The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-21
REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION.

The Republican state convention. which
will be held In this city Wednesday and
Thursday of next week, promises TO be one
of the most important of the many biennial
assemblages of the party. Such a conven-
ton has never met under more favorable
auspices. The country is prosperous be-
yond precedent, and ii is not too much to
claim that this general prosperity is large
iy due to the success of the Republican
party and to the carrying out of the party
pledges. 1t has cause for special and gen.
uine congratulation that ii is its first meet
ing in Indiana since it's representatives in
Congress have given the country a sound
on the worlds basis. New responsibilities
have also come to us, thrust upon us by
the Spanish war. But, new and grave as
are these responsibilities. they have at the
outset made the United States world
wide power. already taking a share of the
worlds commerce which places us in the
first rank of commercial nations. At home
and abroad the country has grown at a
rate that would be miraculous in any other
nation. In the State as well as in the Ma
congratulation. In less than six years the
punitive, reformatory and charitable insti-
tutions have been dragged from the mire
of spoilsism and placed upon the high
plane of nonpartisan and business control
The change has been a revolution for the
better. Much has been expended on these
institutions, but as the result Indiana has
become leader for other States TO follow.
All the affairs of the State have teen put
upon business basis. Townships and
counties have been given a responsible and
popular form of government. All these
are Republican reforms for which the
convention should congratulate the people
and ask renewed confidence. These results
and achievements OF the Republican party
are cause for profound congratulation.
1t is fortunate that the Republican party
can unite on all the essentials OF party
policy. 1t can, if wise, proceed in the spirit
of the maxim: I'm essentials, unity; in
nonessentials. liberty" Having kept its
pledges in the past and proved its ability
to accomplish reforms, the Republican
party can confidently pledge itself to
deal with the great problems of the hour
trusts and the management of our ac-
quired lands. Upon questions of minor i'm
portance and of transient existence, like
the Porto Rican tariff, liberty of personal
opinion should not be denied by a declara-
ton either for or against. Extreme care
should be exercised that no occasion is
given by those who are intrusted with the
direction of the party's battles to complain
of arbitrary action. Committees are the
creatures of the voters in a party. not
their dictators. On the other hand, let
those who are in the ranks avoid captious
criticism and unfounded fault-finding.
The rivalry for the honor of the party's
nominations, however eager IL may be,
should not degenerate into bitterness and
detraction. No man can afford success
which shall be attained by unfair meth
DDS that will be prolonged into the cam
vass. We must all remember that after
the convention comes the election in a
State which has In the years of Repub-
lican victory been so close that party unity
is an imperative necessity to success.