The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-21
JEwETT, sHEERIN AND HOLT.

VINO nave been held IN high esteem and
closely identified with party management
In recent years none have stood higher
than Charles L. Jewett, Simon p. Sheerin
and Sterling II. Holt. Mr.. Jewctt served as
Speaker of the Indiana House Of Repre-
sentatives and as chairman of the State
central committee. Mr.. Sheerin was for
many years a member of the Democratic
national committee, secretary of the COM
mittee and a positive political force in In
diana Mr.. Holt, after being prominent as
a political manager several years, was
chairman of the State central
until recently On the 25th Of September
Mr.. Jewett delivered a speech at CoIum-
bus, Ind, Nhich was one of the most DOW
erful and scathing arraignments of the
Chicago platform and candidates that has
teen made daring the present campaign. 1t
was a speech which no person has attempt
cd to answer, because it was unanswerable.
Mr.. Jewett treated the Chicago platform
as a deliberate betrayal of Democratic
principles. He said 1.-The very atmosphere in
which the convention met was charged
with the spirit of INSTRUMENTATION, treach-
cry and a departure from the time-hon-
ored principles of the party" He continued:
Observant men saw the beginning of the
end when our own State convention as
Sembled at Indianapolis. 1t the capital OF
the great Democratic State a party assem-
bled which III the past, SO far as the mem
DRY CT man extends. had been distinguished
for its fairness. tolerance, conservatism
obedience to party usages and adherence
to party principles. But in June all was
changed. Though thousands We're to COM
prise the convention, a midnight caucus
hotel settled ali questions of party policy.
For the first tir1e in the history of the pa
ty, tried and trusted men long associated
with It's fortunes sat silent in its councils,
even when they were g~raciously permitted
10 remain as mute spectators. The very
walls of the convention hall foreshadowed
the destruction of the ancient Democracy.
Among the trappingS of the hall there was
found no room for The hcnored fac of the
A. Hendricks, Joseph E.. Mcdonald or Isaac
p. Gray. These honored features were hid
den away out of sight because their very
presence would have been q rebuke to the
purposes proposed and the results there ac-
complished. We saw the chairman of the
state committee, a vigorous, earnest and
honest Democrat, driven from his place as
a ward delegate of the city of Indianapolis
at the beheSt of men who did not question
his election to the seat. but only coveted
it hat they might prostitute it. The gag
rule took the place of fair discussion. Pop
ullsm supplanted Democracy, ana the con-
vention was rich in promise of what was
afterward to occur at Chicago.
After reviewing the action of the Chicago
convention in detail Mr.. Jewett concluded
by repudiating the Popocrat platform and
candidate and declaring his purpose to sup.
port the Republican party and candidate.
Other Democrats who declined to be led
into the Populist camp might do as they
pleased, but he announced that as his in
tention.
On the 18th of October Mr.. Sheerin pub
lished a statement of which the following
was the opening sentence:
I regard the action of the Indiana Dem
ocratic State committee in retiring five of
the duly nominated Democratic electors
and supplying their places with five Popu-
lists, taken from the Populist electoral
ticket, as the most Infamous political pros
ceeding ever attempted or in
this State.
This was the text and keynote of a state
ment which, for moral courage, assertion
of principle, fiery denunciaton of political
treachery and clearness and force of die
ton has scarcely been equaled in the his
tory of ndian politics. Referring to the
mutilation of the electoral ticket and the
virtual abandonment of the Democratic
State ticket, Mr.. Sheerin said:
mat LnlS extraordinary unWdTTdnIeQ
and Notwithstanding action of the Indiana
State committee was taken by the direc-
ton and with the active cooperation of
the Democratic national committee gives
double emphasis to the necessity for its
prompt repadiation and punishment by ev
cry honest Democrat in the State.
Speaking for myself, l shall not vote the
Bryan-Sewall-Watson electoral ticket. l
owe much to the Democratic party of In
diana, and, having reached tie above eons
why 1 shall not do so. l am a Democrat
ard intend TO remain a Democrat. l am not
a. PoDulist and do not intend to become a
Populist. The vital principles OF the two
parties are Numerically opposed. There
can be no. coalition or fusion between them
upon principles.
Mr.. Sheerin, like Mr.. Jewett, repudiated
the Chicago platform and candidates and
advised Democrats to turn from the
blatant voice of the demagogue to the
small, still voice of conscience, each man
determining for himself wherein his duty
lies"
Mr.. Holt has published a statement in
which he reviews the recent action Of the
late Democratic party and declares it a
complete abandonment of Democratic prin-
ciples and surrender to Populism. He says
that, tested by the rules of party organiza-
ton as well as by sound principles, there
is not the slightest standing ground left
for the free-silver organization in Indiana
to claim the support of any Democrat"
He shows up the insincerity OF the Popo>
cratic candidate, exposes his partnership
with the silver trust and his previous sup
port of the Populist candidate, points out
the dangers of freo-silver coinage, denoun-
ces the Democratic-Populist fusion in this
State, and concludes by saying: II insist,
therefore, and say to the Democrats of
Indiana that as s~elf-respecting men they
are absolved from all duty to support the
alleged Democratic electors"
Messrs. Jewett, Sheerin and Holt have
more political sense. not to speak of con-
science than any dozen leaders of the
faction in Indiana. Their words
' i'll have great weight with self-respecting
Democrats.
THE ELWOOD OBJECT LESSON.
A l:z~o+af ~, I-Ivyoad cf0tnc that tho