The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-06
ST. LOUIS AND CHICAGO.

d. bOUlo ANIL OnlOdQO.
The political kaleidoscope has seldom fur
nished q more remarkable combination than
that clearly foreshadowed at St Louis Cleve-
land and Hendricks was surprising but Cleve-
land and Thurman is astonishing. Mr.. Hen
bricks was candidate for first place and Mr..
Thurman was not candidate for either, un-
til he woke up, q few mornings ago. and found
himself so. The administration needed him,
and he was pressed into the service. He is
one of the best men in the Democratic party,
and, barring his extreme age, seventy-fve
years, one of the best-equipped for public life.
His studied neglect by the Cleveland admin
istration and his conspicuous exclusion from
a Cabinet of light weights have been far more
honorable to him than this tardy recognition,
suggested, no doubt, by the President as
political makeshift. Judge Thurman in dig
nifed retirement was much more interesting
figure than will be Judge Thurman pulling
chestnuts out of the fire for Grover Cleveland.
The first inquiry, and a very natural one.
is what does the nomination Of Thurman
meant A party which has conspicuously
neglected one of its Oldest men for long
time, does not, at last, when he is almost in
his dotage, force upon him an unsought honor
without some motive It means, first, that
they wanted to save Indiana. For the first
time in twelve years Indiana is not to be
represented on the Democratic national ticket.
In 1876 it was Tilden and Hendricks, in 1880
Hancock and English and in 1884 Cleveland
and Hendricks. This year, but for the quar-
rel in the Democratic party, it would have
been Cleveland and Gray. The same reasons
that impelled the Democracy to place an In
diana man on the ticket before deferred them
from doing so row. Indiana is as necessary
to them now as it was in former years, and
they know it; but the bitter fight in this
State prevented them from nominating an
Indiana man. They did not dare to shoulder
the Democratic quarrel in this State by the
nomination of Gray. He was slaughtered in
the interest of harmony, and an Ohio
man is to be nominated to save Indiana.
The failure to nominate Gray under existing
circumstances is as strong an indication of
the Democratic desire and intention to carry
Indiana as was the nomination of an Indiana
man in 1876, 80 and a. In those years,
with united Democracy, they hoped to Sc
cure the State by nominating an Indiana man;
this year, with an open fight in the party,
they hope to carry it by taking candidate
from another State. The nomination Of Thur
man shows that the Democracy regard Indiana
as the pivotal State of the election and too
doubtful to justify them in following their
own presidents Of nominating an Indiana
man when there is no man other than one with
a quarrel on his hands.
The suggestion that the nomination of
Thurman will tend to Secure that of Senator
Sherman by the Republicans is based on a su-
perfcial view. The nomination of Thurman
does not in the slightest degree endanger Ohio.
Any man the Republicans may nominate can
carry that State, and there is no more reason
for nominating Sherman now than there was
before. We do not mean to say that Senator
Sherman would not make good candidate
and good President. but simply that
the conditions of his candidacy are not
changed nor any new argument furnished for
his nomination by that of Thurman. The
nomination of Thurman, so far from bringing
strength to the Democratic ticket in Ohio,
will doubtless be an element of weakness. As
q running mate he viii make a slow race in
that State, and there will be no necessity of
nominating an Ohio Republican to carry
Ohio.
The logic of Thurman's nomination, as of
the whole situation, points to Indiana as the
State which the Democrats dare not lose and
which is essential to the Republicans. This
i. the pivotal State of the whole contest, with
out which the Republicans have hardly a
ghost of chance. and with which they are
practically sure of success. The way is open
and the path is clear. The nomination of
General Harrison will insure this State be-
yond the possibility of doubt and Repub-
lcan successor to Grover Cleveland.