The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-14

nounce in favor Of Gen. Benjamin Harrison.
The Republicans of Indiana will do this not
because Gen. Harrison is the only man in the
State worthy the honor of the candidacy. but
party future require it to be done. From
the year 1860 General Harrison has been in
the front ranks fighting the battles of In
diana Republicanism. 1t has fallen to his lot
more than quarter of century. Never has
he finched from duty, but has always proven
true, capable and just, and on more than one
occasion has displayed the best gcneralship,
snatching victory out OF the jaws of seeming
foredoomed defeat. His early political life
need not be recalled; but it will be remem-
bered that he was a match for the brilliant
Hendricks when scarcely more than a boy in
years and experience. It will also be remen-
bered that he voluntarily relinquished the
Office to which he was elected, in 1860 and
entered the army as a private, leaving it a
general with an. honorable record for faithful
and distinguished service in the field. Since
then he has been called to lead the party in
forlorn hopes. He was unanimously nomi-
mated and elected United States Senator in
1881. and served for term of six
years in manner that placed him
in the foremost rank of that body,
his solid abilities and sterling worth re-
ceiving universal recognition. In 1886 he
was, by force of circumstances, again called
to forlorn hope-one that was SO unques-
tionably forlorn that he was unable to rally
succeeded in inspiring but few of his party
associates with even the possibility of success;
but, despite all the discouragements, the State
was handsomely carried, and decided major
ity of Republicans were elected to the Gen.
eral Assembly over the Infamous gerryman-
DER Had Senator Harrison and the
State committee been properly supported,
could they have inspired the party and
party men With the hope that the DEM
ocratic acknowledgements could have been
overcome, there would have been no
question of working Republican majority
on joint ballot. AS it was, General Harrison
was defeated only by fraud and force, while if
the Republicans in certain localities had been
firm enough in the faith to have even placed
legislative candidates in the field he would
have been reelected in spite of lawlessness
and revolution. The brilliancy of that cam
paign attracted the attention of the entire
1,
bigger man in the defeat than he had ever
been before.
Indiana Republicanism is fighting Repub-
,licanism. Republicans have been broughtu up
to fight, and they believe in and honor the nen
who have been with them in their heated con-
tests. They know that in the battle before
them this year they will require absolute har-
mony of purpose and action, solidarity in the
achieve the success that is within their reach.
They will come together with heartiness and
unanimity under the name of General Harri-
son for the reasons we have mentioned, and
for the further one that they can present him
to their fellow-Republican of other States as
a man having the elements of character
the resources of ability, the experience
which long training and discipline give, to
make a model candidate to lead the party to
national success. Yet another reason remains
to be mentioned. It is possible to elect a
President without New York; it is not posi-
bic to elect one without New York and Indi-
ana both. Will not General Harrison receive
support in New York equal to that Of any
other man who may be named9 while with
him the fifteen electoral votes of Indiana will
be as certain as any human event can be. For
supreme party reasons the Republicans of
Indiana will present Benjamin Harrison to
the Republicans of the country as their
choice For a presidential candidate just as
Loyalty, just as heartily, and from the same
imperative motives that will lead Ohio to
name Sherman and other States to name the
men of their choice.