The Republican journal., 1889-10-31
A Year in Indiana


months have passed in review since we took
up our residence in the State of Indiana. With
Your permis sion. Mr. Editor, we will chronicle
Il few items of our observations and expert
euccs The year has been full of work, hard
work, trying work yet not altogether frutlcss
work Not all that was hoped for has been ac-
complshed, yet the results are an occasion for
gratitude and JOY. Most Of the time, too, has
been spent within the limits of Grant County.
! Win tie exception of few visits to the Cap-
tai, >iXty-SiX miles south, and to some neigh
boring towns, we have not Travelled much.
Only once have been outside of the States
limits since coming into it. The year, howey-
e.. ia the county and State has been so full of
stirring events, political, religious and civil,
that much could he seen and heard within the
limits Of half mile from the Court House.
POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
We hold to our own political views with
some tenacity. We are obliged thus to hold
them OF lose them. No man can afford to be
politically !ukewarm in this State without eX-
posing himself to attack from each of the polit-
4 irll parties. Whatever sins may be charged
to the iioo>trs. depend upon it they will be
able to defend themselves from the charge of
political cuwnrdice. Every man is either for
on against. For the most part you will find
/ them allied with either the Republican or
/ Democratic parties. do not remember meet
/ are some third party men, but less by far than
we met with in the State Of Michigan. Per-
hap> the fall of IS was an exception to other
/ presidential seasons, owing to the fact that the
Repul lican nominee was an honored resident
| OF the state. but Indiana Is always awake pOit-
! lraliy. She never sleeps by night or by day.
/ Wake up ll0o>er at any hour of the night,
and he will tell you on which side of the fence
he stands. You will seldom find him astrde
/ the fence, or standing very near the border
/ is hat i'm mn. thpr m
i poiltclans 10 the square mile than in any other
state III the Union.
In the canvass of last fall meetings were of
/ frequent occurrence up to the eve of election.
1 Township meetings. county meetings, district
meetings and State meetings, meetings such as
| we never saw in Maine. each party contending
| for the mastery aS if the whole interests of the
/ nation depended on the vote Of single county.
| ! wa, present at only one State meeting. the
I largest and most enthusiastic meeting of all
! perhaps. Mr.. Blaine and other leaders of the
| Republican party being present to address the
| people. The capital was full of people and
| trains from every direction were crowded
COUNTY MEETINGS.
I Inr county meetings were of frequent oc-
rurrcnrr. at least in Grant county, where the
cont st was intense. The counties are much
s,nailtf than IN Maine. With AN area of 35,9l0
square miles Indiana has - counties, while
Maine with an area of 1895 has only 1G coun-
! ties. lhe county meetings We're held at the
county seats and We're in Grant county char
actcriltd hy the most intense enthusiasm The
professions through the principal streets of
Marion appeared to be represented by nearly
every person in the county, There were old
aud young, rich and poor in every possible va
rlety Of presentation from the rrUteSquc to the
most artistic. Wagon leads from every town
snip. besides private carriages drawn by horses
or mules, and hundreds of Young men and wo-
men on horseback. Trades were also largely
represented. Banners with notices expressive