The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-07
UNION B. HUNTS SPEECH
THE CANDIDATE HAS RECOVERED
AND Is BACK IN THE HARNESS.
Enthusiastic Turnout of Citizens at
Hartford City to Hear "A Fine
Republican Discussion.
Special 10 the Indianapolis journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
HARTFORD CITY, Ind, Oct. 6.-Union
Banner Hunt, Republican candidate for sec
rotary of state, addressed the Republicans
of Blackford county at the opera house here
tonight. The opera house was crowded to
its capacity and the utmost enthusiasm was
manifested. Mr.. Hunt made an eloquent
appeal and presented the issues in a MASTER
ly way. The l.. A. 300 Band, composed of
window-glass workers, furnished the music.
His speech was pronounced one of the best
ever delivered in this city. He held the at
tention of his audience for nearly two hours
and half
Mr.. Hunt devoted a portion of his speech
to review of politics in general, expressing
the opinion that in November the voters
would sustain President Mckinley and his
administration. He declared that the issues
of thirty years ago were dead, and that
the issues now presented by the Democratic
party were not such as to meet favor at
the hands of the voters, the bungling of the
party in the past having caused a distrust
which will stand in the way of restoring it
to favor. He made strong plea for con-
| tinuance of the present money standard
Coming to state issues, he said:
THE Republicans of Indiana not only
proud of William Mckinley and his admin
lStration OF national affairs, but are also
proud of Indianas Republican Governor,
James A. Mount, and his splendid admin
istration OF the affairs OF this great COM
monw ealth. Governor Mount is a man of a
clear brain and an honest heart, who by
his genius. industry and honesty has
reached the proudest position that could be
given MIN by the people OF Indiana. he is
honest and has the courage of his convic-
tons in all things; he has brought to the
discharge OF the duties or his office the same
nd i1T6o a
terized his private lie, ana his adminiStra-
ton ranks with the best Indiana has had,
and has resulted in a large saving OF money
TO the people OF the State tie has con-
scientiously carried out every pledge made
by the platform on which he was elected.
The state debt of Indiana was handed down
to us a Democratic legacy, being en-
tirely created by the Democratic party, and
one year and a half of Republican bust
ness administration has reduced this debt
$4,000 Notwithstanding the fact that there
has been reduction of % per cent. in the
state tax rate. And as the Republican plat
form puts it, an army OF 1OOO men mas been
| equipped and put in the field at cost of
| 100000 The laws have been enforced and
the name of Indiana honofed throughout
the land. The state officers made their
campaign on the promise that the fees and
perquisites so long given to the officers
should be turned into the treasury, and
Republican Legislature enacted this idea
into law. That law has been faithfully en-
forced. Prior to the coming into Office OF
the present auditor of state every one OF
of all insurance fees and taxes, but because
of Republican legislation this money now
goes into the treasury. The present auditor
of state has collected from this source S15,-
64S being $251 1893. IA more than was collected
by the Democratic auditor, or, to put 1t In
another way the taxpayers OF the state
were saved $251 1884 by the diligence and
careful business methods of a Republican
administration The state debt is disappear
ing because honest Republican laws are be-
ing enforced by good, honest business Re-
publican officials. If this policy is continued,
| and it will be- the state debt will be entirely
wiped out and the people will have the Re-
publican party to thank for their release
| from this great burden and from the enor-
nous interest that they have been paying
for so long. Our state benevolent inStitu-
tons were never better managed than now
under bipartisan methods introduced by the
Republican party.
THE infamous gerryma nder by which a
large number of our people were disfran-
chised in legislative matters has been over
thrown and a just and equitable appor-
tionment law has been enacted in its stead.
The last Republican Legislature enacted
many wise measures, among them fee and
salary law, which. while it may have some
defects. in the main is just and right, and
has resulted in saving large sums of money
to the people of the State. 1t passed the
factory inspection law for the protection
of the life and health of employees and pro-
hibting child labor. In addition to this
labor commission was created providing Tor
the settlement of disputes between employ
err and employed, and many other good laws
were enacted. These are some of the things
to which the Republicans of Indiana invite
your attention in state affairs, and we be-
iieve that the people will give to them their
hearty approval.
Mr.. Hunt devoted considerable time to a
review of the war with Spain, tracing its
causes and declaring it was not and should
rot have been a political war, and claim
ing that it has again been demonstrated
that the honor and integrity of the country
are safe in the hands of the Republican
party. Continuing, he said
Il repeat that whatever of politics has
crept into this war the Democratic leaders
in Congress are responsible for. said in
the beginning that l believed the great body
of the Democratic party was made up or
honest patriotic men, and l do believe II.
/ believe that you, my Democratic friends,
who are listening to me now, are honest and
patriotic. and for this reason believe you
will by your vote and influence rebuke your
party leaders for their un-American and ur-
patriotic conduct. From the very beginning,
with the single exception Of the one appro-
priation, their course has been marked by
unreasoning opposition to everything the
administration has undertaken. They sought
to force the recognition of the so-called
Cuban republic which every one must now
admit would have been exceedingly unwise,
but the President said No. They sought
to force us into war when we were absolute
ly unprepared, but the President said No
When he asked them to have confidence and
be patient they answered by calling him
traitor and coward. The President knew
his ground. however, and refused to be
stampeded, but when the time for action
arrived the blow was struck, and struck with
such wisdom and power that the whole world
looked in establishment, and the ours that
had been Snarling at the President were for
the time being awed into silence With such
wisdom and dispatch did the administration
move that the voice of Islander was stilled,
and even Democratic newspapers gave a
grudging commentator. No fault could be
found with the conduct of the war.
Throughout the course Of the President had
been wise conservative and patriotic. The
war was ended. the blue and gray were
meeting in reunions everywhere Congress
had passed a, law removing the political dis
abilities from the few Confederates who
were yet under the ban. and the people
thought that an era of peace and universal
good feeling had come to bless the land,
but this was not to be. The DEMOCRATIC
newspapers and politicians of the United
States, and especially of Indiana, thought
they saw an opportunity TO make political
capital out of the alleged ill-treatment OF
the soldiers and they were willing to take
advantage of it even If their outrageous
falsehoods should dim the glory OF the
splendid achievements of the war. With
them ii was n matter of politics in the
beginning, and II is matter of politics now.
They care not for the glory that has come
to our flag. They are willing that the world
shall believe that the commanders of our
armies are incompetent and dishonest. and
that our soldier boys are disioyal weaklingS
II out OF 1t all they can gain political adj