Evening journal., 1888-07-28
FROM THE SHOULDER.
General Harrison speaks Of Indiana
GerrYmanderIng.

Gerrfmaudertugs
INDIANAPOLIS, July 2S.-Another thou
sand Hoosiers paid their respects to Gsn-
eral Harrison yesterday. This time the
pilgrims came from the northern portion Of
the state, principally from Warsaw,
Wabash City and other points In Kosciusko
and Wabash counties
In reply 10 their congratulatory address
General Harrison eaid:
81 notice by one OF your banners you
have pledged yourself to protect from
party spoliation and degradation. Bot
while we have much that Is cause for con-
graduation, we are not enjoying that full
equality Of civil rights In the State Of In
diana TO which we are entitled. Our gov
ernment is a representative government.
Delegates In Congress and members In our
State Senate and House OF Representatives
are appointed to districts; and the national
and State Constitutions contemplate that
th ese districts shall be equal, so that as far
as possible each citizen shall have
10 his district the same potency in choosing
member Of Congress or OF our
State Legislature as 10 ex-
ercised by voter In any other district.
We do not to-day have that condition Of
things. The apportionment OF our state for
Legislative and Congressional purposes IL
unfair, and Ia known to be unfair 10 all
men. No candid Democrat can defend
IL as a fair apportionment 1t was framed
to be unequal; IL was designed to give to
the citizens Of favored districts an undue
influence. IL was Intended TO discriminate
against Republicans. IL is NOT right thai
It should be 80. When the Republican,
shall secure the power of making an appor
tionment hope and believe that the ex
pertinent of seeking party advantage by
a public injustice win not be repeated.
''There are some other questions Affeos
log suffrage, to one OF which my attsntioI
has from circumstances been particularly
attracted. There are Ia the northwest sew
eral territories organised under public law
Several Of these territories have bseh fol-
years possessed OF population, wealth anc
all the requisites for admission as states
When the Territory Of Indiana took thi
census, which was tho basis Of its petition
for admission TO the Union, we had les
than Ga, 600 people; we had only l3 organ
ixsd counties In the territory OF Soutl
Dakota there are nearly half a million
people. For years they have been knock
ing for admission TO the sisterhood o
states. They are possessed OF all the ele
ments of an organized and stabA
community. II hss morn people
more miles CT railroad. more post
offices, more churches, more banks
more wealth, than any territory eve
possessed when Il was admitted to th
/ Union. It surpasses some OF the states 1
these particulars. Four years ag7. when
President wos to be chosen, the Committe
on Territories 10 the Senate, to meet th
objection Of our Democratic friends tha
the administration OF Dakota would add
disturbing element TO the Electoral Col
lege, provided in the Dakota bill that Il
organization should be postponed unit
after the election: now four more year
have rolled around, and our people Rr
called again to take part 10 Presidents
election, and the intelligent and patriot
Dakota people are again to be d
prived Of any participation. They Al
disfranchised and deprived OF their a
propriats influence In the Electoral CollsI
only because the prevailing sentiments
the Territory is Republican. The case
Warrington Territory is more recent, b
not more fragrant. II we approprIate
express sympathy with the cause OF Iri
home rule, shall we not also dsmaI
home rule for Dakota and Washington, al
insist that their disfrsnchissment hhall n
be prolongedi tApplausel There is
sense Of justice, Of fairness, that win ass'
I itself against the attempts to coin par
advantage ont OF public wrong. The d
when men can be disfranchissd or shorn
: their political power for opinions "a
must have an end in our country