The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-20
The Georgia Mans Unaccountable Insult to
the New Secretary State.


the New Secretary OF State.
New York Sun.
A second.class newspaper in Atlanta.
which Is said to be owned and controlled
by the alleged HOke Smith, or Hoax Smith.
undertook on Saturday last to define
Judge Gresham's political status. Speak
ing with O somewhat amusing sense of re-
spOnsibility for the new Cabinet. the mys-
ferrous H0ke explains that Judge Gresham
is mot only q typical Western man, but
representative of the large class OF men in
that section who have abandoned the Re-
to the Democracy"
Concerning Judge Gresham's latitude
and longitude politically in 1888. the i'm
possible HOke offers this statement:
The Republican party in 1888 nominated an
extreme protectionist and placed him on high
tariff platform. Judge Gresham could not ap-
prove the platform and did not support the
nominee. He did not vote In the November
election OF 1888.
This assertion of Hoke's is not only false
it il also insulting to the distinguished
gentleman whom Mr.. Cleveland has chosen
to be his Secretary of State.
The proof that it is false 10 furnished by
Judge Gresham himself. in the letter
which he wrote Ill days ago. affirming that
he had always been Republican and still
believed that Republican could vote for
Mr.. Cleveland without joining the Demo-
cratic party.
1T is not true." wrote Judge Gresham on
the 9th of last October. that / voted for
Mr.. Cleveland in 1888. voted the Repub-
llcan ticket at every presidential election
since the party was organized, except in
1854, when L was not able to 90 to the polls. ~
H0ke insults Judge Gresham when he
falsely ASSERTS that a Republican emf
nent withheld from the nominee of the Re-
publican convention of 1888 his 81 pport and
his vote. Judge Gresham himself a
candidate for nomination at that Repub.
lioan convention. On the first ballot he
had Ill votes, and In numerical strength
be was second only to John Sherman in
In with thirty-one more votes than Benla-
min Harrison, and uD TO the eighth and
last ballot. on which Harrison was NOM
mated. Judge Gresham's following In the
convention was not much reduced. AS o
candidate. he kept up the fight to the end.
As to Hoko's false statement that Judge
Gresham could not approve the platform OF
1883. and therefore did not support or vote
for the man who had beaten him In the
convention, it Ia quite enough to remind
tho public that the platform said to have
been so obnoxious to him was adopted be-
fore the ballottlng began. 1t was after
the adoption of this platform rs the party's
declaration of faith, that Judge Gresham
kept up his fight for the nomination
throughout the eight ballots If Judge
Gresham had succeeded in beating Gen.
Harrison he would have run for President
upon no other platform than that which
MIR. Hoke Smith falsely asserts was so hate
ful to him that he withdrew his support
from his successful competitor! If Judge
| Gresham had been unable to approve tho
Republican platform of 1888. he would
never have allowed his name TO stand dur
| ing ell of the eight ballots As candidate
for the nomination upon that same plat
| form.
IL Mr.. Hoke Smiths statements about
Judge Gresham were true. they would eX-
| hlbit the Judge as u greedy. crupulous
| and selfish otfice-seeker. lacking the faint
est conception Of the elementary principles
| of political consistency and personal
| honor. But Mr.. Hoke Smith's statements
are untrue, as We have here cOncluslvely
shown.