The Indianapolis journal., 1889-06-10
CoY,s SUPPORTERS IN CRIME.

The Journal has noticed in its news
department and editorially the enthusi-
astic reception accorded Hon. Sim Coy by
his supporters in crime, on his return
from the penitentiary, differing from
that accorded his fellow criminal, Bern
hamer, only in its magnitude and elab-
Orateness, as was appropriate on account
of his higher standing among them. No
less demonstration would take place on
the return of Hon. John E. Sullivan, ex-
cept that he pursued his work to its log
ical consequences, and, defying the
maxim that there is honor among
thieves, robbed his associates. 1t would
be only because these have suffered
pecuniarily from him that they would
refuse to take part in the hOnOrs he is
entitled to as fellow criminal with
Coy, and leader of the party whose in
terests he has so long and faithfully
served. He was very little less con-
spicuous in the crime for which Coy and
Bernhamer were convicted, and quite as
guilty as either of them, but the men
who indOrsed him, knowing his relation
to the crime, by going on his official
bond, and by lending him money, and
by contributing toward his defense, as
well as by their many other acts of ap-
proval, are not now in humor to vote
him a triumph on his return, otherwise
just the same honors would await him
from those who have made this crime
their own by so many unmistakable acts
of approval.
In behalf of the great body of the
Democratic party of Marion county, and
of the State as well-for the approval of
this crime is not bounded by county
lines-the Journal wishes to say that the
extent of this Endorsement is not to be
measured by the few hundreds that act
lively participated in it. There are
great many preachers, and deac ons, and
class-leaders who would suffer martyr
dom rather than to gointO COy's saloon
their consciences and religious principles
would not allow them to do that; but
for years they have followed wherever
he has led in politics, and he has led
them in the interest of the saloon no
less than in the interest of the tally
sheet mutilations; and they stand
pledged to follow him YbithersO-
ever he goeth. The contin-
gent that composed the Democratic
half of the Committee of One Hundred,
which prosecuted Coy and Company,
nearly if not quite exhausted the anti
Coy y-Bernhamer-Sullivan force in the
Democratic party of Marion county. So
far as the Journal knows there has not
been one manly protest by any known
Democrat against this rejoicing over the
reinstatement of Coy to his accustomed
leadership. On the contrary, there is a
buOyancy in the Democratic atmosphere
that those who breathe it had not real
lied since the departure of their chief,
eighteen months ago. 1t was seen in the
Council, in which he at once resumed
his position as leader of the Democratic
minority. The bouquets in their button
holes were less conspicuous than the
smiles on their cOuntenances, which
bespoke the Joy of their hearts.
This was not merely a personal exhibi-
| tlOn or delight, 1t was an official lndOrse-
ment, and unanimous; and the whole has
been in entire harmony with the earliest
movements of the party to shield those
who had done so much in their interest,
from the penalties the law inflcts. The
history of this crime from beginning to
| end is consistent; it makes the crime a
crime of the Democratic party, and
stamps it a party that will resort to
fraud whenever necessary, and that will
| defend it's criminals in the courts, and
honor them as martyrs when returning
| from the cruelties the law infl1cts for of
fenses against honest elections. Such is
the Democratic party in Indiana to-day.
By every possible test it has become a
| party to the crime for which Coy and