The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-23
THE USION DEAL IN INDIANA.
A Shameless and Unwa INT Piece
of Political Folly.
Miami County Sentinel (Dem.)

~N oSAAIAAlCl tACCih(
The action Of the Democratic State GEN.
trail committee, which has resulted in re-
moving five of the regularly selected DEM
ocratlc electors, has caused many Demo-
Gratis who We're disposed to support the
Chicago nominees on the ground of 'regu-
larity" to pause with apprehension as to
the fna.ity of as shameless and unwar-
ranted piece of political folly as has ever
been committed in the name Of Democ-
racy.. In view of the conduct herein mani
tested it Is not surprising that thousands
or Democrats In Indiana should be led
TO the conclusion that the only way that
Democracy can survive this master stroke
of political villiany Is to stamp with disap.
proval the trattorouS conduct of those who
would destroy the Democratic party, with
all of Its sacred principles, by surrenderfng
to as dangerous and as constituencies an
aggregation of indictments as have ever
threatened the peace and happiness of our
Republic. Thoughtful Democrats may Well
ask themselves whittier are we drifting?
They may well pause long enough in the
mao rush to a fanaticism that seems to be
the result of a diseased pubic conscience,
to study carefully the problem which is
fraught with SO much anxiety to those
who have the welfare of the country at
heart. In view of the impending danger
not only to the principles of Democracy,
but to the Democratic organization as 1t
has existed for more than a century, 1t IL
not surprising that SO sterling a Democrat
and SO worthy a citizen as Simon p. Sheer
in should have arrived at the conclusion
that his duty as a Democrat and as Il
patriotic citizen lies not with those who
seek not only the destruction of the Dem
CCfdllc purity, nut as wen civil ipeltS, DUl
with the Democrats who have, renounced
Populism as agreed upon through the con-
junct conuivance of political reprobates.
The action of the Democratic State CEN
trail committee and the national. Demo-
PopuliSt committee Is q manifestation or a
most depraved moral sentiment. 1t is a
moral sentiment which subordinates pubilc
welfare to partisan success: which resorts
to tricks and chicane which debauch the
public conscience; which demands that no
one must surrender his convictions at the
behest of q party organization. Such a
sentiment is little more than a gre
1t would make the highest political mo-
tive of the party organization the plumber
of office: it would demand Of its members
that they make everything SubserVient 10
the personal ambitions of the few, whose
policy, that the end j~ustifieS the means,
would encourage ignoble oblivion to truth
and an indifference to the In
terestS of the Nation. 1t would fill the Of
fees for the payment of political debts with
the degenerates of Populism and rely for
success upon cunning manipulation rather
than upon the political education of the
masses; while it creates hatred for indie
pendent opinion and would ostracise all
who believe in Independent action for the
preservation of tine-honOred principles.
These are the political methods which find
candidate for the neutrality-suspicious. the
outgrowth of a low grade of moral senti-
ment which grows in the atmosphere
charged with low eXpediencieS and sordid
aims, from which all high and ennobling
ideals, such as Democracy has fed upon in
racy of Indiana will never submit to this
political crime of the century. They Will
assist in saving the Nation from the dis
honor which threatens 1t.