The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-05
THE MUGWUMP.
Mr.. FOuIIxe Defends Him Before Ina
dianapOlis Literary Club.

William Dudley Foulke addressed the In
dianapolis Literary Club last night on the
"MUgwump." He said he believed the tiFae
had come for the mugwump to assert him
self and talk back in answer to the
words Of contumely from his enemies in the
regular political parties. Independence in
politics. he said, means that men snail
believe what their judgment dictates and
shall speak and ace according to their be-
liefs, no matter what the party may say.
1t stands for an honest expression Of po-
litical Views by word and vote, for re-
fusaI to be bound by the opinions of others
Nobody denies that in republican govern
ment parties will always exist. The men
who think alike will vote together. They
will organize to express their joint convic-
tions. But the tendency of custom is such
that they often remain together long after
they cease to have these common convic-
tions. The mugwump says that when they
cease to think alike. they ought to be sepa-
rate The out-and-out party man says they
should stay together whether they think
alike or not
"a party is created and maintained to de-
clare certain principles for the conduct of
government and to nominate certain per-
sons to carry out these principles and to
the government. DOuelluIcS the
principles are the more important, some
times the persons are the more important.
In regard to these vital questions, such as
the maintenance of the government. in re-
gard to questions of public morality, such
as slavery or the payment of the national
debt, it is clear that the matter of prin-
ciple is more important than the question
of the persons by whom the laws are to be
made and the government administered.
AT the time of the civil war even a bad
man who saw the necessity of maintaining
the national integrity was better than
good man who was so blinded by preJu-
dices and antecedents that he could sacri-
flee the whole country to single section.
But where there is no great issue at stake
the person may be more important than
the nominal platform of the party. In the
condition of our country during the last
twelve years, up to the last presldenIti al
election, there was no question involved. or
sufficient Importance to justify the electlon
of a corrupt candidate for the presidency.
Any party which, during that perloa sno el1
profess in its declaration or principles,
would deserve to go down and would, In
fact, be ovefthrown by the SURFACES or the
Mr.. Foulke declared that the object of all
parties should be the public good: He SAID
the argument that party man should fol-
low his leaders like soldier in battle was
not good; that there are no authorized
leaders or dictators in politics but the lndi-
vidual judgment and conscience: When ne
thinks his party goes wrong 1t is his duty
to renounce the party
Speaking of the war crisis, Mr.. Foulke
said that whatever the outcome, the United
States has little to gain and much to lose
by war with Spain and that mo mere
pique, no anger or fancied insult, nothing
but an Imperative duty to freedom and hui
mainly can justify our intervention in the
struggle for Cuban independence"
Mr.. Foulke's original topic selected for
last evening was 1.-THE Eternal Guilible,"
but he afterward changed it to "The Mug.
wump.'' The change was not merely one of
title hut subject insisted Mr. FoulEe, in
speaking of the matter yesterday after
noon.