The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-12

party question. The Democratic party Of
the State will not sanction Republican or
cred in Democratic or Republican munich
palties, and ii is an insult TO the inteiii-
gence OF the people to assume otherwise.
We refuse to be placed upon the defensive
upon false issues. The plain truth is that
the police department Of New York city
is a nonpartisan, or, rather. bipartisan
department, governed by civil service rules,
and that the irregularities or abuses re-
Gently exposed have already implicated
more Republican than Democratic police
officials, and that such exposures have been
followed by prompt dismissals from the
force and prompt prosecutions at the IN
stance of Jealous Democratic city and coun-
1T is idle to think that State election
can be made to turn upon such purely local
matters 1t has not escaped public atten-
ton that the partisan Lexow committee
has not sought TO discover any police
abuses in any Republican cities of the
State and with such unfair determinations
the people will not tolerate any attempt
to make partisan capital out OF the re-
suits OF only a partial investigation.
Neither do they propose to permit any old
issues entirely disposed Of to engross our
attention in this campaign. The question
whether the Democrats properly or i'm
properly, regularly or irregularly, secured
control of the State Senate in 1891 is pow
der already burned which cannot be util-
lied again to the advantage of our adver-
saries. The manner in which single sena-
torial district was for two snort years OBJ
tanned is overshadowed by the greater liv-
ing question as to whether our opponents
by an unjust constitutional apportionment
shall obtain the control Of the whole Leg
islature for all time to come. do not in
tend to thresh old straw over again, but
desire simply to suggest that the Demo
Gratis had fairly carried the State ticket in
1881 by 1900 majority, anc no legal quibbie,
no technicalities and no harsh construc-
tions of judicial orders should have been
permitted TO deprive them of the control
OF the Legislature, to which, under such
circumstances, the dominant party was
fairly entitled, and whether any law was
strained or not, justice did In fact prevail
The Republicans last fall accidentally
obtained control of the constitutional con-
vention and have proceeded to place an
districts in their constitutional amendments
to be submitted to the people at this cleo
ton, The control OF this convention wss
itself obtained by deception. The Repub-
lican delegates in several cities solicited
support not as Republicans, but as reform
ers and promised nonpartisan action. The
election last fall in this State was itself
proclaimed as reform, rather than a Re-
publican triumph but no sooner did the
convention convene than all disguses were
thrown off and Republican partisanship be-
came rampant.
The Senator spoke at length on the pro-
posed apportionment, claiming that ii was
unfair and partisan, and closing the topic
with this sentence: 81 appeal to our party
friends everywhere to arise TO the danger
which confronts them in this matter and,
laying aside prejudice, disappointments and
preferences, unite together to preserve the
lie ol our party now seriously lmperlled.'
A p. A. CONDEMNED.
Regarding the. A. p. A, Senator Hill
said: Il condemned in my speech at Sara
toga and 1 condemn here also that un-
American spirit which is insdiousy fasten-
ing itself upon portions of our communities,
which seeks to set up a religious test as one
of the qualifications for public Office in this
country. ANY organization, secret or other
wi hic oh; IT,,
serves the execration of every good citizen.
1t is useless to deny the fact that sympathy
for this intolerant spirit has found much
support in Republican circles. much en-
couragement In the Republican press and
much aid at the polls in strong Republican
localities. 1t is also a significant fact
which cannot well be explained away, that
the recent Republican State convention. al
though urgently requested to do so de-
liberately refused to incorporate any pro-
vision in the Platform condemning such an
un-American policy of intolerance. Such a
provision would have been very appropriate
at this time, in fact, was absolutely de-
manded by every consideration Of patriot
ism.
I'm the national Constitution which our
fathers framed it was wisely provided that
no religious test shall ever be required as
qualification to any office or public trust
Under the United States This proposition
reflected the wisdom of our early states,
showed their true patriotism. This sacred
constitutional provision prevents the enact
ment of any federal statute creating a re
ligious test for public position, but, of
course, IL does not and cannot prevent pro-
scripJion by individuals, associations or po-
litical parties. That must be regulated by
yoke at this time in opposition to the ris-
ing spirit Of intolerance which we observe
cropping out on every hand.
Let me read to you what that great [
Western statesman Stephen A. Douglas.
said in speech at Philadelphia on JuIy 4
lS54, when knownothingism was then ram
mr. No A~sf. IL
on account of his birthplace or religious
faith is subversve of all our ideas and
principles of civil and religious freedom
After quoting the constitutional provision to
which l have referred he further said
This provision was adopted unanimously.
1t was the common ground of justice and
equality upon which all religious denomina-
tions could stand in harmony and security.
1t expressed in plain language the true
ness and necessity Of which had been thor
oughly vindicated in the history and expert
ence of each of the colonies 1t was heart
lily concurred in by. Protestant and Catho-
lie, by Puritan and Cavalier, by Quaker
and Hugenot, and all denominations agreed
upon this great principle as a platform, a
common ground upon which they and their
descendants in all future time could and
would stand in the bonds of brotherIy af-
fections. / can add nothing to these splen-
did sentiments.
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
81 deny the oft-repeated statement that
eAAS DeiioSiotiS party IL justly responsible
| for the hard times through which the
| country has just passed. The financial
| panic of last year and the succeeding hard
| times were the results of Republican
| legislation enacted during Mr.. Harrison's
| administration You know who passed the
Sherman silver bill and the Mckinley bill
| and one was as detrimental to the finance.
| of the country as the other. One exhausted
the surplus-especially the gold of tn,
| treasury, to purchase silver bullion to b.
| stored in the treasury commodity-anC
| the other by its nigh prohibitory dute.
| port the government.
| The Mckinley bill a complete failure
| 1t virtually broke down during the las
| year of the Harrison administration. tn.
| receipts were so meagre that the expendi
| lures of the government nearly exceeded il.
| revenues. Drafts made upon the Treasur.
| Department were not promptly met, anon,
| others, drafts for the payment OF money!
| due for pensions, as accounting officer
| well recollect. and a system OF transfers o
| balances from different subtreasuries be
came necessary and was entered upon
| which gave excuse for delay In settle
| ment Of government claims when, in trutl
| and in fact, the Nation for the time bein,
| was virtually bankrupt, because the avail
| able funds had been used to carry out tn
| provisions of the Sherman silver law an,
the Mckinley law failed to produce the re
| quired revenues. These conditions kept get
| ting worse until the Sherman law was re
| pealed, and they were not fully relieve
What has been the result since then? wit
! these two obnoxious statutes repealed tn
country is now entering upon better times
| Money is easier, trade Is reviving manu-
facturers are resuming operations, new
enterprises are starting up and eyerywher
| lG "a y n ~ ~ Of