Year: 1874

I
permit, of the pension and bounty laws.


6. In the opinion of this convention
! intemperance is an evil against which
society has the right to protect itself;
that our whole system of legislation
throughout all the history of the State
has asserted and maintained this right,
and it cannot now be surrendered without
yielding up that fundamental principle of
American government which places the
power of passing laws in the hands of a
majority therefore, We are in favor of
such legislation as will give a majority
of the people the right to determine for
themselves, in their respective towns,
townships or wards, whether the sale of
intoxicating liquors for use as beverage
shall be permitted therein, and such as
will hold the vendor responsible for all
damages resulting from such sales.


z. We favor the enactment of law
limiting the power of Township Trustees,
County Commissioners. and municipal
authorities to assess taxes. and increase
township, county, and municipal indebt-
ednesS.


s. Inasmuch as great abuses have
grown up under cur present system OF
fees and salaries, we demand such legisla-
ton as will SO reduce and regulate all
fees and salaries as will allow no NOR.
than fair and just compensation for SER
vices rendered.


g We look with pride and satisfac-
ton upon our common school system,
and regard its murlificent fund rs sacred
trust 10 be faithfully and honestly ad-
ministered, so that all the children of the
State may be educated in the duties OF
citlzenship, and thereby become the bet
ter able to perpetuate our popular institu
uons; and whosoever shall seek to strike
it down, or to impair its usefulness, will
meet our ceaseless and unrelenting oppo-
sitio1r.


10. We have entire confidence in the
integrity and honor of tire President of
the United States and our Senators and
Republican representatives in Congress
are entitled TO our thanks for the zeal
with which tlIey Rave represented the
principles of the Republican party during
the present session of Congress; and the
Republicans of Indiana view with espec-
ial pride and hearty approval the course
of Senators o. p. Morton and d. ID.
Pratt, and the fidelity and ability which
they have represented the sentiments OF
the people of this State.


Hon. Lon Sexton moved that the re-
port be adopted, which was carried with
a whirl. and then ratified with three rous-
ing cheers.


KEY NOTE.


The reading of the platform had raised
the enthusiasm of the convention to the
highest pitch, and after the cheering had
subslded cries were made for Col. Thomp-
son, WHO smilingly came forward, and
said


Gentlemen Of the C0ncention


There are several reasons why / ought
Place, @ e. iasse % ina. s.S Iof any 'ss 1s
A voice. A good speech good good j
In the second place, [ am no politician
When l came from home yesterday
morning, my ground was too wet to
plow. 1 am sure, from the appearances
to day, it will be drv enough tomorrow


laughter, land therefore my duty requires
me to go home There is another reason,
too. l am not only no politician, but /
am an exceedingly modest man, and to
attempt to make speech now would be
obtruding myself where somebody else
much more competent to fill this place
tiidl lily SCii tuiS III OCCupy yOui tlluc.
Voices, go on, 20 oI!l But this | will
say, you may consider it speech or not
There is no party in this State that can
carry majority of the people against that
platform, il the Republicans of the State
remain true to their own honor and in
tegrity. All We have got to do is, there
fore, to let the spirit of unity which runs
with the convention 90 with us. Ii we
fight this battle upon the principles OF
that platform, my prediction is that we
shall carry the State by majority great
er than ever before Applause long con
tinued. There is one thing in that plat
form which strikes my mind as being
worthy OF notice-that we don't claim
like the Democratic party, that our party
is infallible. We deal with men as intelli-
gent, thinking beings, and while we
may some of us differ in regard to the
mere de ails of policy, there is no differ
ence whatever between us in regard to
those great fundamental truths and prin
ciples which lie not only at the founda-
tion of our party, but at the foundation OF
the union itself. Let us stand fast by
these, and success and victory Will be
ours.