The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-08-01
INDIANA SPEAKS.

If any doubt has existed as to the at
titude of the Indiana democracy with
reference to the controversy between the
trusts and the people now in progress at
Washington. it will be removed by the
publication in The Sentinel this week
of interviews with many hundred rep
resentative democrats in nearly all the
counties of the state. The Sentinel. with
no other desire than to obtain full, fair
and free expression Of the democratic
sentiment of Indiana upon the over
shadowing question Of the moment, in
structed its reporters and correspondents
to make a canvass among democrats Of
every walk in life-not only office-hold-
ers and Office-seekers. but merchants,
manufacturers. lawyers. doctors, railroad
men. farmers, mechanics and laborers-
and to report exactly what they said
upon the pending issue. without any
coloring whatsoever
The results are before our readers.
They show that the democrats Of In
diana are practically unanimous in sup
port of the Wilson bill, and in condemna-
ton of the amendments made TO that
measure by the senate in the interest of
the sugar trust, the whisky trust and the
coal and iron combines. Scarcely voice
is raised in behalf of the senate bill. and
not one man was found who Endorsed
Brice and Smith. The sentiments of the
presidents bold and patriotic letter to
Chairman Wilson are universally in
dorsed. and but few ventured to question
its expediency or timeliness, although a
number expressed the opinion that 1t
ought to have been written sooner. As
to the duty of the house, a large majority
agree with Governor Matthews that It
should stand firm. and that a failure Of
any tariff legislation at this session is
preferable to the acceptance of the trust
schedules
There is no doubt that the gentlemen
whose views are expressed in our col
umns this morning reflect accurately the
prevailing democratic sentiment in their
respective communities. The democrats
of InGiana are thoroughly educated on
the tariff question. They believe in the
Chicago platform of 1892, and they be-
Iieve that such a radical departure from
its letter and spirit as that which Sena-
tors German. Brice and Smith are trying
to force upon congress involves a gross
breach of faith. which VIII not only invite
party disaster, but which is likely to en-
tail the gravest consequences upon the
country We believe that the great
masses of the democracy in other states
share these views. and that however
great an Improvement the senate tariff
bill may be over the Mckinley abOmina-
ton. it yet falls so far short of the
pledges made to the country by the dem
ocrartic party in 1892. and its preparation
has been attended by so much Of scandal
and disgrace. that It's acceptance by the
house, under the circumstances. would
prove a greater misfortune to the demo-
cratic party and a more serious evil to
the country than a failure TO pass any
bill. The party and the country will
know where to place the responsibility
for such failure. The senatorial tools
Of the trusts have been fully Identified.
The people know that the president of the
United States and the house of repre-
sentatives have kept faith with them,
and that the democratic senators, with
three or four dishonoralble exceptions,
would have done their duty had they
been free agents. The people are for
tariff reform today, as they were in 1892.
and if the highwaymen of the senate
block the road now they will sweep them
aside in the near future and march for
ward to the ultimate goal OF absolute
commercial liberty.
As for Indiana. her message to the
house is: No surrender.