The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-04
RepuhIican Hypocrisy.


A very edifying exhibition of republican
hypocrisy and demagogism was given in
the house on Tuesday, when the Curtis
legislative aPportionment bill was under
consideration. The republican leaders
Hess, HIGGINs and Others-began 10 howl
about 'gerrymande-s" and partisan infa-
miles," etc, ETC., the very moment lhe bill
was called up. but were very efiectually
met by the democratic speakers, who
showed that, if the proposed appor-
tionment was subject to any crit.
cism whatever, it could not come
with any grace or decency from an
Indiana republican. Mr.. Gil sSsYER
recalled the republican gerrymander OF
1872, which was crowded through the
legislature under the gag law. The demo-
Gratis were not given an opportunity to
speak word regarding the measure, nor
even to explain their votes. Mr.. GLEss-
NER, who was member of the house at
that time, asked five minutes for that pur-
pose, but was refused. The democratic
majority on Tuesday allowed the repub-
Leans plenty OF time TO "cuss and discuss"
the pending bill. Mr.. Hess devoted if
teen minutes to an onslaught upon the
measure, only TO be confounded at
the end, when he was confronted
with a map showing the republican
geuymander OF 1872. The Wabash states
man didn't seem 10 take much interest in
the subsequent proceedings.
1t is quite true that two wrongs DO not
make one right either in politics CT any
thing else. But it Is equally true that the
democrats OF Indiana have never gerry
wandered nor attempted to gerrymander
the state with so little regard for fairness,
Justice OF decency as the republicans have
exhibited in every enterprise OF this kind
they have undertaken. The appor;ion-
ment now proposed to be made may not
be an ideal one, but it is a miracle of fair
ness. compared with past republican ger
rymanders in this state and ex-
listing republican gerrymanders in other
states It should not be forgotten that
Indiana is a democratic state. The Aus
tralian system OF election makes it perma-
nently SO. 1t will be admitted that under
the Curtis bill the democrats are pretty
certain TO have good sized majority in
the next legislature. OF course this does
not please HESS, HAGGARD, and the re-
naming members OF the small republican
contingent in the house. But they for
get that it is not the fault of the bill, but
of the voters of Indiana, majority of
whom will persist in voting the demo-
=. . he IL
| abandons McKinleyism, and force
bills, and subsidies, ard land grabs,
and boodleism, and jobbery, and
steaIing-when it reforms and makes
itself respectable-when, in short, it be-
comes republican party in fact as we'll
as in name-it may possibly secure ma
jority of the voters of Indi ma, even under
the Australian system. And when it gets
fair, square majority of the votes it will
also get the legislature, but not until
then. No doubt Mr. Hess and Mr.. HAG-
GARD and Mr.. CLAYPooL and the other
republican patriots of the house would
like TO have the state 80 &c rymandered
that, notwithstanding the democratic ma
jority, the republicans could carry the
legislature But of course they cannot be
accommodated. They will have to be
satisfied with the very fair apportion-
ment which this democratic legislature
will make. and meantime, if their
zeal for reform is too strong to be re-
pressed. they can protitabiy expend i; in
laboring with their republican brethren in
New York, Connecticut and other states
in which reliable democratic majorities
are partially DISTINGUISHED, and have been
for many years, by gerrymanders which
violate every requirement of justice and
| fairness and even of common decency.
When they succeed in reforming the ger
rymanders in these states, any criticisms
they have to make upon the arrangement
of congressional and legislative districtsin
Indiana will be entitled to respectful con-
sideration. But until then, these criti-
cisms will have to pass for what they are
wOrth-tn-vif nOfhinp