upon the sincerity OF Christ
ian civilization is such an artful, tricky
| and dOuhle-dealing utterance upon
a question which is in the heart
of every true citizen, question
which goes to the very foundation of pub
lie morals and private morality, Here is
a man nominated by his party upon a
platform which declares unequivocally
in favor OF free whisky. Does he kick
the platform aside? No. Does he come
out boldly and support it? No. What
does he do? He avoids, evades, recoils
from responsibility-tries to preserve self
respect by turning aside; tries to console
the honest temperance people of his party
with the hope that "a present choice" will
not have to be made. \ mere cry of pro-
crastination, OF putting the issue forward
TO some remote period. Anything to
avoid the present responsibility. Any
thing TO avoid specific issues. But see
how gibly ne can write when it comes to
mere generality; Il notice with
pleasure" he says, that the
convention did not omit to express
its solicitude for the promotion of virtue
and temperance among our people"
How easy it would have been for him to
have said that he regretted that he could
not indOrse the free whisky plank of the
II. =. L
easy to have said frankly that he did in
dorse it! Solicitude for virtue and tenn
perance floating side by side with the re-
moval OF all the tax from whisky and to-
bacco!
have heard of men who carried around
the contribution box at church on Sun
day, while during the week they followed
questionable practices; but this is less
reprehensible than attempting to cloud
the peoples understanding OF subjects
affecting the most sacred elements OF
social lie and morality. Evident it is to
any honest mind, that Mr.. Harrison
has tried hard to hold close
and fast 10 the Chicago platform and at
the same time has tried just as hard to
make the people believe that he felt him
sell quite apart from and superior to its
spirit upon the question OF whisky taxa
ton. Is man who will cut and trim,
blow hot and blow cold, evade, dodge,
equivocate and finally dissimulate in let
ter OF acceptance upon all the public ques-
tons Ofthe days such a man, | say, fit for
the highest Office in the gilt of the freest,
most upright, sincerest and best people on
earth? The thinking people of Indiana,
probably, hold the key to the presidential
election, and it is the thinking people who
will judge Mr.. Harrison by the insincere
and tricky spirit of what should have
been the most dignifed, sincere and out
right expression OF his opinion upon the
questions of highest interest TO them. II
would be great surprise TO honest,
earnest, thoughtful Americans if the
author of such a piece of cunning and
deceit were to be chosen TO perform the
functions of chief magistrate.
MAURICE THOMPSON.
Charlottesville, Ind. Sept. IS.
Mary Ann Dougherty's Pension.
To THE EDITOR-Sir: Will you please stat,