The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-01-25


ises She has made-mainly TO the work peo-
ple-I should call il assured. For more
than year my fear has been that we might
not be able in advance of our National
Convention to close ranks and move in
solid column against the enemy on dis
tinct lines Of our own DELHI rate choosing,
and IS believe that nothing clears the
political atmosphere like plain speaking
right out in meeting, have given the ad-
ministration and the country the best the
shop has afforded in the way of disagreeable
peTsistency and the sincerest candor.
Ii was obvious to my mind that unless we
could agree In Congress we should not
agree in convention. The tariff plank in
the last National Democratic platform was
not intended TO be q straddle, because,
although the Platform Committee had
been sdroitly packed in the interest of
protection, the revenue performers were
still strong enough TO hold their ground
and to carry all their points. But it was
made to seem a strSddle. Hence nothi ng
short of declaration, which might not
bear two constructions, would satisfy the
demsnd of reform in the next National
platform, and any one could see that this
could not be obtained without a fight,
and possibly, 3 split.
Just in the nick of time, the President
came to the rescue with the wisdom OF an
impetuous courage and the craft of a COM
mon sense deriving its strength from its
integrity, this brave and honest man-this
puzz to the politicians and contradiction
Of all xperience-with single stroke of
bis pen did what might for years have baf-
fed tie Efforts of the greatest statesmen
and philosophers. By that act he has re-
versed the situation from one OF cowardly
INDIGESTION TO enc of enthusiasm and conf
dence. He has forced the enemy back
behind his esrthworks and warned strag.
glers to come into camp.
PRINCIPLE BEFORE POLICY.
iron the lines OF that message l would
rather be beaten than win upon those of a
lying substitute. But we shall not be
beaten. The Presidents words are presages
of victory. They remove all obstruction
from our march OF progress and reform.
They lead Us out of the bushes and into
the highway. An honest Democrat may
now hold up his head, look the world III
the face and call his soul his own without
q furtive side glance of the Republicans.
believe in clearly defined political dit-
ferences, stubbornly and honestly main
| taiI ed upon the open field OF party COM
| bat, and loving no man less because he
| does not agree with me touching public
policies. ! detest him most who lets 81
| dare not" wait upon 81 would"
and possesses neither the candor nor
| the courage of his convictions. But a
| Ii ousand purposes are escribed by the pro.
| teciionists to the party Of revenue reform
| which never crosses the mind OF any re-
/ sponsible revenue reformer. These we
may now disavow. The policy OF evasion
/ and repre- ssiCn is to be succeeded by poll
| cy Of fair and free discussion. 1t is this
1 the Republicans have cOurted, and which
| they affect 10 be nightly pleased with.
Let Us IN the coming battle give them their
/ belly-full of it. Let US 60 TO the people of
the East, as we have gone 10 the people of
the West and the South, with the truth.
The period OF agitation has passed.
| Thanks TO the President, We have the ear
| CT the nation. The period of affirmation
and construction is upon US, and its vocal
orgsns are not thofe OF exclamation of
| practical business When we seek TO ar
| rest the attention Of friend across the
| street We elevate the voice; when we have
him face TO face, We proceed in lower tone
to tell him why we stopped him and what
We want. So is it with the movement for
| revenue reform.
| It's friends have for years sought by agi-
tation 10 direct the interest of thinking
men to the evils of the tax system, full OF
il equality and false pretension. TasY
have succeeded and now they are prepared
to apply definite measures snd methods Of
reform to the disorder. But these are
nowise pIecipitste or extreme. They con
4
one and the same time to reduce both tax
/ alton and revenue, and to effect this OF
the lines laid down so admirably by the
President in his message.
| PRoTECTIoEIsT MISREPRESENTATION,
And how are we met in this patriotic
] purpose by the protectionists? With every
I manner of Misrepresentation and jeer. Al
: all aIopg the Republican line the word hal
! gone forth that we are band of incendia
! ries, bent upon blowing mp the custom
1 houses and burning down the factories
and generally destroying the business o.
the country. This is as If, having awakened
/ your neighbor to tell him his house is or
fire, he should denounce you tor burglar
and call the police. Every day we are as
sured that the President does not know hi
own mind, that the message means moth
ing at all, that 1T was thrown on
merely as 'feeler," and tina
presently appear and surprise everybody
In short, all the devices of ingenious per
| version are put forth to confuse our coun
sells and mislead voters, and wish l coulC
say these devices sre.employed only by pro
fessed enemies. Unfortunately there ar
those who, masquerading as Democrats
make it the business of their lives to play
into the hands of the enemy. They are
Protectionists first, Democrats afterwards
In the end when the process of the re
distribution and readjustment OF party
forces now goiDgiSforward, is completed
they Will find final and fitting abode
where they properly belong, in the castle
of those robber barons, whose meu-at-arm
are at this moment out in every direction
collecting through the tariff, tribute of thl
people. Then indeed, shall we know WHIT
is who and what is what, and the star eyeC
| goddess OF reform shall carry in tbs circle
of truth which grsces.her fair young broT
| no false Jewels TO dim its ustre.
Meanwhile, my friends, we have nothin,
to fear in the immediate future. That i
full of most genial, most gratifying assur
ances. The party of reform in Congress
| will be found to unite upon a measure o
reform IN harmony with the President
message. Wait little and you shall Sc
how they carry themselves upon the foo
| of the House, under the leadership of Car
isle and Mills. and If my brilliant ant
eloquent friend, the latest successor Q
henry Clay, who, il he wer
now living, would scorn I
break the promise he repeatedly mad
to the people that protection should no
outlast the maturity of "iDfants' now fit
to one hundred years of age. With on
| host at Washington it shall be as it wa
| with the Irish at Fontepoy: Steady the
march sdown the slope, steady the
| mount the hill, steady they load. stead
they fire moving right onward still" and OF
ward and onward, until all the mud work
of fraud are carried, and every job is fire
| out of its lurking place, and that abom
Il nation of all ahomin atione the high nr0fa