The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-23
Republicanism in Indiana.

| 70 the Editor of the indianapolis JournaE &
Will you allow me to say q word through your
| columns the Indiana situation and it's rea-
tons to the coming Chicago conventionl I have
always been Republican. and my first vote was
for Fremont in 1856. / claim the right to criti.
else the policy Of my party. but have. never
wavered in my allegiance to its principles.
1t has been my good fortune to be brought
into close personal relations with the three dis
tineushed citizens of Indiana whose names are
in everybody's mouth General Gresham, Gen.
Harrison and Governor Porter. 1t should be q
matter of pride with the Republican party in
Indiana that it has among it's leaders three men
OF such signal abilities and purity Of character
I do not believe they can be matched In any
other State. have known them all since they
were young men, They have risen to distiuc-
ton by dint Of great abilities. seconded by zeal.
Gus devotion to DUTY. The people of the State
feel just pride in their success and each has
had fair share of public appreciation.
Gresham went from bis law office to the army,
and sherman, won his generals star. and. bet,
ter STILL the confidence aud friendship of his
chiefs. While he was eth suffering from tho
wound received mt Atlanta, Giant made bin
Judge Of ths District Court Of Indiana. lie
WAS then youog man. and IL was with reluct-
apcs that he accented the position. But Grant
knew his man, and the result has Justified his
choice. He In now great jufist whose eompre-
hensive mastery of the underlying prineips OF
Jurisprudence, md whose conscientious and
courageous discharge OF his dntiss have won the
respect OF the bar and the public During the
brief period that he WAS n member Of President
Arthurs Cabinet As Pestm ast~r. general and
Secretary OF the Treasury he showed that no
was possssssd Of exceptional qualifications for
exeeutiva office
General Harrisons career has been alike hon
orable and successful have watched his every
step since frat know him at school, thirty.
eight wears ago / WA here Ia Indiana when he
achieved his FIRST professional success, was one
or the nrst 20 encourage his political aspifa tions
and IN his law partner during six years learned
10 know the qualities that have made him faeis
nrineeps among the great lawyers or Indiana
When made my brief excursion into tho nsid
or Journalism my public expressions OF regard
for him earned ms tho lasting Ill will OF certain
hspublioans who now assume 10 DO hts especial
received anything but the kindost treat in.nI I
recognise him as tho greatest lawyer Ia Indiana.
Some equal hun fully IN sons linss OF the pro.
frseion, hut he 10 tho peer Of any Of
thom thore, and In other lines he OK.
cells them all Al least such 10 the opinion
have entertained OF him. and that opinion
voicc has been hoard la every part OF tho State,
IN every canvass slnce 1855, and his election 10
the Senate of the United State was a just rscog.
milton Of HIS services His military record was
what might have beon expected from man Of
his name and lineage. and ~ 10 not necessary TO
dwell! upon u here: That future honors await
him have no donbt. his devotion TO hia pro.
fessional duties, and his preoeeupation OF mind
when 30 engaged, have led some Co critlciss him
unJustiy, out know that beneath thia exterior
reserve there beats kindly heart, and he 10 cer.
tainly changed man II he has any sort Of sym
pathy with the efforts OF some OF his med
fr-nds. who imagine they are serving him by
attempting 70 brlittle other recognized leaders,
Governor Porter was elected 10 Cor grsss In 1853
and 1850 and WAS stanch and ardent support.
er of Mr.. Lineoln's administration. While
Comptroller OF tho Treasury, tho almost unani-
nous voice OF the Republican party called him
TO the leadership In 1880, when hs carried the
State In October. and thus assured tho cleo ton
OF GARFIELD. Governor Porter has never dlsap-
pointed public expectation. A more capable ANA
faithful servant the public nsvsr had. HIS tter-
ling virtues have given him hold on popular
favor which 10 only surprising to those who do
not know how we'll that favor Is deserved.
Now for the moral What In to be the upshot
OF the rivelries and heartburnines that seem TO
be springing mp out OF the supposed antaconism
OF these three worthy leAders2 Who 10 to
be benefited by itf Certainly not the
Republican party. Shall the friends Of
these men make q spectacle of themselves
by INDUCING IN an unseemly wrange in which
all must suffer- Win not the sober sense OF the
party arrest such a t-ndencyf 1t is great mis-
take To suppose that in great State, like indi-
ana there be only one man ht for party
leadership. With all his commanding abilities
Governor Morton made that mistake. and 1T lost
the party many votes and some Of its Hbest
men. Let the Indiana delegation 70 To Chicago
pledged above all things 10 do the very best for
the Republican party. IL The indications are
that either Gresham, or Porter. or Harrison can
bfo~ ID srHe tats