The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-07
PRE- sIDENT HARRISON AND INDIANA.

General Harrison was nominated in
1888 largely because of the strong sup
port he received from this State and the
assurance that If nominated he could
carry Indiana. At that time he was
not very generally known to the people
of other States, though he was well
known to many of the politicians. AL
though he was regarded by many as
coming man, he could hardly be said to
have had national reputation. He
was nominated distinctively as an In
diana man.
Now the case Is very different. Gen.
Harrison is almost as we'll known in
every other State of the Union as be is
In Indiana. not personally. of course.
but by reputation. No public man ever
grew in the public estimation more rap
idly or more steadily than he has done.
Since the day of his nomination, during
the months of the remarkable campaign
that resulted in his election, and during
the entire period of his administration
he has continued to grow in the conf
dence. respect and esteem of the public.
He has made no serious mistakes nor
disappointed any of the expectations
entertained of him. He has proved fully
equal to every emergency and TO all the
requirements of the high Office he fills.
His devotion to public duty and the pub
lie interests has been remarkable. His
occasional speeches have challenged uni
versal admiration, and his state papers
are conceded to be strong and able.
Judged by any proper standard of pub
lie service, his administration is one of
the most successful and satisfactory the
country has ever had, and he himself is
conceded to be the peer intellectually of
dental chair. Assuming the duties COM
paratively unknown beyond his own
State, he has achieved a national repu-
tati0n for craftsmanship and patriotism
equal to that of any of his predecessors,
and has won golden opinions from his
country men, irrespective of party, by
the honesty. fidelity and ability with
which he has discharged the duties of
his high Office.
In all this honor Indiana and Indiana
Republicans share. The State was never
brought so conspicuously before the
country in political sense as 1t was
by the nomination and election of Gen.
Harrison. He was the first presidential
candidate the State ever had, and, of
course, the first President it ever fur
MI ia oil he 20
at once to the front. If he had proved
unequal to the situation it would have
reflected discredit on the State,
and many people would have said,
with an I-told-you-so air, What
else could you expect from an Indiana
mani" There are plenty of people
who are still ready to sneer at the Hoos-
ier State. If President Harrison had
proved to be q weak man. and had his
administration proved failure, In
diana would have had to bear the
burden of the discredit, and it would
have been long time before citizens of
this State would have heard the last of
it. Happily, the case is very different.
The splendid manner in which he has
sustained himself and the magnificent
success of his administration have
brought great honor to the State.
Under the circumstances we think it
is clearly due to President Harrison that
he should have the solid support of In
diana in the national convention for re-
nomination. The Republicans of In
diana owe this to themselves as we'll as
TO him. 1t is not absolutely necessary
TO his denomination, as it was to his
nomination in 1888, that he should have
the solid support of his own State, be-
cause he is now in the hands of the Re-
publicans of other States, and could be
renOminated without Indiana. But as q
matter of justice, of gratitude and of
good politics, he should have the sup
port of Indiana in the convention. The
Republicans of Indiana would present
q sorry spectacle before the country
If, President Harrison being in the
field, they should send q divided dele
CATION to the national convention. The
Republicans of other States would re-
gard them with contempt. They could
say, and probably would say. what has
President Harrison done since 1883, when
you supported him so enthusiastically,
to deserve any withdrawal of support7
What has he done but to bring honor
on the State and the partyf" To such
questions as these what could an anti
Harrison Republican from Indiana do
but stand mute, clothed in shame and
confusionf
If President Harrison is to be defeated
for denomination, let it be by other
States. If the force of circumstances or
the logic of events should point to the
nomination of another candidate, let the
movement come from some other quar-
ter. If MIR. Blaine is in the field he will
have, as he should have, the solid sup
port of his State. Let Indiana show that
the Republicans of the Hoosier State
have as much State pride as those of
Maine. Let 1t be demonstrated that po-
litical ingratitude is not indigenous to
Western soil, and that Indiana Repub-
licans know how to appreciate the char
acter and services of one who has