The Indianapolis journal., 1889-09-09
A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE.

Whatever may have been in the mind
of the man who wrote John l.. Suili-
vans letter announcing himself as a
Democratic candidate for Congress, it is
only fair to believe that John is in earn
est. There is certainly no good reason
why he should not bea candidate of that
party for any Office. He has always
supported the party, has always voted
for it and is representative Democrat.
To be sure, all Democrats are not as
formidable in the ring as Sullivan, but
the majority of the party are more or
less given to the slugging art, and a
well-developed biceps excites their ad-
miration far more than cultivated
brain. The crowds that follow the
champion in his tours about the coun-
try are composed of the class that is
counted on in estimating Democratic
strength. The bummers, the saloon
keepers, the gamblers, the riff-raff
of society are at once adherents of the
slugger and of the Democratic party.
In addition to his skill with his fists,
John has another hold on their affec-
tions. He can consume more whisky in
a given time than half dozen men of
ordinary Democratic capacity, which is
saying a great deal. There is no ques-
tion about it, Sullivan in Congress would
be representative Democrat. The fact
that a criminal charge against him is
pending in Mississippi court, and that
he is likely to go to jail for year or so,
will in no wise initiate against him, but
rather the reverse. Ii he will consider
the case of Simeon Coy, of Indianapolis,
and the hOnOrs heaped upon him by his
party after his return from the peniten-
tiary, Sullivan may think it worth while
to serve his term without protest, and
come back to his Boston constituents
wearing the aureOle of a convict. As
to his fitness for the place, he very
truly says that man is elected to Con-
gress to look after the interests of those
who send him there, and if the slums
send him, what then? His fitness, in
deed, to represent his party in Congress
is so apparent that the wonder is as to
why he does not strike higher--with
hard gloves. If he would make a good
Democratic Congressman, why not a
good Democratic President? There is
no doubt that he could knock out all
competitors for the nomination. 1t is
true, he knows nothing about the tariff
question, but he could reflect that his
Democratic predecessor in the presi-
Dental chair was in the same box. He
never heard of civil-service reform, but
ignorance in this direction is a recon-
mendation in his party. If he
should interest himself in the question
itwould be to make knowledge of box
ing necessary requirement of all gov
ernment clerks, and boxing schools
would be established in all the depart
ments. In case of race wars he could
60 out in person and quell the disturb
ance by laying out few negroes cold;
or if trouble arose among the pluto
Gratis he, in company with Dan Voor-
hees, could attend to the hangings with
out further assistance. The more the
matter is considered the more appropri-
ate does the slugger's candidacy seem.
The Democracy has been looking
anxiously for a man to bear their ban
ner in the next campaign, and the sud
den entrance of the worlds champion
into politics seems almost providential.
Hurrah for Sullivan!