The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-10
THE MAN Is FOUND.

for Lamar. 1t is not little significant that
the needed affirmative votes are found in the
"rotten borough as Nevada is cheerfully
called, and come from two men who have
received nothing but abuse and denunciation
from those who are now besliming them with
their fulsome praise. Probably the Nevada
Senators feel like earning little respite from
Democratic and mugwump abuse by rising
above party into the lofty air of Statesman
ship" and showing how much better and
wiser they are than all the other Repub-
lican Senators put together. We shall have
no quarrel with our Nevada friends. The Jour-
nal has never believed that Mr. Lamar's NOM
ination would be rejected It has always
believed that somewhere the needed vote was
to be had, for we have never seen the time
when, in close contest for principles, some
alleged Republican not on hand to vote
against his party, and with those who opposed
and continue to oppose everything the Repub-
lican party has done and still hopes to do.
Mr. Stewart has felt it necessary to write
letter in explanation of his coming vote, and
Mr.. Stewart first lays down certain qualifca-
tons for Supreme Judge, with which no
one will disagree; but they exclude Mr..
Lamar from consideration. Mr.. Lamar is not
a lawyer; the facts of his life demonstrate
that. He studied law and was admitted to
the bar, but the very same year he abandoned
the practice, and from that time to the pres
emit has had no connection with the law save
as nominal professor of law for a short
period in local academy To talk of Mr..
Lamar being good lawyer, able for place
on the Supreme Bench, is to insult the COM
mon intelligence.
But that point is universally conceded, and
It is to his political opinions that Mr.. Stewart
instinctively turns. Mr.. Stewart is satisfied
of Mr.. Lamars complete devotion to the Con-
stitution, because of the eulogy he delivered
on Charles Sumner and because of a speech
he made while member of the House of
Representatives. Both these events occurred
while Mr.. Lamar was member of the lower
House; but after he was transferred to
the Senate the only indication of his
views was an Indignant rebuke" to
John Sherman because the latter characterized
jeff Davis as traitor, and since he has
was the lowering of the United States flag in
honor of the memory of the most despicable
and inhuman scoundrel and traitor the seces-
sion movement produced. Against Mr.. La
mars emotional speeches in the House we
place these expressions made years after
wards and which are the latest Indications of
his reconstructed" sentiments. En- PEASANT.
we may observe that the difference between
Mr.. Lamar as Representative and Mr.. Lamar
as Senator does not lessen the impression
spicuous for a judicial temperament or a
'1evel head"
But we desire to direct attention to Mr.
Stewards quotation from Mr.. Lamar's speech
in the House, in which it is asserted that Mr..
Lamar announced his full belief in the new
amendments. It will bear close study. Mr..
Lamar said:
"They 1.-THE Southern people] regard the
new amendments to the Constitution which
secure to the black race citizenship and snff-
rage to be not less sacred and inviolable than
the original charter it came from the hands
of the fathers THEY OWE ALLEGIANCE TO
THE LATTER; THEY HAVE PLEDGED THEIR
PAROLE OF HONOR TO OBSERVE THE FORMER
We want to keep that expression standing
before the American people. The man who
is to go upon the Supreme Bench, in speech
now quoted as an indication of his fitness for
that exalted position, deliberately makes a
difference between the Constitution as it came
from the fathers and the amendments.
He says the people of the South lowe alle-
glance" to the Constitution as it was; the only
thing we have as pledge of their acceptance of
the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments is their "parole of honor to OBJ
serve them" This studied expression should
arouse attention and deepen the al
there is in the country over this
scandalous and indecent political appoint
ment. Mr.. Lamar plainly says the people of
the South owe no allegiance" to the war
amendments; they will "observe them" upon
'their parole of honor" Putting it upon the
broadcast possible basis, extending to people
who did not hesitate to break their oaths in
1860 and 1861 the utmost confidence
now. how far does ''their parole of honor"
extendg Can it possibly include any others
than those who assume the parolea Who
shall enforce "parole of honor" upon men
who do not care to assume itf Are the people
of the country to have other guarantee for
the perpetuity, and sanctity, and observance of
the war amendments than Mr.. Lamar's vicari-
ous assumption for the people of the South
of a parole of honor" These are i'm
portant and farreaching questions, and they
are not to be whistled down the wind by the
Eliminating of snortinp Democrafic war