The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-10-17
Harrison and the Indiana Democrats.

Harrison and the Indiana Democrats.
A systematic effort is being made by
personal solicitation, and by all kinds OF
social, business and even, we regret TO say,
church pressure to induce democrats In
this city and state to vote for Gen. HAIR
RIsoN for president. We donot blame the
generals supporters for using every legiti-
mate means to get him all the dem
ocratic votes possible here in Indiana.
They are especially anxious that he
should make as good showing as
possible in Indiana, even If he is de-
feated in the country, which is quite
natural In so far as they confne their
efforts in this direction TO proper personal
appeal and solicitation, we take no ex-
ceptions. In so far as they try to infiu-
ence democrats by threats, or intimidation,
or social inducements, or by misusing the
opportunities presented by the relations
of employer and employee, or of creditor
and debtor, or by the intercourse of re-
lgious societies, they are open to the
gravest censure. 1t is not right TO try to
cOerce mans judgment, or control his
political action by such means.
Gen. HARRISON deserves no favor, in
political sense, from any democrat in In
diana or elsewhere. A narrower, more
fanatical or more intolerant partisan never
existed on the face OF the earth than he
is and always has been. He never, in all
his life, voted for a democrat for any
office, high or low. lie never had good
word to say for a democrat, as
such He never commended a demo-
cratic official or a democratic measure,
however much he or it may have
commanded theapprOval ofhis conscience.
He never had word tosay in Reproduction
of the mistakes or misdeedsof a republican
official, but has on all occasions been
ready 10 apologize for them, and to screen
the offender. In the face OF the frIghtful
corruption which was rampant during
GRANTS two administrations, when many
leading republicans refused to remain
silent, but gave vent to their honest in
dignation at the appalling condition OF
the public service, Ben HARRIsoN never
flinched. The whisky ring found in him
a champion. He apoiogized for the other
rings which waxed plentiful and power
fui during those days of governmental
profiieacy.
When THOMAS \. HENDRICKS, n neigh
Dor, a personal friend, fellow lawyer and
pure and good man, was nominated for the
vice-presidency in 1876, BEN HARRIsoN's
''state pride did not induce him to say a
GOOD word for HIM. After Mr.. HENDRICKS
had been elected, the republican returning
boards by a series of frauds unparalleled
in our history defrauded him OF the office,
and BENJAMIN HARRISON applauded the
outrage. When his neighbor, Mr. JoHN
J. COOPER, known to this entire commun-
ity as an upright official and an honest
man, was treasurer of state, Gen. HARRI-
son helped to give currency to slanderous
stories regarding his handling of the public
funds. The many republican outrages on
the ballot-box in this country, and the
repeated malfeasances in Office of repub-
licans, never moved BEN HARRISON to n
word of criticism or condemnation. As a
senator OF the United States he was known
chiefly for his narrow and intOlerant par
tisanship. He never while he held a seat
in the senate rose above party on a single
occasion. Like Sir Joseph Porter,
X. Z. B.
He always voted at his party's CALL
And did no thinking for himself at all.
"For his party, right or wrong" has
BEN HARRISON always been. When its
platforms called FOR tariff reform, as they
did in Indiana for twenty years, he was a