The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-08
CAPT. WILLIAM e. ENGLISH.
A Democratic View OF His Renuncia-
tion Of Organism.
Indianapolls Sentine

8. e. Morss. In Indianapolis Sentinel.
have read with a great deal of inter-
est the letter I'm which my friend, Capt
William f. English. announces change
Of his political relations. 1 must admit
that II Is a very able document 1t is we'll
written throughout; ii is dignihed and
manly In tone, and IL bears the stamp of
who knows Captain English can question
his entire honesty or fail to respect his
manltness and courage take no stock
whatever In the practice so current in all
political parties OF stigmatizing as irene
gades' and "turn-coats'' men who, in the
presence of new issues. or because of a
change OF opinion on old issues. alter their
political relations We live in a free coun-
try. IL no one ever changed his mind in
this country, or left one party to act with
another. campaigns would be useless and
believe in freedom of thought and freedom
OF speech. When man who has acted
with the Republican party announces that
ne Is competed TO sever his relations with
u because he can no longer conscientiously
approve Its policies We commend him for
his manhood and his courage and welcome
him with open arms to our fellowship.
When man Ike Captain English an
nounces In a frank and open manner that
he Is no longer in sympathy with the pol
icies and purposes OF party with which
he has been so long identified we must
in justice and fairness consider that he A.
exercising only his undoubled right and
performing his plain duty
or course IL frequently happens that men
change their party relations under the i'm
Pulse Of political disappointment or person
al spite when their motives are so trans
parent and obvious that Ii is impossible 70
credit them with sincerity. But this is
clearly not the case with Capt. English
lie has never been an office-seeker. but on
the contrary has declined preferments al
the hands of his party which might have
been MS repeatedly without the asking /
believe Capt. English is frankly and hon
estly in sympathy with the present nrfn-
ciples and policies OF the Republican party.
These principles and policies are It must
be confessed. very different from those
which the Republican party professed and
practiced when Capt English was so vigor-
ously opposed tc it, The captain believes
that We did right in buying the disputed
Spanish title to the Philippine islands and
in trying TO enforce that fiimsy title at the
point OF the bayonet. He believes i'm n
great standing army and that it Is the
duty or the destiny OF the United
States TO subjugate ard hold in military
vassaiage so-cailed inferior peoples In dis
tant quarters Of the globe. He is not never
was. and never pretended to be birnetal-
list He is In favor OF government By in
junction and Is opposed to an income tax
l believe ne is wrong on every one of these
propositions. But am sure he is honestly
wrong Ii is better to be honestly wrong
than dishonesty right
I take more stock in a man who honestly
espouses an error than In one who opposes
Il from improper motives.
l am sorry TO lose Capt. English. but
hope that In due time ne will see the error
OF his ways and return 10 the party to
which he has rendered such gallant services
I'm the past and in which l honestly be-
lieve the hope OF the country rests. IL
may be that the captain will feel at bore
among his new associates. but I doubt H.
However. while part with him politically
with regret. am glad TO say that do not
believe he win have very large following
IN his new departure. / cannot think there
are many men I'm Indiana. in any other
State. who. having been educated in the
school OF Jefferson, and Douglas. and Til
den. and Hendricks, and Mcdonald and
William II. English. can bring them selves
70 accept doctrines and policies which are
50 foreign 10 the teachings Of those illus
trious men as those which Capt. English
has just embraced.