The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-25
THAT YOUNG VOTERS VIEW.
Historic Facts Concerning the Party of
Lincoln, Grant and Garfield.

TO the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
In the Journal of the ed inst appears an
article by young voter In which 1 was
much interested, not so much on account
OF the excuse he offers for voting at the last
presidential election for a party which he
now virtually confesses is only "a party
OF negation' and entirely unfit to have
the control of government but on account
OF his evident honesty in making that con-
fession, while at the same time he seems not
to have discovered that he was as much
deceived in the premises on which he based
that action as he has since found himself
to be in the party which he then sup
ported. He says, 1.-THE choice was between
Democracy and Republicanism. There was
no other party that intelligent men could
support" l shall not take issue with him
on that point, but in giving his reasons
for not voting the Republican ticket he
continues:
The Republican party was no longer the
party of Lincoln of Grant, or of Garfield.
1t had become corrupt. 1t was responsible
Tor the most reckless pension extravaganza
iieved (whether rightly or wrongly to have
Deen guilty of the corrupt use of money
In large sums to influence elections. and
lastly, In the face of a general demand
Tor the reduction of protective duties IL
passed measure increasing those duties
become party of pension grabbers and
monopolStS."
Now, as this young man is evidently hon.
est in his opinions, judging from the general
tenor of his article, i will ask him from
what source he derived the information
which led him to the above conclusions
If he is candid will he not confess that
1t came from the same party whose incom-
potency he now deplores? Those who lived
through the administrations of Lincoln,
Grant and Garfield will readily recognize
an old familiar ring in the language the
young man has used, and could inform
him that many honest, well meaning young
men We're deceived et by the same misstate-
against the men he has mentioned. Had
he been giving attention to political mat
tiers in those days he would have heard all
three Of the men he mentions more fiercely
abused and DETAINED than any of the later
Republican candidates He would have been
same party which deceived him in 1892 that
the Republican party was a very ulcer of
corruption; that Grant was drunkard
and Garfield an embezzler; that the Repub-
lican Congress was a gang of political
thieves; that Republican policy would ruin
and bankrupt the country; that it was a
panderer to wealth and monopoly and the
foe of the common psople. All this, and
much more, he would have had dinned into
his ears with yigOr and perSiStency
that would have given him a much better
excuse chad he believed them) for voting
against the Republican party than he had
at the last election. l do not mention this
a perfect right to cast his first Vote against
the republican party IL ne did 1t according
to his honest convictions But what 1 wish
to assert is that II he believed in the party
of Lincoln, Grant and Garfield he had no
good reasons for voting against it in 1892.
But, he says, 1T was responsible for the
most reckless pension extravaganza in the
history of the world" Here, again. with
for his youth, feel impeled to say that had
he been man thirty years ago he, per
hapS would not to-day make this assertion.
He would have known that the struggle
for the preservation of the life of the Ma
ton, in which Lincoln, Grant and Garfield
sands of patriotic young men of that day,
was the greatest ever known lin the his
tory :, Of the world" He would: perhaps.
day, for he, too, doubtless, would have left
his, home to defend the flag which repre-
sents all the greatness glory and prosperity
of the country which is now his home He
too, might have sacrificed all his lifes ambi-
ton and expectations on the altar of his
country, and after that country was saved
and the great and glorious Union pre-
| served, if, luckily, he escaped death at the
hands of the enemies of his country. he. 100,
| might have returned to begin anew the
| struggle for subsistence, handicapped by dis
| ease and pushed aside by those who, while
| he was serving at the front of battle, We're
| winning homes and fortunes, protected by
| his breast from the bullets Of the enemy.
| Then he. too. would feel his cheek Jingle
| and his heart burn with Indignation when
| the children of a new generation, unable
! to comprehend his great sacrifice, caring
nothing for bis pains his poverty, should
| talk f1ippantly and gibly of 1.-The pension
| grabbers." Then he, too, while admitting
| the right of any voter to cast his ballot
| for the party of his choice without question
| or hindrance, might wonder that any young
| man, enjoying the fruits of this sacrifice
| should so far forget or ignore his obliga-
| lions to patriotism as to make it's friendli-
| ness toward the soldier excuse for vot-
| ing against the party which still holds him
| in remembrance. II. o. l..
Greenfield, Ind, Oct. "a.