The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-02
LET NO GUILTY MAN ESCAPE.
Vote Buying should Re Subjected to Very
Severe Penalties.


Severe Penalties.
To THE EOIToR-Sr: When We cast our
ewes all over this fair land, when we view the
present aspect of affairs. we are constrained to
say: Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty"
Do we, who love our country, who were taught
from infancy to love country infinitely more
than party, realize fully the dangers that threat
en- our future? To those who really love the
land and the institutions under which we live,
address myself; to those who do not, have
nothing to say. There is an earnest feeling
among the masses never before shown. And
the feeling is-as expressed by Gen. Marion
'will it always last?" Already thousands are
disguised with themselves for selling their
birthright for a few paltry dollars. The feeling
is dcep-seated that the corruptions and intimi-
datiOns of 1885 must not be repeated. And
now, after mature thought, | have arrived at
conclusions that may be startling TO many, and
| ask all true men to ponder them carefully
before replying to them, pro or con.
| heartily indorse what J. McCabe said in
recent issue of THE SENTINEL, and will go
farther. / believe that the penalty for the in
tmidatiOn of voters, or purchasing or attempt
ing 10 purchase votes, should be Imprisonment
for long series OF years if not for life, and the
same penalty for betting on elections. But
some one says (who has not thought deeply on
the subiect) Are you not going too far?"
Let us see. If a man is shot down in cold
blood, what is done with his murderer? Hang
ing or life imprisonment. What is the killing
of one man compared to those dangerous prac-
tees that will lead to the overthrow of the best
government of the most favored land on which
the sun ever shone? But | am told democrats
too, do these things Then | say, "Let no
guilty man escape" Democracy says: Equal
and exact justice TO all men; special privileges
TO none" Let our party, If in any degree cor
rupt purify itself, and then shall heaven smile
on our labors. We must be earnest; we must
be faithful to our principles, and then we shall
soon realize that the sober second thought OF
the people is right
And now | say let us continue organized
actiOn-think, read, speak, act as those who
feel our responsibilities for the perpetuation of
those institutions for which our fathers fought
bled and died, and endeavor with Gods help
to transmit them unimpaired TO future gener-
atoms. do not know but il would be right to
deny the voters right who has not paid his
taxes Twill not discuss that now, but / am
positively opposed to receiving ballot from
one who is intoxicated. do not favor a secret
ballot, but free and open expression of ideas,
such as becomes the man who is worthy to be
styled Freeman, An Amerieoa Citizen. And
now that our opponents have elected their
president, am glad they have both houses Of
congress. The eyes of the civilized world is
upon them. III they fail they have no excuse
a fact they will realize in less than two years.
II they fail, they will see the handwriting on
the wall. Ii they do right we shall give them
due praise.
God-speed THE SENTINEL in its noble work.
Like thousands of others, am more of demo
crat to-day than ever before.
Terre Haute, Dec. 10. LYMAN PIKE.