The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-29
THE INDIANA SITUATION.

i
Jno. c. New, and makes it the occasion for a
mean and malicious personal attack. adding
! that ..the Republicans of Indiana will hardly
allow him [New] to dictate the treatment which
Republican of Gresham's stature and record
shall receive in his own State" Mr.. New has
| been in the East for some time, and the Jour-
nal has had no communication with him; but
| we are certain the Tribune misconstrues what
he is reported to have said, and it is upon
| that misconstruction alone that it bases its
! personal illusions. When Mr.. New said that
| the contest for General Gresham's nomination
| as candidate for President personal
rather than in the interest of the party" and
that 100 per cent. Of the Republicans in Indi-
| ana are for General Harrison, and that the
| same percentage will not take kindly to the
candidacy of Judge Gresham" he stated the
exact truth as it is known by at least 100 per
cent. of the Republicans of the State, no
matter what their personal opinions or prefer
ences may be. Mr.. News language does not
| bear the Interpretation that General Gresham
| himself is making personal candidacy
I name, so far as the State of Indiana is con-
| cerned, are making it on personal grounds
| rather than in the interests of the party.
| That this is true every one knows who can see
and read what has been and is being said and
done. 1t must be perfectly patent by this
| time, even to the Chicago Tribune that 90 per
cent. of the Republicans of Indiana are for
| General Harrison for President, and that SO
far as the advocacy of General Gresham in
Indiana is concerned, it is personal if not
fractional, and certainly not sin the interests
of the Republican party" We are not speak
ing of General Greshams candidacy outside
of this State, nor of the question of his fitness
for the Office of President, of his can
didacy should he be the choice of the national
convention, but solely with reference to Indi-
ana at present; and when Mr.. New says
that g candidacy whose purpose is
avowedly to prevent harmonious and
| effective Endorsement of one who is so
largely the choice Of the party will not be
kindly received so far as this State is con-
cerned, he says what every loyal Republican
with reference to the candidacy of General
Gresham, as it is urged for the purpose of
dividing the States delegation and preventing
the State from going to Chicago harmoniously
and earnestly for the candidate of it's choice.
The Journal could easily retort in kind in
attributing improper and mean motives to
the Chicago Tribune in its self assumed work
of instructing the Republicans of Indiana
what they shall do. and in blooming" Gen.
Gresham; but, unlike the Tribune, our de-
sire and purpose is to treat all Republicans
fairly and honorably, and to treat
truthfully and 'in the interests of
the Republican party" the entire question of
the presidential candidacy and the relation
of Indiana thereto. What caused the Tribune
to become so heated in the chase for General
Gresham is not difficult to see, but it is some
what difficult to understand why. if it is in
earnest in its advocacy of him, it should pur-
sue course that can result only in disturbing
the harmony of the party in this State, and
stripping the Judge of the principal strength
he must have, in supposed ability to carry
pushed as to cause dissension among Indiana
Republicans, the Tribune must see that not
only would he have no strength in the con-
vention, hut would he foredoomed to defeat
before the people, if nominated. The Jour-
nails attitude has been repeatedly stated and
will be given once more for the benefit of the
Tribune and every body else Never has there
been one word of unfair attack upon
General Gresham in our columns; we have
opened them to fair indication of the relative
strength of the two men, Harrison and Gresh-
am, with the Republicans of the State as
presidential choice; we have had no word of
unkindness toward General Gresham, or
toward the honorable Republicans, inside or
outside the State, who believe he would be
the best man for the party to nominate; we
have only tried to expose the injustice and
the unfairness of attacks made upon Gen.
Harrison almost exclusively in and from DEM
ocratic sources, and from personal sources,
in the name and behind the character of
Judge Gresham, and we have deprecated their
influence in dividing and weakening Repub-
licans, which is their only aim and purpose.
The Journal has said, in terms, on more than
one occasion, that if General Gresham's can
didacy is not pushed in this State with the
purpose simply of antagonizing General
Harrison, and of sitting the I'M
questioned voice of the overwhelming
majority of the party, and if the Republicans
of Indiana, going to Chicago solidly and earn
estly for General Harrison, shall find him not
to be the choice of their fellow-Repu blicans n
other States. but, on the contrary. General :
Gresham should become the candidate, the
journal and. we are sure every Republican