The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-06

Evil Wrought by False Doctrines and
PretentiOus ~Incapacity.
New York Sun.

AVN" u Odiis
We have been suffering in this country
for many years past from the croaiing of
a school OF political critics and pretentious
reformers. They have been steadily en-
gagged IN sowing the seeds of popular dis
content by attributing to corrupt motives
the political support OF economic policies
with which they happened to disagree.
They have been preaching III season and
out of season that these policies were adj
vocated and adopted solely for the enrich
ment Of the few, with the result, as they
alleged, that 1.-The hopes of toll were
Knocked"
These men nave assun.ed to be political
philosophers. publicists. teachers peculiarly
fitted to instruct the people by reason OF
their special knowledge, their or1i-
nary purity of character, and their unas-
sailable social excellence. They ridiculed,
aspersed and denounced political leaders
who had enjoyed the confidence OF great
bodies Of the people, and whose influence
had been conservative; and thus they have
succeeded in impairing, a previous RESPECT
that was salutary n necessary They
have committed persistently the political
crime of assailing motives. as their sus-
picious natures Imagined them to be. in
stead of dealing with facts and doctrines
as they We're actually accomplished or pro-
taught the public that the course of legis-
lation is determined solely by mean and
sordid, unintelligent ard uninstructed rep
resentatives who sought to further their
own interests and those of monopolies with
which they were allied, rather than to pro-
mote the interests of the people and the
i welfare Oh the ffepuDllC. III SplTlI tDelT dp-
peal to popular suspicion and discomfort
has been akin to that which was adopted
by Bryan in his campaign. Its purpose in
both cases has been to uproot public con-
fidence in political leaders previously es-
teemed, and policies hitherto believed in.
and to substitute for 1t distrust and dis
quiet. .,o I'D
solidity of parties, so desirable as a con-
sentative influence. and to generate in its
place a disposition TO whimsical and cranky
revolt. They ave labored to subordinate
great political questions to petty consider
atoms of individual character and mere
could to pervert the public mind by max.
ing the issue of politics men instead. OF
principles, an utterly un~republican under
taking and directly opposed to the genius
of our institutions.
1t was easy to get a response to that sort
of appeal. 1t is not difficult to stir up dis
content and create suspicion: and hence
these mischievous doctrinaire teaching sue
ceeded far beyond their real desert as mer
of intellectual ability; or. rather, deserving
only reproach. they have obtained a re-
spectfui hearing even from people who
deem themselves qualified TO uplift the
political standards, but are really more def
cient i'm political Judgment than the aver
age citizen of common sense. They meant
we'll. doubtless. but the fruit of their teach
int into H the pulpit as teachers When their true
place is on the bench as pupils.
We hope healthier influences will prevail
hereafter and that greater enlightenment
| will come to the political philosophers who
have been mischievously fomenting sedition
while they imagined they were raising the
| people to the eminence Of wisdom occupied
by themselves.
This government has been controlled by
different policies, opposing political doc
trines; but from the first 1t has invariably
been a government of the people and for
the good Of all the people. as those max
| ing its laws honestly and sincerely believed
Our politics and our political methods
have been steadily improving and be-
coming purer. At no past period in our
history were our public men more entitled
to confidence because of their statesman