The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-05
JUDGE. eREsHAM,s DETECTION.

oOOdh. . Q6fbOl1ONs
The evidence is cumulative and APP
parently conclusive that Judge Gresham
has declared his intention of voting for
Cleveland. When the statement first
appeared the Journal. disposed to take a
view of the subject most favorable to
the Judge, discredited it and said it was
doubtless a canard. Since then corrob-
orative statements from different
sources leave no doubt of its substantial
accuracy. Whether Judge Gresham
wished the fact to become known at the
time and in the way it mas is not certain,
but there seems to be no doubt hat he
has announced his intention at more
than n place, and in the hearing of
several persons, without imposing any
charge of secrecy. and. without having
any reason To suppose it would be kept
secret. So far as that is concerned he
could hardly object to the publicity, for
If there is nothing disgraceful in the
fact of his going over to the Democracy
there is nothing disgraceful in having it
known. Its moral quality depends upon
the act itself and not on the degree of
secrecy or publicity that attaches to it.
Individual changes are common enough
in politics, but this is rather a peculiar
case. Judge Gresham has been identi-
fed with the Republican party nearly
all his life. and although his interest in
the party has not been shown in the or
HInarr vauo M hu noltnr oan,no;nn
speeches, contributing to campaign
funds, etc., he has always evinced 81
lively interest in its success. That his
party loyalty has never been questioned
is evidenced by the fact that he has re-
ceived many political honors at the
hands Of Republican administrations.
and his unhesitating acceptance of these
honOrs has seemed to indicate his un-
wavering sympathy with the party thai
conferred them. The detection of such
a man lie a matter of surprise and re-
gret-surprise that it should occur after
nearly a lifetime of unquestioning party
adherence. and regret that he should
have turned his back on the friends of
his early manhood and the companions
of his mature years.
But if the personal aspects of the case
IRE somewhat sad, there is nothing at all
depressing in any other view of it. Po-
lltically speaking. there is no reason to
suppose that Judge G~resham's change
of front will have any appreciable effect
on n campaign or the result of the
election. Its effect has been largely dis
counted by the Judges recent course.
and will be further weakened by the alb
surdity of the reason assigned for it.
This reason is said To be the position of
the Republican party on the tariff ques-
ton, yet the party occupied practically
the same position in 1884, when Judge
Gresham held Office under a Republican
administration. and voted for Blaine,
n protectiOnist of protectionists, and
it occupied the same position in 1883,
when Judge Gresham was before the
Republican national convention as n can
didate for President. Much as Judge
Gresham's Republican friends would
like to believe in the sincerity of this
statement of his reasons for leaving
the party, they will not be able to
do SO in view of the facts. On
the contrary, they will be forced to
conclude either that this is not the true
reason for his detection. or else it is he
who has changed and not the party.
In any event., they will not follow him
into the Democratic camp. Judge
Gresham has had many warm friends
and ardent admirers in the Republican
party. but they are not of a kind to
follow him into the camp of the enemy.
We doubt if his change will affect
twenty votes in Indiana. 1t is nothing
like as significant as that of Gen.
Daniel f. Sickles, the gallant one
legged soldier Democrat, who has
declared he will not vote, and
that no soldier ought to vote, for q
man who sent a substitute to the war.
Where there is one Republican soldier
who will follow Gresham, there are a
score of Democrats who will follow
Sickles. Indiana Republicans will part
company with Judge Gresham regret
fully, but they will close ranks and
march OF to victory.