The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-03-16
ANOTHER INDIANA MAN,

There is good deal of talk in this
state about the strength which Judge
Gresham, of Indiana, is developing as q
presidential candidate. We are not GER
tain that the Gresham boom does not
exist more in the minds OF certain poll
ticians than with the Republican voters
of the State but there is no question that
Mr.. Gresham would make an acceptable
and strong candidate. We are sorry,
however, that his boom does not ema-
nate more strongly from his own State.
1t is stated that Indiana will present to
the next National Republican Conven-
ton the name of General Benjamin Har-
rison as a candidate for the Presidential
nomination, and will, beyond any doubt,
give him the vote of solid delegation.
1t is thought that his residence in piv.
otal State which he has more than once
shown his ability to carry, and his fine
record as soldier, together with his UNI
spotted reputation as statesman, all
combine to make him certain winner
in the Presidential race. He was elect
ed reporter of the Supreme Court In
1860, but laid down the Office in 1852 to
fight for his country; as soldier he
achieved high renown, and is greatly be-
loved by the soldiers of his State. In
1864 he was again elected reporter of the
Supreme Court. In 1876, i'll the midst
of the campaign, he was put on the Re-
publican ticket as a candidate for Gov
ernor in the place of the regularly nom-
mated candidate who had withdrawn.
The race was a hopeless one from the
start, but he came out of the contest
about 1000 votes ahead ofthe rest of the
State ticket. In 1880 he was the recog-
nized candidate of the party for the Uni
ted States Senate, and made the fight in
the Legislative districts accordingly, and
the result was that the net legislative
majority was twice as great as the maj
lty of the candidates on the State ticket.
He was elected to the Senate i'll 1881,
and his career as Senator is well-known
to the public. So strong was he in In
diana and so greatly dreaded by the
Democrats that they gerrymandered the
State in 1885 for the expressed and
avowed purpose OF keeping him out of
the United States Senate. They so ar
ranged the legislative district as TO give
to them, with certainty as they thought,
a majority OF 46 or joint ballot. In 1886
General Harrison was again the unlver-
sally conceded candidate of the Repub-
icans for the United States Senate, and
he again made the fight in the legislative
districts. His party had lost the State in
1884 by about 1900 majority, and nine
tenths of the Republicans of the State
believed that it would be impossible to
elect the State ticket, and perfect folly
to think that Harrison could carry the
legislative districts. Yet, at the end of
the gallant fight which he led, the State
ticket was elected by an average MAORI
ty of 1850, while the new Republican
legislative majority was $3.50, the differ
ence of $3.50, indicating the comparative
strength of General Harrison over the
State ticket. The supposed Democratic
majority of 46 on joint ballot had melted
away to a claimed majority of two, but
the Republicans had really elected ma
jority of four on joint ballot, though they
were deprived of 1t by outrageous fraud.
But to take the Democratic view of the
case, the difference between 46 and In
dictates that the change was brought
about by a man of prodiglous strength.
These facts are given for the purpose of
proving that General Harrison is strong
man in Indiana, and it is said to be the
opinion of many Republicans of that
State that he is the only candidate who
can carry Indiana next fall. That view
of the case is, however, doubtless due to
their prejudice in favor of General Ban.
But in view of his great ability, spotless
character, sound views on all public
questions, and his good record as SOL
der, General Harrison will have strong
position in the race, especially should he
come into the convention, as his friends
say he will, with the solid delegation
from Indiana. The list of available Re-
publican candidates grows daily larger,
and it all goes to show whata Grand Old
Party it is.