The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-09
HAS HURT THE A
w. W. Thornton Shows What De-
mOcraey Has Done for Indiana.
An Able Address Before an Enthusiastic
Meeting of the Fifteenth Ward
League Club.

There was an enthusiastic meeting OF the
Fifteenth-ward Lincoln League Club at
HOffman's Hall. on South Meridian street.
last night. The club has been organized
with a large membership in the very
stronghold Of the Democracy OF Indianap-
oils. w. w. Thornton was the principal
speaker OF the evening, and he made a
very interesting address on "The Democ-
racy OF Indiana" He said, in part:
There are several causes why the State
Of Indiana has been SO effectually held in
the clutches Of the Democratic party, but
the most potent one is due to the direction
Of emigration toward this State. The
northern part Of the State was peopled
either by New Englanders and New York.
ers or their descendants. while the South
ern part OF the State was settled by emf
grants from the Virginias and the Caro-
linas, Tennessee and Kentucky. Thus in
the early days OF the State more than
three-fourths OF the population lay south of
the National road, and consequently the
State went Democratic year after year.
After the war Of the rebellion the tide Of
emigration again set in from the Southern
States, and il is estimated that thirty thou
sand people from the States lately i'm re-
be!lion settled within the borders Of Indi-
ana After the war emigration from this
State also began, spreading to Minnesota
and other Western States. These enter
prising and pushing people who left were
almost entirely Republican. Many of the
soldiers went West To obtain the advan-
tages their war services gave them In
claiming land. These Western States have
until the last few years been almost over
whelmingly Republican. Thus it is the Re
publican party of this State has always
had to make a bitter fight TO gain a VIC
tory at the polls.
"The opportunities of the Democratic
party of this State for good have been
great, but the party has failed in the OPP
portunities. On three sides of us are great
States, all Republican, having within their
borders four cities greater than any DOS
sgssed by US. having greater population.
greater wealth. greater manufactures and
SIeater institutions of learning. Even the
BOURBON State OF Kentucky has a metrop-
OILS mat IS tail enough TO throw a shadow
natural resources than any of the neigh
boring states, nut her career under De-
mocraey has failed TO win for her the
place 10 which she is entitled. Indiana has
been cursed with Democracy.
hat nave our DEMOCRATIC members in
congress done for us? Have they secured
for us any public buildings? Have they Sc
cured for within our borders any of the
government public works? Every national
RAiNAho III Nlt cAdl " llt - VI
tne Postofhce Department has been built
Win money appropriated by Republican
CONGRESSES. The arsenal at Indianapolis,
the public works at Jacksonville and the
Soldiers Home at Marion We're secured by
the Efforts OF energetic Republicans in Con-
gresS. IL was through the efforts OF Re
publican Representatives that over 500. 900
was returned TO the treasury of the State
ana the bonds of the State prevented from
State has ever held. at the request of a
Democratic President, a Cabinet office:
has ever. been filled by an Indiana APP
pointee of a Democratic President. Thomas
hendricks, one of the great men of his
party, was turned down when he was a
candidate for the presidential nomination.
Although put on the tail of the ticket, the
State cast it's vote for Democracy. Isaac
7. Gray was also turned down. and the
prize he coveted given to Ohio. The De-
mocracy of the Nation has always turned
down the Indiana Representatives"
MIR. Thornton then showed how Gray had
been snubbed by Cleveland. who, evidently,
had but little respect for the Democracy of
the State. Gray was left out of the Cabi-
net and given a little mission down in
THE STATE DEMOCRACY.
"The Democratic party OF this State has
been, and is to-day. without spirit, with
out pluck TO resent any affront. Snubbed
and spurned by the national Democracy, it
trails along in the rear, like the historical
mule in the race with its name all knotted
diil u ldli tull " COChic DuTTS. COuudSI
the treatment of the Republicans of the
Nation with that of the Democrats by the
national Democracy"
The speaker referred to the election of
William Henry Harrison to the presidency,
the appointment of Ex-Governor White as
minister TO Berlin under Abraham Lincoln,
the choice of Caleb b. Smith and John T.
Usher as Secretaries of the Interior, Hugh
McCulloch as Secretary of the Treasury,
Schuyler ColfaX as Vice President, James
". Tyner as. Postmaster-general. Richard
w. Thompson as Secretary of the Navy,
Gen. Lew Wallace as minister to Turkey
John G. New Treasurer OF the United
States. and. finally. the election of Benja-
min Harrison as President of the United
States, with other citizens of the State
honored by him.
Does 1t pay best i'm Indiana to be a Re
publican or a Democrat asked Mr.. Thorn
ton. LET us turn to the affairs OF this
State. For twenty years the Democratic
party has had continuous possession of
vicious legislation ever put on the statute
books. When Governor Porter, a Repub-
lean. was elected. the Democratic Legis-
lature changed the law so as to keep the
appointments within their grasp. When
Gray was elected the appointing power was
again returned to the Governor. These
great Institutions are still filled with bench
men who hold their positions because. they
control "A few votes. AS a result OF this
vicious legislation, the unfortunate beings
who have been confined in our chief In
500 ASYLUM have been fed on maggoty
butter. moldy bread, unwholesome meat
and rotten vegetables furnished by Demo
cratic contractors. 1t was not until Repub-
Iicans were placed upon the Supreme Bench
of the State that the decisions OF that high
tribunal began 10 gain favor with the legal
profession outside of the state
eff there Is any one branch or the gov
eminent which gives character 10 the State
n is the LEGISLATURE. Limited alone by tine
Constitution, it is absolute, all powerful
From the foundation of the state until lS6l
the Democratic party had almost continu
ous control of both branches OF the Leg
islature. From 1913 10 the present date
with the exception of 1881, the Democratic
Marty has had control of the Senate. alb
solrfelv controlling ali legislation. and have
had control of the lower house with the
execution of three years. Cities that Were
Repnblican have been deprived or the APP
pointment and control over many OF thei
nfHcers- while cities that were Democratic
nave been left i'm full control OF all thei
movers. Laws have been enacted TO keeI
incompetent men in high offices. and whC
nave disgraced the positions they hlled bl
drunken revelry and debauchery.
Pev- MIR. Sawyer made a short talk. VII
liam Dean and John McGregor were ais
ON the programme of the evening.
$1,000 ,,.fap iu the Conn.