Year: 1878

HIS ABLE REVIEW. OF TIE POLIII-


CAL sITUATION.


He Plants Himself Squarely on the Plat
form of the Peop1e-The Great Crime of
Stealing the Presidency Must be Punish
ed-Silyer Money and the Repeal of the
Resumption Act.


The telegraphs furnished brief abstract
of the speech of ex-Gov. Hendricks at the
recent Democratic State convention in Indi-
ana, but it is document of so much sig
nifcance, especially in view of Mr.. Hendricks
probable election to the Presidency in 1880,
that we append it in full. He said:


am greatly honored in being called to
preside over your deliberations. l will dis
charge the duties imposed upon me impair
italy, and call upon you by the grave re-
sponsibilities that rest upon you to aid me in
preserving order and decorum and the right
conduct of the business of the convention.
You and have stood by each other in the
contests of the past, encouraged sometimes by
SUCCESS but more frequently encountering
the disasters of defeat, but always we have
stood together, relying without doubt upon
the ultimate triumph of truth and right. No
discord or jealousy has disturbed our ranks.
Respect and confidence have everywhere pre-
vailed None have sought to promote per-
sonal ambition by exciting distrust between
the counties and sections Of the State. Har-
mony, union, and conviction of right gave us
the brilliant victory of 1876, which not only
challenged the admiration of the Democracy
of the whole country, but established Indiana
as a Democratic State.


| The work to be done in 1878 is scarcely
less important. Not only is Democratic SUI
| premacy to be maintained by the election of
the State ticket, but the Legislature must be
secured. The fraudulent and unconstitu-
tional apportionment must be substituted by
an apporHonment Of legislative and congress
sional representation in the spirit of the con-
stitution, giving the people of each county
and section of the State an equal voice in the
enactment of the laws in proportion to pop
ulation. We ask no more than equality in
representation; we should accept nothing
less.


Need I remind you that Senator of the
United States is to be chosen? and need 1
add, that upon that choice may depend the
question whether the United States shall be
Democratic? He who now, without cause,
shall SOW discord and excite jealousy in our
ranks is not true Democrat From border
to border and from river to lake we will
stand in unbroken and unwavering ranks,
with the fixed purpose that Indiana shall
stand among the strongest and frmest of
the Democratic States


| 1t is an agreeable and encouraging fact
that we enter the contest of this year with
| no apologies or explanations to make for the
present or the late State administration. The
present head of the State administration is a
gentleman of clear Judgment, painstaking
and thorough in his Investigations, and care
full of all the interests of the State. Person
ally identified with the most important in
teress of the people, he will diligently pro-
mote its success by rigid economy in expen-
ditures, and by excluding all unworthy and
unnecessary objects of public favor. In his
care for the public welfare he receives the
efficient support of the several State Off
GERS.


| One of the Louisiana criminals has been
| tried and convicted. The President and
| Secretary John Sherman say he should not
have been tried. Why not? His guilt and
others is shown by the verdict. 1t is Of no
ordinary crime he has been convicted. It is q
high crime against the nation, and threaten
ing the stability of free institutions What
are the relations between the President and
Secretary Sherman and the accused that au-
thorize or permit an effort on their part to
influence judicial proceedings in State
court? After long and terrible contest,
it is settled that State elections and State
Legislatures must be free from military in
fuence and control. So, also, it must be
understood that the President and his cabi-
net can not directly or indirectly interfere
with judicial proceedings under State author
ity. State courts must be wholly free
and independent of federal control, except
when the constitution and laws give to the
federal judiciary an appellate supervision
It is to be regretted if the facts developed
upon the trial are of such character as tc
create anxiety on the part of the President
and his cabinet; but they can not avoid the
effect upon the public mind of an exhibition
of that anxiety and of unseemly denuncia
ton Of the State authorities.


While it is true that the title of Mr. Hayes
to the Office of President and Mr.. Wheeler
to the office of Vice-President has been set
tied under the solemn forms of law, anl
while it is our duty, in my Judgment, tx
recognize the title, because it is in the inter
est of the public stability and tranquility tx
do so, it is still none the less true that al
imperative duty demands that fitting punish
ment should be visited upon the publ,
criminals through whose fagitious Grim,
that Judgment was obtained. Because
judgment is final and conclusive forms n,
reason why immunity should be secured t,
the criminal through whose perjury it wa
obtained. If this is true of simple prop
erty Judgment in court of law, much NOR
is it true of msnstrous crime against tn
elective sovereignty of a nation. The YER
fact that it was successful furnishes tn
strongest reason why the condign punish
ment of its perpetrators should cover it will
perpetual infamy, and manifest to all futur
conspirators against the liberties of the ma
ton the dangers of attempting its repetition


Since the close of the war the Republican
party has been in almost uninterrupted con
troll Of the government of the United States
During these thirteen years it's will has beel
absolute. 1t has governed legislation, die
tated policies, and controlled the finances
Shall it render no account to the country
Capital and labor are employed. Busines
is stagnant, and enterprise paralyzed. Alarm
has seized the people. They are threatene.
not only with poverty, but with destitutio,
and want. When an industrious and intel
igent people are found in such state an,
condition, it is the dictate of wisdom to see]
and remove the cause. Our country pos
sesses wonderful advantages of soil and eli
mate. It's products include many of th
great and valuable staples which comman,
the markets of the world. It's mines hay
been productive. In such country, why
it that the people tremble with alarm as the,
contemplate the present and look toward th
FUTURE? The party that seeks t
continue in power should answer that ques
ton. What answer can be made? Hav
L the Snecial enactments and the general nolic