The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-25
REPUBLICANIsM AND PROGRESS.

A person whose business has caused him
to observe trains and crowds arriving at
the Union depot in this city for period
of thirty years said yesterday: There is
a great difference in the appearance of the
delegates to this convention and those who
used to come here twenty-five years ago.
The old-time delegates may have been
just good men and good Republicans
as those of to-day. but the latter contains
up-to-date looking men. And. come TO
think of It," he added, ''the same is true
of all the crowds of Indiana people that
come here" No doubt 1t is. 1t is noticeable
in the crowds at the hotels and in the APP
pearancc of conventions. Any person who
has attended or witnessed enough State
conventions to compare the personnel of
one of to-day with that of one of twenty
five years ago must recognize marked
change in the makeup and appearance
of the delegates, and generally In what
might be called the manners and methods
of the convention. This means that not
only the Republican party but the State
and people of Indiana have grown, pro-
gressed and improved. Probably no other
State in the Union has made greater pro-
that makes for the general welfare and
prosperity of a people and for good gov
eminent than has Indiana. To go back
no further than 1870 the State has in
creased in population since then from
1884 to 2,SOO.OO0 at present. This city
has increased from a population of $1,000
to 100000. The aggregate wealth Of the
State has increased enormously. indicating
corresponding increase in the comfort Of
the people. During the last two decades
the taxable property has increased $751;
100000. The discovery of natural gas gave
a great impetus to manufacturing, devel-
oping new sources of wealth in many To-
calities, and the development of the oil
| field has enriched a great many farmers.
not to speak of operators and spectators.
Agriculture, the greatest single interest of
| the State, has kept up with the march of
progress, and our farmers were never as
we'll off as they are to-day. During the
last few years Of Mckinley prosperity they
| have been paying off debts and mortgages
| and opening bank accounts. AS the people
have prospered so has the State It's debt
has been reduced TO the lowest point with
| in the memory of any person living. and
| will soon be wiped out entirely. 1t has
| better laws and better government than
ever before. The spirit OF municipal reform
| is making itself felt in many benefcent
ways. The county and township reform
| laws are a notable victory for this senti-
ment. The State institutions have been
| taken out of politics and brought under
| laws and administrative methods that are
the admiration of other States.
These are some of the things that should
make every citizen of Indiana proud of
the State and anxious TO do his part 10
contribute to its further progress. Es-
pecially should they make Republicans
| proud. for the greatest progress of the
State what might be called the new Indi-
ana in contradistinction from the Indiana
| OF ante-war times, is coeval with the life
| OF the Republican party. The spirit OF
progress that has brought the State tc
the front Is the spirit of Republicanism
The superiority of Republican conven-
ton of to-day over one of thirty years
ago represents the progress that has
brought all the people TO a higher plane
and the State itself into the front rani
Of commemorative. The convention thai
meets to-day should remember that it has