The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-21
SAYS THE WAR is NOW OVER
CALLS THE PRESIDENTS APPEAL
FOR SUPPORT A SILLY PLEA,
And Says the People Distrust an Adj
Investigate Itself.


thusiasm of the people was extraordinary.
When the former Governor stepped to the
front of the stage the cheering was deaf
ening, and the women in the boxes and all
over the house waved their nandkerchiefs.
The applause was continued for several
minutes, and it was renewed again and
again. Mr.. Hill spoke as follows:
The paramount issue in the present cam
paign is that of honest government. There
are no war issues, so-called, to divide or
embarrass the people. The achievements
and glories OF the recent war with Spain
belong not to any political party but to the
whole country. This fact should be every
where conceded; but if there is a DISPOSE
ton to inject partisanship in the considera-
ton of the inception or results of that war
we need not shirk from comparison with
our opponents. We may recall the plain
facts If history. The people have not for
gotten the great struggle in the halls of
Congress less than year ago which pre-
ceded the declaration of wharf.-the fact that,
with a few honorable EXCEPTIONS all the
earnest pleas for intervention in behalf of
Cuban liberty were uttered by Democratic
leaders; the arbitrary refusal for months
of Republican speaker backed by the
dominant majority, to even consider the Gu
ban question at all; the steady, persistent
&nl determined efforts of the Democratic
minority to force the Cuban question to
the front, aided by the powerful Democratic
press of the country and backed by the pa
triotic sentiment of the people, until at last
their efforts were crowned with success and
a halting and reluctant administration was
forced 10 lnaugurate war in behalf of hui
manlty and civilization to which it at
heart opposed.
You have not forgotten the cold and
unSympathetlc message of President Nc
kinney in December last opposing Cuban
intervention of any kind, exaggeratng the
difficulties in the way and unnecessarily re-
minding Congress and the people of our
neutral obligations. You have not forgotten
the attitude of Senator Hanna the War
wick of the present administration as we'll
as the mead of its financial syndicate, fresh
from his senatorial. triumph at Columbus
purchased by bribery and corruption, who
sent to the President in answer to his con-
gratulatory telegram the famous or rather
infamous, message. God reigns and the Re-
publican party still lives and who, with
tears in his big eyes. was pleading at Wash
ington for peace at any price and lament
ing the threatened disturbance of the bust
ness interests of the country by so unneces-
sary war. Neither need / remind you of
the dire predictions and lamentations of
other Republicans high in the councils of
the party. who in those momentous days
enthusiasm which was sweeping over the
land and protesting that their party was
being dragged into unholy foreign war
by their INSCRIPTIONS opponents.
But now that this cruel war is over
and American valor has easily triumphed
on both sea and land and the American
flag proudly floats over our newly acquired
territory-never, as it is fondly hoped to lie
lowered again--these postwar patriots who
never lifted their voices in behalf of Cuban
HDerty when that cause was in dire dis
tress and needed friends. come forward and
with unbecoming haste. not simply to share,
put to monopolize all the glories of the war.
NJ tor H. ~
pew down to the village oracle, are per-
ambulating the State fighting over again
with their tongues the few battles of the
war giving vivid descriptions of war scenes
winch they did not witness, and detailing
Warlike events which never occurred,
seeking vague and imaginary issues rather
than confronting those actually existing.
Even the distinguished Republican cam
dldate for Governor. in one of his recent
war would be regarded as having been
1ought In vain If a Democratic victory
should now occur. This is the first sugges-
ton which | have heard from so high a
source that the late war was Republican
war. or that 1t was waged in the interest
or for the benefit of any political party.
OFFICIAL or individual. Democratic soldiers
as Well as civilians will resent the offensive
ana unt1mely suggestion 1t was the Ma
tons war, undertaken, not for political eff
feet. but for liberty's salSe-for the sake of
numamty-for the defense of the national
ponor; a just and righteous war which
overshadcwed all political considerations,
and 1t will not have been fought in vain
nor will its glorious results be obscured'
dimmed or affected by the success or de-
party, much less of that party which is
held in public estimation largely RESPONSE
BILE for compelling the inauguration of that
lit is said that the President must be
sustained. This is a silly plea at this stage
of events. The conflict has ceased: no
armed forces confront us anywhere. and
we are virtually debating our own terms of
peace. No dangers confront the country,
h1 IL -
our own sefishness or incapacty and, I'M
der such circumstances, appeals to our pa
triotfsm to sustain an adverse admnistra-
ton with which we do not agree, must be
regarded as unwarrantable and childish.
During the continuance of the struggle the
appeal was pertinent and was most patri-
oticaIly answered Never in the history of
the Nation was a President more loyalty
supported by an opposition party and by
the people generally than during the recent
conflict. Men, supplies and money were
voted al libitum. Democrats We'd with Re-
publicans in the endeavor to give the adj
mlnlstratiOn everything it desired; and
while differences of opinion necessarily
arose as 10 the methods and details. there
was out one common purpose manifested.
winch was to assist the President in every
iegltlmate way in vigorous prosecution Of
the war. That duty having been abund-
antly discharged there is now no obligation
IsstnS upon anybody to sustain the ma
tional administration, unless we really APP
prove its policy.
While a blind approval of an administra-
tlon, whether il is right or wrong may be
eNacted IN times of war. no such rule pre-
Ndlis III times or peace. 1t is no impeach-
menu OF the loyalty or patriotism of the
people that they decline to condone the i'm
competency, the negligence the favoritism
ana the corruption which characterized the
conduct OF some of the departments of the
government, especially since the close of
the war resulting in much privation suf-
fering and death, saddening the glorious
memories of the conflict. and demanding an
official investigation. They naturally dis
trust an administration which desires to in
vestigate itself, and they insist with much
pr0prlety, that the peoples reDresenfa fives
In Congress assembled constitute the nroner
tribunal for the conduct of such an investi-
cation.
solve the new and interesting problems
arising out of the terms of settlement with
Spain will determine what governments
shall he formed. what territory. if any shall
be actually annexed, what rela ton shall
exist between our own and the newIv-
reference TO the solemn promise contained
in our declaration of war: these questions
cannot be said TO be political issues i'm the
ordinary sense of that term, because they
have not become certainty parties cam
not be- divided on them; they have not vet
been appropriately or legitimately presented.
and their discussion seems premature
Neither does the proposed increase of our
army. the further strengthening of our
navy. the duty which We owe TO our voIun-
teers, the greatness of our common country
or the necessity for the preservation OF its
honor furnish tangible issues Of any Inn
portance. because they are subjects on
which the people are substantially united
Il may crafty the vanity of idle men and
uippant orators to seriously discuss such