The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-23
Shankiin BanQueted.

Members of the General Shields Club
closed the campaign jubilation last night.
as it began it, with speech by John G.
Shanklin. of Evansville, who sacrificed
his ambitions to be Governor In favor
of the sage of Gray Gables. The event o.
Cured in the dining-room of the Grand
Hotel. The tables were arranged with covers
for fifty persons in the form of T, with Mr..
by the side of the POSTMASTER. Hon. John
w. Kern. The menu was In ten courses,
with four kinds of wine. leading up to q
flood of oratory. 1t was late hour when
the last course was eaten, the last bit OF
conversation CONVEX ended; and the cn aH,smIa
the events from the first meeting
to the present one, marking as he said. q
great political victory. and then euiogized
Mr.. Shanklin for his courage and self
with applause as he rose. His speech did
not have the characteristic Shanklin bold
ness of expression. It's main part was in
cluded In the following:
The sweetest thing that is given to mankind
to enjoy ia the reaZa ton of victory and this Is
especially true when the victorious cause is com
prehensive In Its scope, affecting advantageous
iy the lives and fortunes. the welfare and happi-
ness of all classes of people alike
1t is sOrdid churl who goats over purely
personal triumph in any matter OF life, whether
IL be social or political. The mere striving for
individual profit represents a very low standard
of human effort, whether we find 1t in the motive
of the feucal baron of the medieval period
or in the avowal OF the old New England Puritan
whose selfish cand0r was expressed in the
prayer, 20 Lord. bless me and my wife, and my
son John and his wife. us four and no more"
For something over quarter OF century the
government of the United States has been con-
Quoted. to very great extent at least. upon
principles that cultivate the selfish feeling
among a certain class and impose unfair and
even cruel burdens upon the people at large.
Men got into the habit OF rendering unto Cesar
not only those things which belong to Caesar, but
large part of the things which of right belonged
to themselves. Under such system there were
only few to whom victory was sweet; the great
Of s% that ien Mas Sn s
thing. A last there was a general awakening to
the fact that the system was too exclusive In its
laws few were appropriating TO their own
jOyment the fruits OF the industry OF the many;
In word. the baron and the vassal were both
here, the one in his castle the heights and the
other In his lowly cottage IN the valley, while
the pretense Of equal rights for all men was still
We are here tonight to congratulate ourselves
on a victory in which all of the people are par
Elephants. and now that It has been surely
becomes the most important 0ne Whether or
not il is to be pernanent release from pluto
cratic tyranny will depend upon the use we
make OF It. There are those who place no higher
estimate upon the value OF our recent
achievement than to suppose that the
federal olicss are tine only dement's
In their eagerness for rewards and perauisites
they overlook its underlying philosophy. Al
pursuit Of some coveted prize, Impressed with ps
the idea that it is the early petitioner whose
prayer will most likely be heard. Newspapers
get this or that office, and the professional
soothsayer who always knows just how the cat
will jump is IN clover. 1t is always so after
ministratiOn. The patriot who asked exctedly
What are we here forl" will probably be with us
to the end OF time. But let us not encourage
him. 1t is no disgrace to seek honorable public
service where one is competent to discharge pub
lie duties, but the man whose motive is sordid,
it, and without any intelligent conception of the
obligation it imposes. does not illustrate q very
high standard OF American citizenship.
Fortunately our great leader has SO impressed
his integrity, courage and ability upon the
American mind and heart as TO have inspired
popular confidence In advance Of assuming the
duties of his great office. In speech q few
evenings ago upon an occasion similar 10 this he
expressed deep sense of the responsibilities he
Ss to moe sok
gained as mercy an opportunity to
that he will not fail In any difficulties that may
| confront him. His mette has been tried in the
crucibie Of public duty and shown 10 be of the
| sterling brand When the question arose to
| whether mere policy or honest purpose should
| control his action he allowed conscience and
not MS personal interests TO govern his course.
You all know the story of the famous message
| which Grover Cleveland launched upon the
world often repeated since the last year of his
| first administration, and yet never told without
| invoking increased respect for the man. He
! knew the grave consequences IL involved with
| reference to his own political fortunes. But he
also knew that II was right. and with the hero
| ism that recalls the finest instances of courage
| TO be found In the history OF all the ages. he
turned aside from those timid counselors who
| placed expediency above principle. and.
| with the emblem of his faith in
| scribed upon IL, he boldly hung his ban
! ner on the outer wall. Although defeat came il
/ was not companed with dscredit or dishonor.
| His party had been supplied with great issue
that could never again be laid aside until il was
settled and settled rightly. Four years passed,
| during all OF which the people studied and
| thought upon the question he bad raised. Mis-
\ taking the defeat of 1883 final popular YER
/ diet against the policy of government he had
/ announced. our opponents made use OF the pow
er in their hands to impose still further burdens
| upon the people. But two years later the reac-
| ton came. The Democracy responded 60 the
| challenge which Republicanism had given
| planting itself unalterably tho principle
| upon which Grover Cleveland had gone TO defeat
| two years before. We know the sequel. Re-
| publicanism found its Waterloo in 1854 and now
/ we have banished IL 10 Saint Helena.
To redeem its sacred pledges 70 the people is
the inspiring work that Democracy has 70 &C