The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-12-18

Otner reform; ana nave seen IL grow and
extend, until it has become firmly estab-
lished in our laws and practice. 1t is to-
day our greatest safeguard against the COM
plete and disgraceful degradation of our
public service. 1t had its enemies and all
OF them are not yet silenced. Those open
ly and secretly unfriendly, said in the be-
ginning that the scheme was impracticable
and unnecessary; that it created an office
holding class; that it established burden
some and delusive tests for entry in the
public service which should be open to all;
that it put in the place of real merit and
efficiency, scholastic requirements; that it
limited the discretion of those charged
with the selection of public employees, and
that it was unconstitutional. But its vic
tory came-wrought by the force of en-
lightened public sentiment-and upon its
trial every objection which had been
urged against it was completely discred-
tied.
GAS it has been with civil service reform
so will it be with ballot reform, except
that the coming victory will be more
speedily achieved and will be more COM
plete.
"And as the grand old state of Massachu-
sets was foremost to adopt and demon
strate the practicability and usefulness of
to adopt a thorough scheme of ballot re-
form and to prove in practice its value and
inyalidity of the objections made against
it. We thank Massachusetts tonight for
all that she has done for these reforms;
and we of New York hope that our Empire
state will soon be keeping step with her
sister states in the enforcement of an effect
i've and honest measure of ballot reform.
Sin conclusion let me say that good men
have no cause for Encouragement. Though
there are dangers which threaten our well
fare and safety, the virtue and patriotism
of the American people are not lost, and
we shall find them sufficient for us. If in
too great confidence they slumber, they
will not always sleep. Let them but be
aroused from lethargy and Indifference by
the consciousness OF peril, and they will
burst the bonds of political selfishness, re-
vive their political freedom and restore the
purity of their suffrage.
'Thus will they discharge the sacred
trust committed to their keeping; thus
will they still proudly present to the world
proof OF the value OF free institutions; thus
will they demonstrate the strength and
prosperity of a government by the people !;
thus will they establish American patriot
ism throughout the length and breadth of
our land and thus will.they preserve for
themselves and for posterity their God
given inheritance of freedom and justice
and peace and happiness"
Mr.. Cleveland's address aroused great
enthusiasm and his points were frequent
ly greeted with cries of good" and ap-
plause.
Following Mr.. Cleveland came Henry
w. Grady OF Georgia, who was was warm
Iy received and spoke at length.
Mr. Grady, on being introduced, said
that be was invited to discuss the race
problem. No missionary could stand
deeper in need of JUNCTION and address
than he in replanting the standard OF
southern democracy in Boston. He
should do so in perfect frankness and SIN
cerity. The South, the fairest and richest
domain on earth, is so scantily peopled
that but 10 per cent. of its lands are culti-
waited The sons Of New England see, with
troubled eyes, some new Eldorado. Yet,
since 1860, the emigration of nOrtherners
to the South has been decreasing because
of the race problem and the suspicious it
breeds. The southerners were so beset
with this problem that their very exis-
tence depends on its right solution
Replying to the imputation that the
South treated the negroes unjustly, the
speaker said: This year the South raised
100000 bales of cotton, which enormous
crop could not have come from the hands
of disconnected labor. The negroes Of Geor-
gia, who, twenty-five years ago, were
slaves, now possess SIC, 000, 900 property"
For every Afro American agitator storing
strife, he could show a thousand negroes
happy in their cabin homes, and with
their children in the schools. Since 1855,
the South has spent Sl22, 100000 in educa-
ton, and this year is pledged to SS7 ,000,0 900
more, although the blacks, paying one
thirtieth OF the taxes, get nearly half
the fund. In the South are negro law
yers, teachers, editors, doctors, preachers.
multiplying with the increasing ability of
their race to support them. In the courts,
the negroes have distinctly better show
ing on account OF their color.
IT is admitted that there is disorder
and violence, but it is misjudged. Law
lessness in Iowa is accepted as an accident,
while that in the South is ascribed to
racial causes. The black will cast free
ballot when ignorance anywhere is not
/ dominated by the will of the intelligent
! The whites are banded, not in prejudice,
but of necessity The negro vote remains
an ignorant and credulous factor, the
prey of the INSCRIPTIONS of both parties;
and plays part in a campaign in which
every interest of society is ieopardized
and every approach to the ballot-box de-
bauched. Against such campaigns as this
| the southern whites are banded, as Massa-
| chusetts whites would be in similar cir
cumstances.
In reply to the challenge as to the al
/ legged smallness of the southern vote Mr.
Grady said that the sixteen southern
| states in 1893 cast 81 per cent. OF the total
vote; the six New England states but 63
per cent. OF theirs. The negro has learned
| that the ballot-box which promised him
/ most has yielded him least, and at last has
realized that his best friends are his neigh
bors, with whose prosperity his own is
/ bound up. 1t would be well If northern
! partisans would understand that the negro
! vote can never again control the South.
! III there be any human force which cannot
be withstood, it is that of the banded in
telligence and responsibility OF free COM
munity. Upon that the South relies, not
upon the cowardly menace Of mask or
shot-guns. Force bills will not avail.
! The North may surrender its liberties to
federal election law, but never again will
a single state, North or South, be delivered
to the control OF an ignorant and inferior
race. Time alone can tell how the prob
lem presented will be solved.
The speaker believed it would be solved
| by the people most bound in honor TO its
solution. He asked OF his hearers: "lD
Patience; out of this alone can come per-
/ feet work. 10Y confidence. in this alona