The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-08

February con vention was an abuse OF trust and a
violation of democratic rights in this state that its
proceedings then misreprssented large element OF
disfranchised democrats and now misrepresents an
overwhelming sentiment, which since then has
grown to vast proportions throughout the state. III
strength did nOt lie Will tho people the
sun would shine ~ midnight before the loyal demo-
cretic raak and file OF this state would don the
contestants and give 10 this It's unprecedented
growth and its clearly marked Intensity of purpose
The people, neither disciplined led organized,
are in this movement That Is Its strength. They
have risen In the might OF their sovereign majesty
for weighty reasons TO let IL be known that they
rule that they have no masters and that they want
their rights as democrats in every convention that
undertakes to represent them. When the people
are in this mood il is generally found that con
eession to them of the right of way is prudent
though they were dynamite.
For some years prior 20 February last democratic
unaniity rolled victories in this state, and The
republican party usually retired election to la
ment, with the shades of Hamilton, that wealth,
caste superior intelligence and plety, such a. dts
tinguishsd the Pharisees of Old aud revolutionary
other eminent republicans, no longer fattened upon
the substance of the queched their thirst
with the dripping sweat Of patient toll. Our party
organization in the state grew stronger with its
Portunities thus afforded. the distribution of
wards and punishments facilitated the concentration
Of the control OF party machinery, much applause
showered upon party managers aroused some am
cratic president aud his subordinates to the verdict
Of ISIS their absolute retirement TO the walks OF
private and professional life their utter abstention
from any attempt TO psrPetuato cay factiOnal con-
troll in the party facilitated the schemes Of those who
sought TO bury the memory Of that administration
and its great achievements In political oblivion.
Throughout all this period the notion, however,
still prsvAiled that the democratic masses wsro the
rulers Of their party, and that leaders were placed IN
position not much % pose individual towers OF
strength TO obey orders
Suddenly, these leaders and managers selected
Washington's birthday for the patriotic purpose OF
asserting their ownership OF New York democrats,
and, amid curses and protests loud and deep, held
a snOwshoe convention at Albany. They sent dele
gates 20 present to the national convention, TO be
held four rnauths latar the chilled and barrel out
look of February the fuli-hOwered June senti-
ment of democrats in this state as 10 candidates,
upon platform which disOyally and enormously
represented New York democrats deliberately
ignoring the clean and sturdy record Of the only
democratic national administration that had blessed
our country in thirty years They played
Hamlet without any Hamlet.
The February convention was mistake from
every standpoint; In some aspects II was a crime,
indictabe at Chicago. such conventions according
70 party usage, held in April, late, or more
usually in May; none in modern times
beld 40 earlv No one before ever ATTEMPTED 10 put
the PARTY in hole by such device as February
convention. AZ that season OF the year caucus
material Is scarce and generally confined 20 the bad
quality that does sOmO ones bidding. When days
short nights long, roads Grted. snd the national
convention four months distant, the duty and pOlu-
cal occupation OF democrats In this state as else
where is TO watch and weigh the DRIFT OF events 10 be
students Of every phase OF passing political history,
10 seek conviction and 20 draw inspiration from the
air currents OF democratic sentiment that sweep over
Until their views are thus maturei aud they are
ready in the full sunlight OF such aration,
democrats will not be driven into caucuses or con-
ventiOps. especially into those designed as "snaps
The February Convention sianed by design 10
take advantage of this situation. aud by exclusive
and high-hEnded m thods OF preparation and manip-
ulaton sought 10 torcs upon democrats throughout
the Union the ambitious desire OF lew as the mai,
conclusive opinion Of al their brethren in New York
The delegates of that convention go to urge what
the politicians wanted In February; the delegates OF
this convention 20 state what the people OF New
York want now. They will shout for sham regular
ty and the forms, shadows and coverings of things
We will plead that justice equity and the substance
OF democracy be recognized having the better title
They will suggest that the danger OF defeat In NO
vember will dErken tho pathway which they do not
dictate We will insist that the assurance OF certain
victory will brighten the road whereon democrats
will march after that convention, behind It's
banner upon which shall be written In letters Of
living light sound democratic principles. and the
name of candidate Of whom those principles shall
be bone OF his bone aud flesh Of his hosh, whoever
he may be.
Itiswell at this time inquire what is democracy
and who democrats
Jefferson was democrat when he abolished entail
espoused the of relig ons freedom, advocated
simplicity, economy low taxation, kept bis relatives
OF Office and fought 10 the wall the gifted HAmil
ton, behind whom was mGrshaled the federalst
wealth OF the country, urging Capitalization OF power
and coquetting with the constitutional monarchy
idea The o. ). bank was genuine republican
party institution; 10 centralized the money power
Of the country; then It nurtured itself as political
factor and extended its reach by gifts % improve
ments subsidies 70 the press, by using pubic money
for private gain BY OaHing congressman the price
OF tlslT allegiance. and one SAID, by lnllng
discounts TO black eOckade federalists When jack
smashed that bank he was as truly democrat
as he patriot when he fought England AZ New
Orleans. Jackson did not select a. his antagonist in
war the smallest boy ia the shortest pants to be
found among the nations Of the earth. did Hsrri
son, when he buIlisd little Chilli the meant busl
ness while the other was just playing little politics
10 the gallery. But politicians denounced Jackson
they do one like him now; they said he would not
run With the machine. that he was disOrgaDizer,
that he independent Of the advice Of leaders
but Jackson stood Tor che people, Tor their rights
and for their wAy Of thinking; that Is what made
man a democrat then, and IL Is what makes n man
democrat now.
Tildsn. the elected but defr.ldod president gave
an Object lesson In pure democracy when hs drove
both republican aud democratic thieves out OF the
canals and out Of New lork.City government, puri-
bed the Judiciary and opposed the attempted green
back sp0liatiOn OF the currency. The politicians
quarre!ed with him about taking such local m9tters
the state convention they said il was ine pedi
ent; that IL would disturb harmony and hurt the
party. Tilden, however, combined political sa-
gacity with integrity, and the happened; the
party purified and strengthened. and won. with
him as the exponent Of true democracy. both in the
stats and nation.
Then came the admin Istrations Of Grover Cleve-
land at Albaay and at Washington. These exem-
plihed every noble tradition and every grand prnei
pie oil the democrats party; they redeemed our
promises TO give TO the country pure democratic
government; they bristlcd with what Governor sey-
mour called ''ugly honesty" When, however,
Grover Cleveland nailed his message OF 1887 beneath
tbs and stripes upon the flagstaff at the white
house, placed personal ambition behind him dehsd
democratic position upon this burning tariff ques-
ton frankly and squarely before the people he
lowered. n democrat, above all statesmen of this
generation rs the popular exponent Of that funda-
mental tenet Of democracy that this Is governments
Of the people, By the people, aud for the people
The disaster Of 1855 came because the people did
once see. they have since been learning
and more clearly 70 see, the right and wrong
OF this complicated tariff question, aud because Of
the corrupt OF money poured out BY the carnival
Of m0nopOlists. trusts and manufacturers. who
were subsequently, rewarded by the Mckinley tariff
Ne alw IL ID h.
disappointment 20 them. said UGH to
republican the other day. "Ohi yos," he an-
swsrsd "but We must wait At least Eve years to
Judge II fairly" replied, The business Of this
country will not wait hve years for anything, ueh
less for relief from oVerproduction aud the need Of
broader markets"
Mountaineering that the enormous crops Of the
past year and the unusual demand abroad for our
products have expanded the home market for our
anufacturers beyond all precedent II Is clear that
broader markets must come oyerprOd uetiOn will
swAmpour industries aud reduce still lower the
wages Of toll, which, as labor knows. have not inn
| proved as promised under the Mckinley law.
nation under protection Is az war with the
world. including itsef IL courts all the disasters
at home and abroad, which go hand In hand with
retaliation
AS has been said, We hurt ourselves as much as
possible by cutting ourselves OF from foreign mar
kes, because In retaliation Foreigners hurt them
selves much as possible BY cutting themselves Cd
/ from our markets.
When covered with a cast-Of garment Of free
trade called the reciprocity doctrine for voteeatehins
purposes. the total Of these hurts IS the
| summum bonum Of protectionists- The vsrnish OF
led reciprocity 10 too thin 10 up the de-
iects Of p-otsctiOn oil and water will not mix
Protection Is hold home market for ourselves
reciprocity Il to open IL TO iOregnersthe IL he