The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-11
statement and RESOLUTIONS.


tie demonstrations of approval. They fol-
low.
This mass meeting of Ohio Republicans
sends greetings TO the people of the State
OF Ohio and declares that, notwithstanding
the verdict of the people of this State in
favor of the Republican party and its cam
didates expressed in the November cleo
ton after fair, fun and comprehensive
discussion OF all issues involved, 1t is now
discovered that a conspiracy, organized and
promoted outside of the members of the
General Assembly, has been formed TO
thwart that expressed VIII. Designing n1en
IN the State of Ohio are making strenuous
efforts, which we do not care 70 specla ly
characterize. TO the accomplishment OF the
various purposes of this nefarious scheme.
The conspiracy cOntemplateS, and mas
for its ultimate purpose, the transfer to the
Democratic party, without limitation, the
control of the organization of the Senate,
and to take from the regularly constituted
majority of the House the control of its
organization, and to confer upon the Demo-
ratio party power to limit and crcumvent
Republican legislation and thereby make
possible such legislation as is desired by the
parties TO the combination
1T contemplates the defeat of the Hon.
Marcus A. Hanna, the regularly nominated
candidate of the Republican party or the
State for senator of the United states, ana
it contemplates the sending TO that body of
either a free-silver Republican, pledged to
stand by the interests and principles of the
men who elect him, or the election or a
Democrat. or both.
THE scheme further comprehends and
proposes to reapportion the state for con-
gressiOnal purposes. to the end that an aG-
ditional number of Democrats may be elect
ed to the Fifty-sixth Congress and in that
way defeat the purposes Of the Republican
party which carried the country in 1876
in favor of William Mckinley for president
and the sound-money and protectiVe-taTlH
views of the great party to when we De-
Further than this, this scheme contem-
plates the ripping up of the judicial dis
fricts OF the State, to the end that faith
fr11 ind turned
their places given to Democrats, and DIS
are now prepared for both the foregoing
purposes.
And still further we believe and charge
that there is in contemplation such trans
fer of power through legislation to GER
tain men connected with this conspiracy
that evil consequences viii accrue TO the
people of the State.
Unconscious, as we would fain believe,
of the scope and far-reaching consequences
Of their acts. certain members of the Legs
lature, elected as Republicans and by he-
publican votes, and pledged TO Repuohcan
interests, have been so far misied as 10 JON
in making possible the success of this con-
spiracy thus far Now, for the purpose or
arresting the further progress of this bane-
ful conspiracy and TO prevent It's complete
and most important accomplishment, we APP
peal 10 every Republican member OF the
General Assembly, to every Republican OF
the State OF Ohio. and to every person in
terested in the fair name of the state or
Ohio. to use their influence that furtner
progress may be now checked and thWarted-
We recognize that there is distinction
between Il member of the Legislature voting
against his party nominee on the organlza-
tiOn of the body and voting against ms
party $ candidate for United states senator,
which was made by the people IN their
primary capacity and rat1ned by them az
the polls The one is violation OF party
duty, the other involves q breach OF the
highest trust and a violation of the funda-
mental principles of our government, such
as has never in the history of the Repub-
lican party occurred. There have been bolts
from senatorial nominations made at eau
cuses, but since the nomination of Abraham
Lincoln against Stephen A. Douglas. more
than forty years ago, by the people OF iii
rois in state convention, to that OF marcus
A. Hanna by the Republicans 81 ONO III
state convention in 1897 there has absolute
~ not been one member of the Legislature,
be it said to the glory of our common coun-
try, who has refused to ratlfy a nCulln2-
ton so made by the people
1.-The member of the Ohio Legislatl re,
elected as a Republican. who this week nSSt
casts his vote against Mr. Hanna III there
be one) will have the distinction OF BEING
the first example of such perfidy IN his
party's and as we believe, in his country 5
history The infamy of such a breach of
trust should it occur. would thus firsy stain
the fair name of our beloved State.
I'VE feel justified in appealing to all the
people. and to all in public authority, with
out regard to past or present party aIniia-
tions or sympathies to stay tnis threatened
blow 1t would be the SeVereSt ever au-
lninisteEed in civil affairs against our gov
ornamental system. 1t would constitute
plain violation of the spirit II not the letter.
of the Ohio Constitution, which members
OF the General Assembly and state ollclals
have taken a solemn oath to support; Inc
bill of rights Constitution, Art: sec. 81
provides: The people have right to as
semble together in a peaceable manner 10
consult for their common good ana TO IN
struct their representatives.
saThe people of Ohio sending Republican
representatives to the General Assembly
have instructed them TO vote for Senator
Hanna not only in the state convention,
but in district and county conventions, by
common understanding and In every form
such instructions are ever given. vote
against to indUct a violation or Such
Instructions. is a crime against our insti-
tutions and subject to constitutional Inn
itatious should be made a felony under our
statutes We are loathe to believe that
personal hate. actual or fancied grievances
or other motives can thus induce members
to violate the fundamental law.
1T is not alone for Senator Hanna, nor
for or against any other individual, that
we make this appeal to the Repubhcan
members of the General Assembly. 1t is not
4 question of persons 1t is not even a
question of parties. 1t rises high above
both and involves the conservation of our
republican form of government. The SIM
pie question is, Shall the people rule, as the
founders of government intended
When the peoples agents cannot be trusted
to execute their expressed will that moment
marks the decadence and fall of the re-
I'VE appeal to Governor Bushnell to exert
his influence now 70 stay this threatened
assault on constitutional government. We,
as his constituents, cling to the hope that
party which twice elected him Governor,
the voice of the mighty people of the State
of Ohio and the obligations of good citi-
zenship and good government, ali repre-
sensations to the contrary Notwithstanding,
and that he will draw the line of his OPP
position to Mr. Hanna, by us deeply regret
ted and unforeseen, at this threatened
breach of high public trust Our faith in
his Republicanism and integrity of purpose
hitherto entertained and not now aban-
doned is such as to justify the hope that he
will, in unmistakable terms, advise and use
his influence in every proper form against
violating the instructions given by the
people to their representatives. 1t is true
he has no vote in the election of senator;
he has no vote on any other matter sub
ject to legislative cognizance. Because of
that we are to be told that he cannot
properly express his Judgment on so vital a
matter as is now involved. We must re-
iect the reports that any supposed or ac-
tual personal grievances or other consider
ations will Swerve him from this manifest
path of duty; therefore,
Resolved. That we condemn without re-
serve or qualification. this most unholy con-
spiracy, and protest, in the name of the
people of the State of Ohio against its
further progress and further success.
Resolved. That we call on every Repub-
lican member of the General Assembly to
be present in his seat on next Tuesday and
by voice, act and vote, to carry into execu-
tion the fulhllment of the obligation as
stunned by him when elected as such MEM
Der.
"Resolved, That we will welcome nest
cordially to fun cooperation with Us the
Republican members of said General AS
sembly. however they may have voted or
acted thus far in relatio TO the subject
matter Of this declaration"
Congressman Burton of Cleveland, made
one of the most vigorous speeches of the
afternoon. and presented a mammoth petit
ton. with over ten thousand signatures.