Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-05-09
SENATOR MCDONALD.
He Writes Card to the Indiana Dem.

He Writes Card to the Indiana Dem
ocrats.
Just prior to the Indiana State Democratic
convention Senator Joe Mcdonald wrote
the following card, which appeared in the
indianapolis sentinel. We print it without
comment.
"To Mr. DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS OF IN
DIANA: 1t has not often been necessary for
me to address you upon matters that may
seem to some extent personal, and, IL what
/ say to you on this occasion should appear
to be departure from that rule, think
you will agree with me that the circum-
stances justify it.
at is more than forty years since first
took an active part in support of the Dem
ocratic party in this State, where almost
my whole life has been passed, and from
that time down to the present there have
been few, if any, of it's State conventions
that have not attended, and no general
canvass in which 1 have not taken part.
The reason why shall not be with you in
convention on Thursday of this week is per-
haps better known to others than TO myself.
81 know of no reason for this defeat, ex-
cept that il was well understood that / did
not favor the movement inaugurated some
time since to put the Democratic party in
Indiana into the novel and false position of
actively seeking the second place on the
Presidential ticket, and especially as it was
known also that if went into the conven-
ton as a delegate | would oppose any move
ment looking TO that result. If it was the
hope of those who were instrumental in
preventing me from becoming a delegate to
the convention, that in so doing they would
succeed in silencing me on this subject,
they viii find that they have been very
greatly mistaken. / feel too deep an inter-
est in the history, the past record and the
future Of the Democratic party Of Indiana
to be silent upon so grave a question, and
can not believe that the representa-
tives of that party who meet here this week
will sacrifice its honor and its dignity to the
ambition Of one man. In the last three Ma
tional conventions Indiana has been favored
by being represented in the second place on
the Presidential ticket, but in every in
stance it has been the act of the National
convention, unsought by the Democratic
party of Indiana and unsolicited by it's rep
resentatives in those conventions.
" 1t may be that the convention at st.
Louis may find it to be the meet and proper
thing TO select O candidate for Vice-Presi-
dent from this State, but it should be the
act of the National convention, and the dele
gates that your convention send TO it should
be left free and untrammeled to act for the
best interests of the party. States compete
for Presidential honors, but IT is peculiarly
the duty of the National convention to select
the Vice-Presidentia candidate, and should
distrust the fitness of any one for that posi-
ton who should become actively a caudi-
date for It. In making that selection the
convention ought not to be in any manner
trammeled by instructions or influenced by
opportunities. 1t is a compliment to the
person selected; detriment to the Demo
cratic party of the State from which he is
chosen. 1t is q burthen imposed upon them
without any corresponding benefit unless
the contingencies for which the office was
created should happen, that is, a vacancy in
the Presidential Office, and no right-minded
man would seek the position in the hope Of
any such event as that. have already sug-
gested that It is possible the National con-
vention may again select from Indiana a
Vice-Presidential candidate, but why should
there be any attempt ON the part of the
Democracy of the State to forestall that
selectionl The convention should be left
untrammeled to select from the hundred or
more Of devoted, lifelong Democrats of the
State whose character and ability entitle
them to such honor as the selection would
confer.
"Ifeel more feedom in speaking plainly to
you from the fact that shall never again
be candidate, or an applicant for any
Office, and, therefore, you must know that
what / have said upon this subject is
prompted only by the interest feel in the
welfare of that grand old party of which it
has always been my pride 70 be member
81 have spoken to many Democrats and
find none who do not agree with me, but
there is reluctance on the part Of most
men TO speak out lest it might have an in
furious effect upon the harmony of the
party. No member Of the Democratic party
takes a deeper interest in its harmony and
success than do, but even that should not
be purchased at the expense of the honor
and dignity of the party. President Cleve-
land will undoubtedly be renominated and
will be elected unless weighed down by a
running mate, such rs the movement in this
State, in favor Of Governor Gray, proposes
to furnish HIM. The Democratic party Of
Indiana has it in its power to carry the
State, but has no margin TO spare in vain
endeavor to feed the insatiate ambition of
Governor Gray, whose political record
shows no higher purpose or aim than per-
sonal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, and whose cry, since
he has connected himself with the Demo
cratic party, has been that Of the horse
leech, and whose plate, like that of - oliver
Twist, F" is always held up for more"
JOSEPH l.. MCDONALD.