The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-25

The emphatic victory Of the Republicans
last fall and the Reorganization and de-
morallzation of the Democratic party at
the present time tend to lead many who
do not think soberly TO assume that the
Republican party is in power for many
years. These assumptions cause a feeling
of recklessness which should arouse a spirit
Of watchfulness on the part Of the wise and
more experienced members of the party.
Frequently a party has swept the country
in n national election and In the next gen.
eral election has In turn been swept nearly
cut OF existence. In 1910 General W. II
Harrison carried the country and Congress
SO decidedly that enthusiastic Wings made
themselves believe that their party had Il
long lease of power. General Harrison
died, and Mr.. Tyler. who was not a Wing.
became President. The result was that
the Wings were defeated in the next gen.
eral election. In 1852 but four States gave
their electoral votes to General Scott, the
Wing candidate, General Pierce, the Demo-
cratic nominee. receiving the rest. 1t
seemed that the Democrats were safely in
power for a dozen years, but by the unwise
| policy OF the Pierce administration his
party lost the House in the elections of 1S5L
In 1872 General Grant carried the country,
but two years later the Democrats carried
the House. not because of any change in
General Grants policy, but largely because
of a pronounced revulsion which came be-
cause Republicans in Congress lacked
either the courage or the wisdom to deal
with financial questions.
The party having the majority in legisla-
tive bodies. national and State, and the
President and the Governors, is held re-
sponsible for legislation and executive man
agement. No matter If such measures as
the river and harbor bill in Congress were
passed by all the votes OF the opposition
and a minority of the Republicans, the Re-
publican party would be held responsible
for whatever extravaganza that and SIM
liar measures contained. AS to that par
ticular measure. the general conviction of
the country is that it was an expenditure
which could not be defended. Republicans
whose States would have been benefited
are still assailing those who defeated the
bill. Now that it is a matter Of history, ii
is quite generally understood that senators
standing close to the President caused the
defeat of the measure. 1t was well for the
party that they did. and party leaders in
Congress should see that the next river
and harbor appropriation bill is based upon
a principle and not upon a scheme of par
ceiling out the money so as TO secure votes
enough to pass it.
In the State the responsibility is the same
Its officials are responsible for the enforce.
ment of the laws and the management oil
its public institutions. For all subordinate
positions men must be selected who will
administer the affairs of State and of it.
institutions with wisdom and economy
Public Office is a public trust, and the party
which holds tenaciously to that maxim viii
receive support, both in the Nation and il
the State. The party which ignores thai
maxim will sooner or later come to grief
But, just now, when the Republican party
holds Nation and State, it is of the highes
importance that the spirit Of recklessnes'
which comes to many in the belief tina
their party is so firmly in power that /
can dare most anything should be checked
The highest evidence Of the trustworth!
character of a party is that it can be judi
cious when it holds power by the sanction
of large majorities.