The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-02
WHO A 1T BET

these should not be difficult if the delegates
approach them in a spirit of fairness and can
dor. The first is whether the vote of Indiana
is regarded necessary to success in November;
and the seconds, who gives the best promise
of sec uring that vote to the Republican partyf
If it shall be determined that Indiana had bet
ter be permanently relegated to the list of
doubtful States" and the campaign laid
upon another basis. well and good. In such
event the Republicans of Indiana viii take up
and maintain the fight to the best of their
ability. No matter who is the candidate, In
diana Republicans will fight until the last
moment Of the last day. They are fighting
men; they have fought forlorn hopes before,
and can do so again. But we have an idea
that when the whole situation is calmly re-
viewed the Chicago convention will come to
the conclusion that the vote of Indiana, and
of the other so-classed doubtful States, must
be cared for, at the same time selecting a can
didate who win be as strong in the confessed
Republican States and In New York as any
other. It Is the Journals sincere belief that
when the results of election day are known 1t
viii be found that the patty which has carried
the State Of Indiana has secured the presiden-
cy. We believe that not only is Indiana a
pivotal State, but it will prove to be the de-
termining State. We believe the more the
real facts and probabilities are studied. the
more clear and certain will this become to the
mind Of every delegate.
With this in view, then, the other question
answers itself. Will any sane man say that
Gen. Benjamin Harrison's nomination will
not more certainly insure the fifteen votes of
the State than any otheri Can there be a mo-
ments question about this by any man who
cares to be serious and candid with himself
What is General Harrison's relation to the
Republican party Of Indianai For thirty
years he has been in the thick and forefront
of every political contest. In 1856 he first
drew the shining blade of his polished steel.
and it has never been sheathed from that day
to this. In 1860 he was elected to a State
Office on the ticket with Lane and Morton.
In 1864 he was reelected on the ticket with
Morton and Baker. From early in 1862,
until the victorious army of Sherman marched
in grand review up Pennsylvania avenue be-
fore the martyred Lincoln, Ben. Harrison
was serving with bravery and distinction in
tho Union army. He was in the long Atlanta
campaign. winning his star as a general by
distinguished service at Resaca and Peach
Tree, calling upon himself the encomiums of
Gen. Joe Hooker as IAN officer Of superior
abilities and great professional and personal
worth" whose promotion would ''be a just
recognition Of his services and martial ac-
complishments." The Republican party never
called upon General Harrison without his re-
spending to duty. In 1876, despite his per-
emptory dsclination Of the use of his name
before the State convention, he was drafted
by the State central committee to take the
head of the ticket in the midst of the cam
paign. and so calamity did he lead the party
that he received nearly two thousand more
votes than the average cast for his colleagues
on the ticket. In 1880 he, with Albert G.
Porter, made another and . victorious can
vass, and with the one elected Governor the
other was sent, by unanimous voice of his
party, to the United States Senate. In 1886
hs was confronted with an adverse plurality
Of thousands, and I'm infamous gerrymander
that Senator Voorhees, openly and gleefully
proclaimed would give toe Democracy a two
thirds vote in the Legislature. Almost alone,
General Harrison went into the unequal COM
bat. After q campaign of matchless force
and b~rilliSncy. tha result was the election of
q decided majority Of the members-elect Of
the General Assembly, their majoritiss aggre-
eating over 10, 600, while the State ticket
was successful by about 1000. The differ
ence measured the strength of General Har-
rison before the people on the appeal he made
for fair play against the Acknowledgement of
q Democratic gerrymander. He was only
defeated for the Senate by a bare majority,
the vote being "a to &c, and that majority
obtained and maintained by fraud, perjury,
violation of law and the Constitution, and
open. handed revolution, condemned by
at least three decisions of the
Democratic Supreme Court. This is the
record that has made Benjamin Harrison the
representative Of the Republicans of Indi-
ana, and their choice for President Of the
United States. Despite every Establishment
and cajolsry, every sheer and threat, every
effort and combination, the Republicans of
the State have sent mp q solid voice of in
dorsement and instruction for him, q voice
in which there is not ono discordant note
sven now, in the very thick of a most de-
termined and persistent assault in the name
Of another Indianian, for whom it was hoped
. breach could DO the most easily made.
Studying the record, is it any wonder that
the Republicans Of Indiana are for General
Harrisonf And in the lame of common sense
and politics. If the vote of Indiana ixde-