The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-14

men, Then II We are well grounded In our
political faith, we will not be deceived nor will
we permit others TO be deceived. by any plausi-
Die Eretext or smooth sOphistry excusing the
situation. For our answer to them all, we will
point to the words which condemn such in
equality and injustice, ns we prepare for the
encounter with wrong, armed with the weap-
ons OF the democracy.
When we see our farmers in distress and
know that they are not paying the penalty of
sl0thfulDess and acknowledgement; when we
see their long hours of toll so poorly requited
that the moneylender eats out their substance.
while for every thing they need they pay a
tribute TO the favOrites of governmental care,
we know that all this is far removed from the
encouragement Of agriculture" which our
creed commands. We will not violate our
political duty by forgetting how well entitled
our farmers are TO our best efforts for their
restoration to the independence OF q former
time and TO the rewards of better days.
When we see the extravRgance of public
expenditure fast reaching the point of reckless
waste, and the undeserved distribution of pub
lie money debauchIng its recipients. and by
pernIeious example threatening the destruc-
ton OF the love Of ~frugality among our people,
we will remember that economy in the public
expense Is an important article in the true
democratic faith.
When We see our political adversaries bent
upon the passage of the federal law, with the
scarcelysdenied purpose of perpetuaing partisan
supremacy, which invades the states with cleo
ton machinery designed TO promote federal
interference with the rights of the people in
the localities concerned, discrediting their hon.
esty aud fairness. and Justly a%rOusing their
jealousy OF centralized power, We will stub
bornly resist such a dangerous and revolution
airy scheme, in obedience TO our pledge for
the support of the State improvements in all
their rights"
Under anti-democratic encouragement We
have seen & constantly increasing selfshness
QffaQh ~ nnr nnfftfoal nH.arr l-,r-a
from the sound and safe theory that the people
should support the government for the sake of
the Dement'S resulting to all, has bred q
sentiment manifesting itself with astounding
bOldness, that the government may be en-
listed in the furtherance and advantage Of
private interests, through their willing agents
In public place. Such an abandonment of the
IDEA of patriotic political action on the part
of these interests has naturally led to an es-
innate of the peoples franchise so degrading
that II has been openly and palpably de-
bauched for the promotion Of selfish schemes.
Money is invested in the purchase of votes
with the deliberate calculation that it will
yield a profitable return in results adVan-
tageOus to the investor. Another crime akin
to this, in motive aud design, is the intimida-
ton by employers of the voters dependent upon
them for work and bread.
Nothing could be more hateful to true and
genuine democracy than such ofenses against
our free institutions. In several OF the states
the honest sentiment of the party has asserted
itself in the support of every plan proposed for
the rectihcatiOn Of this terrible wrong. To
fail IN such support would be to violate that
principle In the creed of true democracy which
commands "a jealous care of the right of cleo
ton by the people" for certainly no one can
claim that ~satfrages purchased, or cast under
the stress of threat and intimidation, represent
the right of election by the people.
Since a free and unpolluted ballot must be
conceded as absolutely essential TO the main
tenanee OF our free Institutions, / may perhaps
be permitted to express the hope that the
state of Pennsylvania will not long remain be-
hind her sister states IN adopting an effective
plan 10 protect her peoples suffrage. In any
event the democracy of the state can find no
justification in party principle. nor in
party traditions, nor in a just apprehension Of
democratic duty, for a failure earnestly to sup
port and advocate ballot reform.
l have thus far attempted to state some of
the principles of true democracy. and their
application to present conditions. Their en-
during character and their constant influence
upon those who profess our faith have also
been suggested. III were now asked why
they have so endured and why they have been
invincible, ] should reply in the words of the
sentiment TO which respond: "They are en-
during because they are right, and invincible
because they are just"
| believe that among our people the ideas
which endure and which inspire warm attach
-.0AN $50 y NlF NI1 " ' OLlD GlC-
ments which appeal to the moral sense. When
men are satisfied that a principle is morally
right they become its adherents for all time.
There Is sometimes a discOuraging distance be-
tween what our fellow cOuntrymen believe aud
what they do in such q case: but their action
in accordance, with their belief may always be
confidently expected in good time. a govern
ment for the people and by the people is ever
lastingly right. AS surely as this is true so
surely 1t is true that party principles
n dunnn III go. -
American manhood, and an equal participation
by all the people in the management of their
government, and in the benefit and protection
which it aUords are also right. lie is COM
mon ground where the best educated
thought and reason NAV meet the
most impuisiye and instructive Americanism'
Ii is right that every man should enjoy the re-
suit of his labor to the fullest extent consistent
with his membership in civilized community.
Ii II right that our government should be but
the instrument of the peoples will, and that
Its cost should be limited within the lines Of
strict economy. 1t is right that the influence
OF the government should be known in every
humble home as the guardian of frugal COM
fort and content, and a defense against unjust
eXactIons, and the unearned tribute persistent
ly coveted by the selfish and designing. liz is
right that efficiency and honesty in public SER
vice should not he sacrificed to partisan greed;
and II IS right that the suffrage of our people
should be pure and free.
The belief in these propositions, as moral
truths, is nearly universal among our country
men. We are mistaken if we suppose the time
is distant when the clouds of selfishness aud
peryersion will be dispelled and their consci-
entious belief will become the chief motive
force in political action Of the people.
/ understand all these truths to be included
in the principles of true democracy. IL we
have not at all times trusted as implicitly as we
ought, to the love our people have for the
right In political action, or If we have not al
ways relied sufficiently upon the sturdy advo-
cacy of the best things which belong to our
party faith, these have been temporary aberra-
tions which have furnished their inevitable
warning.
We are permitted to contemplate tonight the
latest demonstration of the peoples apprecia-
ton Of the right. aud Of the acceptance they ac-
cord to demo cratic doctrine when honestly pre-
sented. In the campaign which has jus. closed
with such glorious results, while party man
ayers were anticipating the issue in the light of
the continued illusion Of the people, the people
themselveF, and for themselves, were consider
have spoken and the democracy OF the land
rejoice.
In the signs of the times, and ia their late
state campaign, the democracy of Pennsylvania
must find hope and inspiration. Nowhere has
the constituencies of the people on questions in
vOlving right and wrong been better illustrated
than here. At the head of your state govern
ment there will soon stand a disciple of true
the right, and not the wrong, when
their consciences were touched. Though
thers have existed here conditions
and lnnUHnnQq mt alfnUQfhar favnr-