The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-12
CHICAGO AND ITS OPPORTUNITY.


The action of the St. Louis convention, dis
counted in advance, has almost ceased to be
talked about, and the public mind is turning
toward Chicago. There is feeling in the air
that the Republican convention can and prob
ably will name the next President. This feel
ing is universal among Republicans, and by
no means rare among Democrats. The
former arc praying that the convention may
make no mistake, while the latter are hoping
it may throw away its chances and exchange
prospective victory for certain defeat. In
this situation all eyes are turned or turning
to Indiana, Democrats regarding it as the
danger point, and Republicans as the quarter
whence victory is to come. By common con-
sent, Indiana is regarded as the key to the
situation, the point which controls the battte-
field. and which must be carried and held by
the party that is to win. Senator Voorhees,
said at st. Louis: 1.-The key to the situation
is in Indiana Whatever influences destroy
Indiana, destroy every hope and vestige of
success" This is as true for the Repub-
lican party as for the Democratic, and truer
now than it was when spoken. We speak
advisedly when we say it is too risky for
the Republicans to think of obtaining the
10 electoral votes, in addition to the certain
Republican States, necessary to elect their
candidate, without Indiana They cannot
get them south Of. Mason and Dixon's line,
and We cannot predicate the canvass solely on
New York The Is electoral votes of Indi-
ana, with the of New Jersey. or the of
Connecticut will supply the requisite num-
Der. and no other combination can be made
that will so certainly supply them. No exer-
else of human ingenuity or human calcula-
ii on can change the situation or the figures.
There they are, and there they will stand.
Granting, then, the necessity of Indiana to
Republican success the question is, can Indi-
ana be carried by the Republicans We
answer unhesitatingly. yes. 1t is close and
doubtful State. but it can be carried. The
Providence that shapes the dsstinies Of ma
tons has not made Indiana the pivotal State
in this contest without giving her leader to
win the battle. The Republicans Of Indiana
know their man. they know them
selves and they know what they
can do with the leader of their
choice. Their choice is General Benjamin
Harrison, than whom no State can offer and
no State contains nobler representative of
the Republican party or one better qualified
to be its standard-bcarer in the coming con-
test The Republicans of Indiana say to the
Republicans of the Nation, give us Harrison
and we will give you Indiana. Nominate
him and we will, if need be, pledge our lives
our fortunes and our sacred honor that he
shall receive the fifteen electoral votes of this
State. He can carry every State that any
other Republican can carry, from Maine to
Oregon, from Massachusetts, to Kansas, and
he can carry Indiana besides. He possesses
every element Of strength and every claim for
consideration possessed by any other can
didate, with the additional one that he can
carry the State which is essential to Repub-
way for the Chicago convention and indicate
unerringly whom it should name for the head
Of the ticket, then we confess our inability to
interpret the logic of events.