The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-18
MR.. HORR TALKS POLITICS
He Thinks the Republicans Are Sure to
Be Victorious This Year,
And He "Will Be on Deck to Give the Party
His Aid in Winning The Fight-Views
About Different Candidates.

The Hon. r. G.. Horn, of Michigan, at the
Bates House yesterday, said that while he was
now a lecturer, he had not lost his interest IN
politics. He watched the movement of men and
affairs closely, but he eschewed politics only
when on the lecture platform when the sea-
SON Closes" ne remarked, ~ propose to be on
deck to help elect the Republican nominees,
whoever they may be-" This suggested the in
quiry that his lecture engagements gave him an
excellent opportunity to get hslow the political
surface and test the undercurrent of popular
thought as TO the possibilities in relation TO the
campaign. 81 have travelled this winter over
fifteen Northern States he replied, land have
come in contact with leading Republicans, whom
find earnest. aggressive and working in har-
mony As for the people of the party, they are
in fighting trim, not only in Indiana, but every
where There is an especial determination and
well-grounded belief that going to win in
the coming contest"
How do you regard the Blaine letter. the
reporter asked
II was looking for something Of the kind
from what Mr.. Blaine had said to me over year
ago, and have no doubt. he means precisely
what he says. He will not in any sense be a
candidate before the Chicago convention If,
however. a contingency should arise there
him with great unanmity.I have doubt he
would feel bound to submit to the decision of
the convention. 1, myself. have no idea that
any such contingency will arise. The effect of
Mr.. Blaine's letter on the mugwump press is
most amusing. It's editors have been insisting
for year that he should be candidate.
but the moment he himself states he will not
be, they insist that he certainly will run"
Whose chances are especially favored by his
withdrawal?'
II do not think that the opinion of the party
is as yet crystalllzed at all as to who the nomi-
nee will be. Ohio will present Sherman, and
he will be sustained by other States. Connect
cut will ask for Hawey's nomination. Iowa will
name Allison. New York will proba bly, have a
candidate. and Indiana will support General
Harrison and Judge Gresham General Sheri-
dan and Robert Lincoln will have friends to
cure the nomination for them. know all these
men personally. and the beauty Of 1T all is any
one of them would make good President"
''You do not mention MlchiganW
Il have not been there for four months, ex-
cept day or two. The last information had
from there was that Governor Algerwould be
presented to the convention for the second place
the ticket but / see from the press there is
some talk of his being puzzled for first place. He
is a No. man, and will FIJI any place given him.
and will fill it we'll If Michigan concludes to
present his name to the convention for either
President or Vce-president, she will make al
active. honest fight TO succeed, and if the con-
vention decides against her you will find that
she will wheel into line with all her might for
the nominees of the convention and in front of
the battle you will find General Alger, no mat
ter whether he wins not
will the Democrats. through Dickinson, be
able to make Michigan doubtful Stateq'
by no means. The issue in the next cam
paign is already upalterably fixed BIZ the
Presidents message that Michigan is sure to go
against his free-trade notions His message
proposes to put every one of Michigan's great
products on the free list The first is lumber,
the next salt. and after that come iron copper
and wool. To adopt Clevelands message would
ruin for State In the last campaign
for Governor the Democratic nominee took
squarely the same position as that held
by the President. Although supported by the
Democrats, Greenbackers and Labor party he
defeated by several thousand majority.
The message the policy it conveys is to be
the issue. It Is too late fcr the Democrats to
evade it they have done heretofore. The
message is Clevelands solemn statement and
his party could not get him off it if its leaders
tried. We propose that issue without
regard to platform. The effect of "a Democratic
Congress failing to pass bill to reduce the
enue, since Democratic President has advised
it, will simply show that the Democrats as a
party have not the business capacity to manage
this great government"
What will be the Republican platform as
wholel"
Protection of American industries and
American labor, the question of an honest ballot
and an honest count and the elevation and edu-
cation of Southern people, black and white. In
addition the Republicans will assau the utter
ence to civil-service reform" Mr.. Horn will
leave the city to-day for Easton, Pa, and with
in a few weeks return to Indiana to fulfill other
lactur2