The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-05-02
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A CARD FROM SENATOR MCDONALD.

To My DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS OF INDIANA
Ii has not often been necessary for me to adj
dress you upon matters that may seem TO some
extent personal and, If what say to you on
this occasion should appear to be departure
from that rule, think you will agree with me
that the circumstances Justify 1t.
1t is more than forty years since / frF took
an active part in support of the democratic
party in this state, where almost my whole life
has been passed, and from that time down to
the present there have been few, if any, of Its
state conventions that have not attended and
10 general canvass in which have not taken a
part The reason why shall not be with you
in convention on Thursday of this week is per-
haps better known TO others than to myself.
know of no reason for this defeat, except that
it was well understood that did not favor the
movement inaugurated sometime since to put
the democratic party in Indiana into the novel
and false position OF actively seeking the
second place on the presidential ticket, and
especially as it was known also that if | went
into the convention as a delegate j would OPP
pose any movement looking to that result. Ii
II was the hope of those who were instrumental
IN preventing me from becoming delegate 10
the convention, that in so dom e they would
succeed in Silencing me on thissubject they will
find that they have been very greatly mistaken.
/ feel too deep an interest in the history, the
past record. and the future of the democratic
party of Indiana to be silent upon grave
question, and / cannot believe that the repre-
sentatives OF that party who meet here this
week Will sacrifice its honor and Its dignity 10
the ambition of one man. In the last three
uOnal conventions Indiana has been favored
by being represented in the second place on
the presidential ticket, but in every instance it
has been the act OF the national convention,
unSOught by the democratic party of Indiana,
and unsolicited by its representatives in those
conventions. 1t may be that the convention at
st. Louis may find il to be the meet and proper
thing to select a candidate for vice-president
from this state, but it should be the act of the
national convention, and the delegates that
your convention send 10 it should be left free
and untrammeled to act for the best
interests of the party. States compete for
presidential hOnOrS, but 1t is peculiarly
the duty of the national convention TO select
the vice-presidential candidate, and / should
distrust the fitness of any one for that position
who SHOULD become actively candidate forit In
making that selection the convention ought not
to be in any manner trammeled by instructions
or influenced by opportunities. 1t is a compli-
ment TO the person selected; detrlment TO the
democratic party of the state from which he Is
chosen. Ii is burthen imposed upon them
without any corresponding benefit, unless the
contingencies for which the office was created
should happen, that is, vacancy in the preSl-
dental Office, and no right-minded man would
seek the position In the hope OF any such event
that. | have already suggested that 1t Is
possible the national convention may again Sc
lect from Indiana ayice-presldentlal candidate,
but why should there be any attempt OH the
part OF the democracy of the state to forestall
that selection? The convention should be left
untrammeled to select from the hundred or
more Of devoted, lifelong democrats of the
state whose character and ability entitle them
to such honor as the selection would confer.
| feel more freedom in speaking plainly TO
yOu from the fact that l shall never again be a
candidate, or an applicant for any office, and,
therefore you must know that what have said
upon this subject is prompted only by the in
terest feel in the welfare of that grand old
party of which it has always been my pride TO
be member.
l have spoken to many democrats and find
none who do not agree with me, but there is a
reluctance on the part of most men to speak
out lest it might have an injurious effect upon
the harmony of the party. No member of the
democratic party takes a deeper interest in its
harmony and success than | do, but even that
should not be.purchased at the expense of the
Cleveland will undoubtedly be re-nominated
and will be elected unless weighed down by
running mate, such as the movement in this
state, in favor of Gov. Gray, NOposes to furnish
him. The democratic party of Indiana has 1t
in its power to carry the state, but has no mar
gin 10 spare in vain endeavOr TO feed the in
satiate ambition of Gov. Gray, whose political
record shows no higher purpose or aim than
personal aggTandizement, and whose cry,
since he has connected himself with the demo-
cratic party has been that of the horse leech,
and whose plate, like that of OliUer Tucia, is
always held up for more"
April % 1888. JOSEPH +. MCDONALD.