The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-20
I~NplANAPoLIs, Aug. il
An Old Douglas Democrat for Harrison.

al Oi0 bOuSia8 DeDnOcThG ID haETloOu.
70 the Editor OF the Indianapolis Jou rnsl:
From the moment when the denomination of
Mr. Cleveland became q certainty, to be in
evitably accompanied by a platform indorsing
his tariff message. having in view the easily-as-
certainsd facts. the ayowed theories and the
actual conditions which the country would thus
be forced to confront. my determination to sup
port the Republican party and Its nominees be
came firm and unalterable, because / was con-
vinced this was tine only way in which I could
fully coz ply with the duties aud obligations of
an American citizen. as God has given me to
see the right
Before Stephen A. Douglas. addressing the
Illinois Legislature at Springfield. H.. in 1861.
made his celebrated war speech, / was fully
aware of the course be would pursue in his most
patriotic and statesman-like fulfllment of the
duty OF the hour, and, together with other young
men VINO were unconditional Unionists. / had
already joined a drill club in ST. Louis, Mo, to
be prepared for the call of duty when we should
be summoned to the field as soldiers to main
tain the laws and aid In preserving the Union
and the Constitution. That call was not long
delayed. as on May 9. 1861, it found me bearing
q musket. as q private soldier, in the First
Rhode Island Volunteers. which, with other
regiments in the three months service, had
been hurried forward to Washington for the de-
Tense OF the national capital. / learned both
IMAM ano ouring Inc entlro war OF Inc reoeiiiou
BY experiences OF no ordinary kind. and not
easily forgotten. that there are times when the
citizen mast choose between his party and his
country, and that his frat duty Is to his coun-
try. i believe We are now. rs a people.
called upon to meet q somewhat similar. if not
IN many respects an almost identical condition
Of public affairs.
Il Is certainly true that no appeal to arms is
contemplated or threatened, but we must re-
member that history is constantly repeating itself,
hAz - - - ~
an attempt to sectionalize the commercial bust
ness, tariff and financial policy Of the govern
ment cannot be said to be without danger to the
best interests OF the country. Is not an effort to
sectionaEze those interests clearly being made
when they are sought to be controlled by a solid
southern vote, with comparatively little aid de-
sired or expected from Northern or Western con-
ststuenciss. while the chief reliance Is had upon
tns enormous vote cast by one great city in the
great State Of New York. and that a city which
Is largely and peculiarly under Southern in
nuencef Is not this great fact more impressivelv
true when we remember that by the enfranchise-
ment OF the colored people the South has gained
thlrty-eignt votes In Congress, and that without
this increased vote the Mills hill vopjd havs
been defeated, and without the powerful in
hueuce OF this solid sectional vote and the added
employment OF executive influence. power and
patronage the number Of Democrats who would
have voted. in the House of Representative
with Dir. Randall, against that bill would prob
ably have nearly equaled the number of those
who, voting with him. defeated the considera-
ton Of the Morrison horizontal reduction tariff
bill-a measure now little heard of. still less de-
Tended and generally conceded to have been an
absurd legislative propositionl
Is the attempt to dominate the country upon
the tariff issue, to force upon the people the
views Of Calhoun aud a favored clause
of the confederate Constitution less dam
eerous to'fEour welfare as a nation
than q like attempt to control the dsstlnies Of
the country by q similar vote and iniue nee np-
on the slavery issues or 1860 and 1861
May We not reasonably inquire: For what
purpose did General Grant and the cause of the
Union and the Constitution triumph at Appo-
mattoxf' Is this danger in any way diminished
because We are now compelled TO
acknowledge. with a feeling akin
70 . sense Of national disgrace, the exist
snce of q suppressed vote 10 the South. and
painfully to realize that even the new South,
with all that it implies. has its voice stifed by
the old South. so that il is heard only family. il
O. ALI
Isannet permit myself now to be . laseard,