The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-20
THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.
DEMOCRATS HOPEFUL AND HAPPY.
sagacious Republicans at Washington Take
Gloomy View of the Future-Rela-
tions of the Two Parties to the
Tariff Question.

Il
gates from the st. Louis convention returning
home via Washington have been visiting the
departments, calling on the president and heads
of departments for several days past giving
their views and making their prophecies.
have not seen one who was not entirely salts
fed with the ticket and platform. The Cali
fornia men who claim the honor of naming the
vice-president are more than happy. l met
with one of the delegates yesterday who said
now he had but little doubt of California 1t
was a grain and fruit state and interested in
tariff reform, and its people were devoted to
the man who was the champion of the anti
Chinese legislation, and was on the side of the
labOring men of California
Nearly all the members of congress who at
tended the convention are back again at their
posts of duty. The Indiana men who wanted
Gray for yice-president, naturally feel some
what disappointed, but not one of them is dis
posed to sulk. Indeed, all the Indianians in
Washington, whether in or out of Office. are
satisfied, and will enthusiastically support the
ticket
Fridays Journal contained an interview with
an Indiana member who was not, as believe.
correctly reported / don't believe any mem
Der OF congress who is democrat believes,
much less would say that Matson is as good as
beaten already. That sentiment certainly does
not reflect the views of any democratic men,
Der have conversed with, and l have talked
with all who are in the city. On the contrary
every democratic member says the ticket of
Cleveland and Thurman will carry Indiana,
and that the election of the state ticket is a
toregone conclusion. Gray has many friends
who wanted him honored with the nomination,
but they are not the kind that want to see
republican elected vice president.
So much for the echoes of the last convention.
1t is the next convention that is attracting pub
lie attention now. The republican leaders are
all at sea and don't know which way the wind
will finally blow. They twitted the democrats
because they had but one choice, unmindful of
the fact that out of so many names they have
no choice, and that the nomination is just as
likely TO 90 to weak as to q strong man.
What the result of the Chicago convention will
be, SO far as the candidates are concerned no
one knows. Boss Plstt has been in Washing
ton trying TO arrange a slate, with what success
L don't know. One thing is very true, the
republicans cannot nominate a man who will
win, apd OF that they are fully aware them
selves, the knowing ones.
One programme told me few evenings
ago by one who is or pretends to be on the in
side, and that is, 10 make such ticket as will
capture New Jersey, Connecticut and In
diana and let New York go. My inform
ant said republicans had no thought or
expectation of carrying New York, and
had made up their minds to elect with
out 1t. Who is the who will carry
the three states named is the question asked
now. About the generelship OF such a cam
paign, which abandons its strongest and best
fertilization, have nothing to say. 1t is for
the leaders TO explain such programme as
best they can.
For few days after the Oregon election the
republicans were in high feather. When the
election returns were analysed, however, and
the TACT became known that the Oregon steam
ship company and the Northern Pacific rail-
road, with all its power and thousands of rail-
road employees, had been worked for all they
were worth, the fact begins TO dawn upon them
that In November they could not spread that
force over the whole United States, hence in
the next five months something else would be
required than hoarse shouting over a state
owned by a railroad and steamship company.
Seriously, republicans do not expect TO elect.
They Will play their cards hoping for a lucky
turn, but that is all.
If, however the name of the successful can
didate is yet unknown, there is one thing that
is not unknown, and that is the platform
That will be neither one nor the other In
1884 they declared for a revision of the tariff;
they will so declare again, but in such a way
that no man will fail to understand or know
their meaning, and it Will be more taxation,
money on party fayorites. That is their posi-
ton pure and simple. If they are honest in
Chicago their platform will be:
Resolved That the best way to promote the
happiness and welfare of the people is to tax ]
them, and take their money away from them
and spend it for the benefit of the mOnopolist,
who will in turn furnish means wherewith
TO corrupt mankind and debauch the ballot
box"
am entirely warranted in thus stating the
republican position.
For five months, or ever since congress as
sembled, they have played the part of obstruc-
tionists Admitting in their speeches and writ
ings early in the session that taxation should !
be reduced, they adopted the cry of free trade !
as ralying cry, and stigmatized every man
who proposed 10 lessen the burdens of the peo-
pie as a free trader. Persistently they cry that
a taxation of 40 per cent. is free trade. They |
ought to explain that free trade means no taxes.
But they propose nothing, they suggest moth
ing; do nothing but make mouths and sneer.
Reed of Maine who, in his long congressional |
career has made no mark, has no legislative
ability or reputation save that of a snarling,
fault-hnding scOld, is their champion. He on !
the ways and means committee, proposes moth
ing. But they have programme though they
don't often tell it, or speak Of it, 1t is to re-
gain power by fair means or foul, Immediately
abolish the internal revenue system, take the
tax off whisky and heap it up on
every necessity of life Indeed a republican
member of congress said to me not long ago, in
speaking of the presidents message, and its
vic " oh NhC NouhNl parry
made great mistake in the Forty-seventh con-
gress in not abolishing the whole internal reve-
nue. system and taking the tax off of whisky
and tobacco, that the people would not have
liked it, but it would have been law and they
could not have helped themselves, and the
question of a tariff revision would have been
out of the way.
Whatever may be said or done next week at
Chicago, that is the key to the whole situation
Blind the eyes of the voters by shouting free
trade talk loudly about DroDer revision of the
tariff, and when once more comfortably fixed
in power make laws to still further Cypress the
taxpayers now living and mortgaging their
earnings and those of their descendants yet I'M
born. w.