The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-03-28
BEN HARRISON AT CHICAGO.

The day before he arrived the republicans
of the Twenty-frst ward-one OF the
strongest republican wards of the city
passed resolutions by unanimous
vote indorsing GRESHAM for the presidency,
and elected delegates to the state conven-
ton pledged to his support. Altogether
We imagine that Gen. HARRISON must have
found the atmosphere in Chicago very
chilly-Yery chilly, indeed.
However, he mustered up the nervs to
make q speech before the Marquette club,
whatever that may be. And what s
speech. TIE topic Was the republican
party. Gen. HARRISON told the Marquette
clubbers that 4" the republican party is the
only party that has ever bsen prescribed
and prosecuted for humanity's sake" He
also told them that "in the darKest DAYS
of the rebellion the republican party
saw Appomattox through the smoke If
Bull Rum Also, that it had "always
been able to handle the greatest questions
presented to American craftsmanship fcr
solution" Also that it "has committed
itself to the doctrine of protection" Also
that 1.-THE present prosperous voyage Of the
ship of state Is accounted for by the fact
that the course of the ship was marked out
before the present captain went aboard
There are good many school boys in
Indiana who could make better speech
on the republican party than this-better
because more truthful, mora candid, more
Just. The republican party has never been
prescribed nor prosecuted for humsnity's
sake nor for any other cause. It was in
control Of the government almost uuin-
teTuptedly for twenty four years. Except
during the period OF the rebellion, when
the republican party practically ceased to
exist, and a union party, composed Of
wings, democrats, free.soilers, republicans
and persons OF all shades of political belief,
dominated the country, the history of
those twenty-four years is not one that can
be reviewed with pride by any
patriot. 1t presents q melancholy record
OF class legislation, economic blundering,
corrupt administration and the pros
titution of the highest and most sacred
functions OF the government to the service
of unworthy personal ambition, inordinate
greed and insane psrtisanship. Who can
read the story OF the reconstruction era
even as narrated by JAMES G. BLAISE-with-
out blushing for the republican party?
Who can review the impeachment pro-
ceedings against AEDEEw JOHNSON without
sensations OF indignation aud disgust?
Who can recall the eight years of Grant
Ism, with their crowding scandals aud
their ever.multiplying abuses, without
wishing that the disgrsceful chapter could
be blotted forever from the country's
annals? Who can look back upon the
electoral vilsiny OF 1877 and remember
that p. B. HAYES. from his stolen seat,
rewarded the participants with the choicest
morsels their knsvery had put 1t in his
power to bestoW without feeling humili-
sted that fraud and perjury were permitted
to triumph over the will of the American
people? The republican party, when it
was In power, builded up great mon
opolies, legislsted in the interest
of the rich aud against the poor,
Systematically degraded American labor,
squandered untold millions of the public
treasure in jobbery and exhavagance, gave
away the choicest parts of the public do
main to corporations and spectators,
demonetized silver for the benefit of the
money lords Of Europe and America,
licensed a ravanous hord OF freebooters to
levy tribute upon the great passes OF the
people, drove American shipping from the
high seas, plundered the South, stole the
against public morals and private rights
than were ever committed by sll the other
political organizations thathaye existed in
the United States combined. 1t never
gave the country bat two respectable ad.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of LINCOLN and Ar
THU. And yet We are forever TO be del
uged with drivsl iyom politicians OF tho
HARRISON sort about the glorious record
Of the republican party"
Well. 60 be it. II Gen. HARRISON Ia
reaIly 50 proud of his party's record, we
don't bsgrudgs him the pleasure he de-.
rives from its contemplation. But we think
sven the most h,goted republican will
feel Ike demanding something else OF
his candidate for the presidency this
year than fulsome lsudation Of the party's
past9 What Of the present, Gen. HAR
RIsos? And what OF the future? How
about the coinage Of silver, and Chinese
| immigration, and government regulation
Of railroads, and the spoliation tariff
How do you stand on these questionsH
Are you in favor Of retaining the taxes on
clothing, fuel anc shelter, and making
whiskey free? Are you for free shipse
De you believe that the corporations should
continue to run the country, or do ycu
think it is about time for the country to
begin running the corporations? These
and similar questions ar what the people
are interested in now. Even the majority
OF repD blicans are beginning to turn thsir
faces from the past. They care little or
nothing for the Has Been. They are con-
cerned with what Is and what is To Be.
II you cannot address yourself to living
questions you would better keep silence.
We don't think Gen. HARRIsos's Chicago
speech has improved bis presidential pros
pects-thst is, admitting that he had any
presidential prospects to De improved.