__ REESE LIBRARY OF mi. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Class No. GREASE THE WAY TOFICE Spend Money Like Water to Get Nominations at Repub- lican State ConventionOne $3,000 Barrel Is Tapped, Defeated Candidates Whose Funds Run Out Allege That Their Downfall Is Due to the Unscrupulous Use of Cash, [Special by leased wire, the longest In the world.] INDIANAPOLIS, April 24. Money flowed like water last night and to-day in the Re- publican Convention in this city and thou- sands of dollars finally reached the pockeU j of susceptible delegates. One of the candi- dates for State office drew a check for $3,000 payable to himself, sent it to one of the local banks and made arrangements to have ' it cashed without sending it to the bank in j the candidate's home town for collection. Part of the sum realized was used last night and the remainder enriched delegates who ; were on the market to-day. Several de- j feated candidates whose barrel was not i large enough to withstand the strain, to- | night allege their defeat was due to the un- scrupulous use of money. One county chair- man is said to have solicited expense money for the boys and he promised to cast the en- tire vote of his delegation for the man fur- nishing the funds. A delegate from the extreme northern part of the State is known to have received $20 of this $3,000. It was paid to him to cover his expenses in coming to Indian- apolis. The $3,000 that wag placed on tap by this particular candidate compelled some of the more parsimonious candidates to scatter money. Word was soon passed j ground as to who had the barrel and money ! went freely, but systematically. It was said that one candidate, who ecaitered the most of the money, had notes kept as to who got the money that went from his hands and the people that did were watched in the con- vention. A district committeemau said that never 1n the history of Republican State conven- tions in Indiana did so much money pass in such few hours. The convention adjourned to-night after nominating the following ticket: Secretary of State, Daniel E. Storms; Au- ditor, David E. Sherrick; Treasurer, X. U. Hill; Attorney-General, Charles W. Miller; State Geologist, Willis S. Blatchley; State Statistician, Benjamin P. Johnson; Judge Su- preme Court, John H. Gillett; Clerk of the Supreme Court, Robert A. Brown; Superin- tendent of Public Instruction, F. A. Cotton. The Secretary of State, State Geologist, State Statistician, Judge of the Supreme Court and Judges of the Appellate Court were nominated by acclamation. For every other position on the ticket there were ani- mated but friendly contests. The resolutions adopted affirm the plat- form of the Republican National Conven- tion in Philadelphia in 1900, indorse the Ad- ministration of the Republican party and President Roosevelt, deplore the deaths of President McKinley, General Benjamin Har- rison and Governor James A. Mount, favor reciprocity with Cuba and the extension of American markets, reaffirm the party's faith in protection and the gold standard, and deal with the Philippine and Chinese questions and trusts in the following terms: We approve the course of the administration n establishing peace and civil government in the Philippine Islands. We oppose those who continue to resist the authority of the United States, whether openly or in arms in the _ hilippines, or whether openly or secretly in the United States, by giving sympathy to the nsurgents. We hold to the doctrine that American sovereignty must be respected within the United States and all territory un- der its. jurisdiction. We favor the establish- ment of absolute peace in the Philippines' and he erection of civil government therein. We nsist that the people of the islands shall be given Increased participation in the adminis- ration of their domestic affairs, as they shall demonstrate intelligence and capacity for self- government. We are opposed to all trusts or combinations of capital whose purpose or effort is to restrict business or control prices. And, we especially n ounce those whose tendency it is to in- crease the cost of living and the necessaries of / life. We favor legislation to prevent such abuses. We approve the sincere and deter- mined effort of President Roosevif t to enforce the laws against illegal combinations in re- straint of trade, and demand that administra- tive officers, State and national, shall enforce the laws in the most vigorous mane or, FO that the legitimate competition shall not be em- barrassed or destroyed. \\v approve the enactment by Congress of legislation which will debar Chinese from gain- Jng admission to the United States to the iujury of American labor, and we demand the enforcement of immigration Jaws which shall ?xc!ude all unworthy and undesirable immi- srants whose presence menaces our citizenship )r injures our wage workers. STATE PLATFORMS OF THE TWO DOMINANT Political Parties in Indiana 18501900 COMPILED BY W. E. HENRY, STATE LIBRARIAN PRIVATELY PRINTED INDIANAPOLIS \go2 COPYRIGHTED, 1902, BY WILLIAM E. HENRY. PRESS OF WM. B. BURFORD, INDIANAPOLIS. PREFATORY NOTE. Together with the growing interest in matters historical relating to our State there is a corresponding demand for ready access to all documents relating to our State's history. Many requests for statements of doctrine set forth in the State plat- forms of the two dominant political parties have convinced me that the publication of these documents in a compact form will be of great service to all who are interested in the history of politics in Indiana. Therefore this publication. In every instance except three the text from which each document is printed is that found in the State organ of the party represented. The Democratic platforms for 1856, 1866 and 1868 are copied from a Repub- lican paper, as I have been unable to find copies of the Seminel for those dates. This publication covers fifty years, and includes all the platforms of the two parties from 1850 to 1900; but the first conventions after January 1, 1850, occurred in 1852, and provided for the first election under the new Constitution adopted in 1851. The arrangement of the platforms is chronological, and is also alpha- betical following the order in which they stand on our State ballot. W..B. HENRY. February, 1902. 95273 (3) STATE PLATFORMS OF THE Two DOMINANT POLITICAL PARTIES DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, J852. (Indiana State Sentinel, February 26.) Resolved, That the good old Democratic principles, to wit: a strict con- struction of the Constitution and no assumption of doubtful powers; no encroachment by the General Government on the proper rights of the States; no connection between the General or State Governments and Bunks; no connection between Church and State; no tariff beyond what is strictly necessary for revenue purposes; no vast system of internal im- provements either by the General Government or by States; no public debt, either by the General Government or by the States, except for purposes of urgent necessity; no grants of exclusive chartered privi- leges, by special legislation, to banks; no proscription for honest opinions; a simple and frugal government, securing life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness with the least possible amount of legislation; fostering aid to public education; are, and must ever remain, the true watch- words of the Democratic party; with which inscribed upon our banners, we have often marched to victory; with which embodied in the legislation of our coun- try, she has reached her present power and prosperity; and that we receive and recognize as members of the great Democratic family, all men, no mat- ter what their creed or country, who acknowledge in theory and carry out in practice, these unchanging principles; the same yesterday, today, and forever. Resolved, That in the opinion of this convention, the common senti- ment of the people of Indiana, sustains and endorses, in their general tenor and intention, each and all of that series of Acts of Congress, com- monly known as the Compromise measures: that it recognizes, in their suc- cess, an earnest of security and perpetuity to our glorious Union; and that it regards our present tranquility, after dangerous sectional heart-burnings, as the best evidence of the wisdom and prudence of these measures, and the best proof, that they should, under no pretence, be disturbed. Resolved, That, according to the soundest principles of international law sometimes violated but not the less universally recognized by the civilized world, each nation has an inalienable right to regulate its internal policy, and establish such form of government as it pleases; and that no nation may lawfully interfere with the domestic concerns of another. Resolved, That if, in violation of the acknowledged code which governs the family of nations, one nation, interfering by force of arms, seek to con- (5) Q POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1852 trol, or dictate, the internal policy of another, the aggressing nation places herself without the pale of international law; and any third nation may lawfully resent and resist such interference, either without war, as by breaking off all diplomatic relations, or by going into the field, and repell- ing force with force. Resolved, That while we protest, as every free people most rightfully may, against the recent outrage committed by Russia, alike upon the rights of humanity and the law of nations; while we declare, as every republican people most earnestly should, our heartfelt sympathy with the cause of pop- ular freedom and equal -rights, as well in Hungaria as in all other nations throughout the earth; while, with no stinted hospitality but as brethren in a great and good cause, we welcome to our homes and our hearts, those w r ho have fought Freedom's battles in other lands, and have been driven by the iron hand of Despotism, to seek refuge on our shores; we deem it con- trary to sound policy for the United States Government in exercise of an undoubted right, at this time, 10 pledge our people either to interfere, or not to interfere, as the armed champions of violated international law, among the distant nations of Europe. We believe it to be in accordance with the dictates of wisdom and of prudence, that we remain, for the present, uncommitted but deeply interested spectators; ready, in fitting season, to act as the contingencies of the World's Future (fraught, as it may be, with national convulsions, unexampled in history), may hereafter demand, at our hands. Resolved, That we approve and endorse the administration of our pres- ent Governor, Joseph A. Wright, and that we pledge to him, as nominee for re-election, in the approaching contest, our hearty support. Resolved, That we have undiminished confidence in the undeviating and well tried democracy of our distinguished and able Senators in Con- gress, James Whitcomb and Jesse D. Bright, and that w T e fully endorse their senatorial actions. Resolved, That Joseph Lane, the State Legislator, the gallant General, the Territorial Governor, tried in the Council Chamber, tried in the tented fields, tried in the executive chair, and never found wanting, is, of the People of Indiana, the first choice for the Presidency. While we repose entire confidence alike in his administrative capacity, in his firmness, in his honesty of purpose and in his unswerving devotion to Democratic principles, at the same time desiring above all things union and harmony in the support of the nominee of the National Convention, let the choice of the majority fall as it will, and fully trusting the judgment and devo- tion to principle of our Delegates to that Convention Resolved further. That we leave said Delegates untrammeled by in- structions as to persons to act as their convictions of right and propriety at the time, may dictate. Resolved however, That in casting the vote of the State for President, the said Delegates be instructed to give it, throughout, as a unit and not by separate districts: the name of the person so voted for, to be. at all times, determined by the majority of the votes of said Delegates. Resolved, That if General Joseph Lane be the Democratic nominee for President of the National Convention, we pledge to him the vote of Indi- ana, of that State the honor of whose sons he has so nobly vindicated, by a majority, as we confidently hope and truly believe, of 25,000 votes. 1852] INDIANA, 18501900. WHIG PLATFORM, J852. (Weekly Indiana State Journal, March 6.) 1. Resolved, That while we pledge ourselves to support the nominees of the Whig- National Convention, we know that the Whigs of Imli-um are in favor of the nomination of Gen. Winfield Scott as the Whig cnn idate for the Presidency; and that, therefore, we hereby instruct our delegates to such Convention to cast the united vote of this State in favor of the nomination of that renowned hero and patriot. 2. That the Whigs of Indiana have the utmost confidence in the abil- ity, patriotism and integrity of John J. Crittenden, that his opposition to everything tending to disunion, his long known and tried fidelity to the best interest of the whole country recommend him as a suitable candidate for Vice-President, and we hereby instruct our delegates to cast the vote of Indiana in favor of the nomination of that distinguished statesman for that office. 3. That we have unabated confidence in the patriotism and integrity of Millard Fillmore, President of the United States, and in his devotion to what he believes will promote the prosperity of the country. 4. That in relation to our sympathy for Republicanism and free princi- ples in Europe, we re-affirm the resolution of the Whig State Convention of January, 1849, which is as follows: Resolved, That we sympathize warmly with the Republican move- ments of the Old World, where the flag of freedom has been unfurled, after a long night of political and social gloom; that while the Patriots of that good old land have united, the league of Tyrants has been formed that while the voice of the people, unaided by wealth, has gone up for the political regeneration of Europe, the Despotism of centuries, strong in the elements of carnage and desolation, has put forth its mighty power to crush constitutional freedom that while all looks dark and gloomy for the cause of Liberty, we still have an unshaken reliance that Heaven will, in its own good time "bring light out of darkness," and prepare men and na- tions for the universal brotherhood of Republican Institutions. To our down-trodden brethren in the Old World we would say "Bide your time the morn is breaking, Bright with FREEDOM'S blessed ray Millions from their trance awaking, Soon shall stand in stern array. Man shall fetter man no longer, Liberty shalt march sublime; Every moment makes you stronger- Firm, unshrinking bide your time." Resolved, That while Europe is thus convulsed, and her patriots scat- tered and sent into exile while the sons who would regenerate and build up the dead and expiring liberties of her people, are banished from their native land while the so-called Christian Powers of Europe look on, with cold indifference, at the expatriation of the pure of heart and the bold of g POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1852 spirit we, a portion of the people of a Sovereign American State, bid a hearty welcome to all who shall seek an asylum on our shores. 5. That we are in favor of an economical administration of the Gen- eral Government; and, that we are now, as always heretofore, in favor of a Tariff so levied as to furnish a sufficient revenue to meet the expenses of the General Government, and, at the same time, encourage home industry, thereby preventing our being drained of the precious metals and avoiding a system of direct taxation upon the people. 6. That the unexampled growth and increase of the products and commerce of the great West imperiously demand at the hands of Congress liberal appropriations for the improvement of Western rivers and har- bors; that the past history of the action and votes of the Democratic Mem- bers of Congress from Indiana, upon the subject of these great Western interests, is only a history of repeated treachery and recreancy to the best interests of a deceived and outraged constituency, and that the people of Indiana owe it to themselves and to the great West with which they are peculiarly identified, to hurl from place and power men who have so basely betrayed them. 7. That we do not deem it necessary to further reiterate the distinctive principles of the Whig party, which are well known, in the success of which we believe the prosperity of the country is involved, and for the triumph of which in the approaching contest we here pledge ourselves to each other and to the country. 8. That the Democratic party of this State, since it came into power, has been characterized by a wasteful and reckless extravagance, showing a total disregard of that economy of expenditures which should be ob- served by and be required of the public servants of a hard-working people especially, when taking into consideration the large indebtedness of the State and the positive necessity of husbanding all resources. 9. That the geographical position of Cincinnati is such as to insure a more general attendance of delegates than any other point: and that we earnestly recommend that it be selected as the place of holding the Whig National Convention, and that Thursday, the 17th of June next, be fixed as the time at which said convention shall assemble. 1854] INDIANA, 18501900. DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, J854. (The Indianapolis Sentinel, May 26.) Resolved, That the Democrats of Indiana, fully approve of the princi- ples of the act extending the laws of the United States over and organ- izing the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas. 2. Resolved, That we concur in the opinion that it is not properly within the jurisdiction of Congress to determine the provisions of the Con- stitution of a State, further than to require that it be a republican form, but on the contrary, that the people do possess the right and power to .adopt such form of government as they may deem best suited to their views and wants; and that this right should be recognized as one of the fundamental principles of self-government. 3. Resolved, That this Convention is distinctly opposed to that pro- vision of the Nebraska and Kansas Bill, commonly known as the Clayton amendment, which made a distinction between native born and foreign inhabitants, who may be residents of the Territories, and feel gratified that the efforts of the Democracy have been successful in expunging that odious feature from the act. 4. Resolved, That intemperance is a great moral and social evil, for the restraint and correction of which legislative interposition is necessary and proper: but that we can not approve of any plan for the eradication or correction of this evil that must necessarily result in the infliction of greater ones; and that we are therefore opposed to any law upon this sub- ject that will authorize the searching for or seizure, confiscation, and de- struction of private property. 5. Resolved, That we regard all political organizations, based upon the single idea of temperance reform, as dangerous to the perpetuity of our republican form of government, by withdrawing the attention of the peo- ple from the great political principles upon which it is founded; and that we most earnestly appeal to our fellow Democrats, throughout the State, to adhere, in the selection of members of the legislature, to the practice of choosing such men as will make these great principles of Democratic policy, under the influence of which this country has been brought to its present elevated and prosperous condition, paramount to all other con- siderations. G. Resolved, That we have full faith and confidence in the wisdom, patriotism and ability of Franklin Pierce, President of the United States, and that we fully approve of the principles laid down in his Inaugural Message, and his message to Congress, and that we most truly and cor- dially endorse the general policy of his Administration, as carried out In conformity with the principles laid down in said message. 7. Resolved, That Judge Douglas of the U. S. Senate is entitled to, and receives our hearty thanks, for so ably advocating the principle of non-intervention, as contained in the Kansas and Nebraska bill, and that we cordially endorse the action of our Senators and Representatives in sustaining the same. 10 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1854 8. Resolved, That the Democracy of Indiana still adhering; to the Con- stitution of the Confederacy openly and avowedly condemn any organiza- tion, secret or otherwise that would aim to disrobe any citizen, native, or adopted, of his political, civil, or religious liberty. PEOPLE'S PLATFORM (REPUBLICAN), J854. (The Indianapolis Journal, July 14.) Whereas, We the freemen of Indiana, without respect to party, and actuated by a common devotion to our Republic, and a common reverence for its founders, have assembled ourselves together in commemoration 01 the passage of the Ordinance of July 13th, 1787, consecrating the N. W. Territory to freedom; and whereas, the unanimous adoption of said Ordi- nance, by the Representatives of all the States in the Union, at that date, clearly evinces that opposition to the extension of Slavery, to the extent of Constitutional power, was the fixed policy of our fathers; and, whereas, we regard the recent repeal of the 8th section of the ''Missouri Compromise," as a gross and wanton violation of the faith of the Union, plighted to a solemn compact, restricting the extension of Slavery. Therefore, Resolved, That we are uncompromisingly opposed to the extension of slavery; and further, that we utterly deprecate and repudiate the plat- form of principles adopted by the self-styled 'Democratic Convention on the 24th day of May last, endorsing and approving the Kansas-Nebraska Iniquity. Resolved, That w r e will waive all former party predilections, and, in concert, by all lawful means seek to place every branch of the Federal Government in the hands of men who will assert the rights of Freedom, restore the Missouri Compromise, and refuse, under all circumstances, to tolerate the extension of Slavery into Territories secured to Freedom by that Compromise. Resolved, That we regard Intemperance as a great political, moral and social evil a legitimate subject of legislation and that we are in favor of the passage of a Judicious, Constitutional and Efficient Prohibitory Law, with such penalties as shall effectually suppress the traffic in intoxi- cating liquors as a beverage. Resolved, That we utterly condemn the abusive attacks which have recently been made, from various quarters, on the Protestant ministry of the country. We cherish with gratitude, and pleasure, the memory of their patriotic zeal in the Revolutionary struggle, and we recognize in the min- istry of the country the worthy sons of such illustrious sires. 1856] INDIANA, .1850 1900. DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, 1856. (Tlie Indianapolis Journal, January 9.) Resolved, That the Democratic party of the State, here in conven- tion assembled, in conformity with established usage, and with a firm reliance in the virtue and intelligence of the people, submit the following- declaration of principles. Resolved, We approve the principles of the compromise measure in 1850, and their application as embodied in the Kansas-Nebraska bill, and will faithfully maintain them. Resolved, We recognize the great body of the people as the only tribunal for the decision of questions affecting their government, both as to men and measures; and open appeals to their reason and patriotism as the legitimate means of influencing their action; and we utterly condemn all associations and combinations for political purposes formed to govern them by oaths and obligations; or other compulsory means, or to impair the exercise of free will, and independent judgment among them. And we hold in abhorrence all secret political orders and organizations, deem- ing them dangerous to the stability of government and the rights of the people. Resolved. We are in favor of religious toleration, as the founders of our republican institutions achieved and understood it, and secured its enjoyment by constitutional guaranties; and we declare that it ought to be maintained free from invasion either by means of legislative interfer- ence, or the equally tyrannical proscription of political parties, founded on bigotry and ideas of intolerance. Resolved, While we esteem it the duty of government to roster and protect religion Avithout invidious preferences, leaving all free to choose among denominations according to their consciences; and while we esteem it the part of true religion, under every form, to render allegiance and due support to government, recognizing the constitution as the supreme law in all temporal and political concerns; we hold the separate administration or the affairs of Church and State, essential to prevent that union of the two, which experience has shown to be pernicious to both, and the worst form of Tyranny. Resolved, That while we are in favor of Sobriety and Temparance and of all proper means for the promotion of those virtues, we are uncon- ditionally opposed to the Prohibitory Liquor Law passed at the last ses- sion of the General Assembly of this State, and to any enactment embody- ing the oppressive and arbitrary provision of that law. Resolved, That our naturalization laws, our republican institutions, our marvelous growth of national greatness and the happiness of our peo- ple, have been and are irresistible inducements and invitations to the inhabitants of less favored lands to become citizens of ours; and that past experience, justice, sound policy, and national pride, all concur to favor the continuance of our present naturalization laws; that if any abuses have grown up under those laws, they have sprung from their imperfect execution alone, and not from inherent defects in the laws them- selves, and that we are in favor of that policy which will soonest assimi- 12 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1856 late naturalized citizens with the mass of our people, and opposed to that anti-American and illiberal policy which proscribes the foreign born citi- zen for the accident of birth, and drives him to self-defence, to antagonism with our native born citizens in feeling, political opinions and ctmduct. Resolved, That the gallant band of Democrats in Congress, who throughout the protracted and yet pending contest for the organization of the House of Representatives, have so nobly illustrated the National character of the Democratic party by their unanimous adherence to its principles, maintaining alone an unbroken front, while the faction of the opposition, destitute of a common principle to bind them together, are disunited and discordant have deserved well of their country, and ren- dered the most emphatic testimony to the excellence of their political creed that our sympathies are with them, and that we look to them with proud confidence to maintain unsullied the honor of their country, and to surrender nothing for a coalition with factions opposed to civil and religious liberty, and to the constitution of their country. Resolved, That the Democracy of Indiana have undiminished confi- dence in the Hon. Jesse D. Bright, our Senator in Congress, and while we are ready cheerfully and enthusiastically to support for the Presi- dency in the approaching election whoever may be selected as the candi- date for that office by the Democratic National Convention, from whatever quarter of the Union he may come if the north-west is honored with that distinction we present the name of the Hon. Jesse D. Bright to that convention, and to the Democracy of the Union, as a suitable candidate, and one whom the Democracy of Indiana delight to honor. Resolved, That we approve of the administration of the State Govern- ment by His Excellency Joseph A. Wright, and that his integrity, ability, and executive talents have fully met the expectations of the Democratic party of Indiana, and won for him increased confidence and gratitude from the people. Resolved, That the Democracy of Indiana assert as a principle in which the rights and interests of the United States are involved, that the American Continent by the free and independent condition which it occupies is not to be considered subject for colonization by any European Powers and that they cordially endorse the position taken by President Pierce in his late message to Congress on that subject. Resolved, That the entire vote of the delegates from this State, be cast as an unit in the National Convention and that a majority of the delegation shall control the entire vote of the State. 1858J INDIANA, 18501900. 13 PEOPLE'S PLATFORM (REPUBLICAN), J856. (The Indianapolis Journal, May 2.) The People of Indiana consisting of all who are opposed to the policy of the present Federal administration, assembled in Convention at the capital of the State, now submit to the people the following platform of principles: Resolved, That we are uncompromisingly opposed to the extension of slavery; and that we utterly repudiate the platform of principles adopted by the self-styled Democratic Convention of this State endorsing and approving the Kansas-Nebraska iniquity. Resolved, That we will resist by all proper means the admission of any Slave State into this Union formed out of the Territories secured to freedom by the Missouri Compromise, or otherwise. Resolved, That we are in favor of the immediate admission of Kansas as a free State. Resolved, That we are in favor of the Naturalization Laws of Con- gress with the five years probation, and that the right of suffrage should accompany and not precede naturalization. Resolved, That we believe the General Assembly of the State have the power to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, and that we are in favor of a constitutional law which will effectually suppress the evils of intemperance. DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, J858. (The Indianapolis Sentinel, January 9.) 1. Resolved, That the Constitution of the United States, and every part thereof, together with the laws of Congress in aid of its wise and patriotic provisions, commands and receives our cordial devotion and support. 2. Resolved, That we recognize in the early doctrines of the Republic an absolute and entire equality among the States of this Union, and among the citizens of the several States, as respects all the rights and priv- ileges which make American citizenship valuable, and to those doctrines w T e now anew pledge ourselves and the faith of our party. 3. Resolved, That for Indiana, AVC assert the right to maintain and control her domestic institutions in her own way, subject only to the Constitution of the United States, and what we claim for ourselves we concede to others. 4. Resolved, That the right of the people of any State in this Union to mould their laws and institutions to suit themselves, and not others, being an unquestioned right it follows that the manner in which they per- form this high duty to themselves is not a proper subject for the dictation of any sister State or of all the States of the Confederacy in Congress 14 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1853 assembled, save only that the Constitution and the laws of the United States shall not be violated. 5. Resolved, That we endorse and reaffirm the Platform laid down by the National Democratic Convention of 1856, as embodying the spirit and the letter of the law of our political gravitation, which constitutes the Union as it is; holds each State in its own particular sphere, and reduces the theory of self-government to a practical reality. 6. Resolved, That we also endorse and reaffirm the platform laid down by the Indiana Democratic State Convention of the 8th of January, 1856; and we hail the rich memories of past victories achieved upon its prin- ciples as bright omens to cheer us in the campaign of 1858. 7. Resolved, That in the late decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, known as the Dred Scott decision, we recognize a legal exposition of the doctrines of the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Indiana, and we hereby denounce and hold up to the uni- versal execration and scorn of all loyal American citizens the loathsome uoctrine of "negro equality" now sustained and endorsed by the so-called Republican party of Indiana, as a natural and inevitable consequence of their opposition to the decision of the Supreme Court above named. 8. Resolved, That the unanimous action of the Democratic members of the last Indiana Legislature in the election of Senators in Congress is by the Democratic party of Indiana cordially approved, fully endorsed and firmly sustained and that Jesse D. Bright and Graham N. Pitch, the Senators-elect, are worthy the high position in which they were unani- mously placed by their party. 9. Resolved, That we arraign the Black Republican party of Indiana before the people for sustaining the members of that party in the last Legislature of this State in the commission of the following enormous outrages upon the public and private rights: 1st. Creating a revolution in the first step towards the organization of the State and violating the constitution and the law by attempting to supplant the legal presiding officer of that body with one of their own number. 2d. Refusing in open defiance of the constitution and in flagrant vio- lation of their oaths to meet in joint convention and be present at the can- vass of votes for Governor and Lieutenant-Governor when counted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 3d. Meeting without a quorum and without a presiding officer, and expelling the Senator from Clark county thereby making a mockery of the Constitution, breaking their oaths as Senators, and in all their councils calling to their aid the evil spirit of anarchy which has in every age involved nations in bloodshed and overthrow. 4th. Voting more than one hundred times by a strict party vote against appropriating money to defray the expenses of the Benevolent Institutions of the State, thereby closing the doors of charity and sending the Deaf, the Dumb, the Blind, and the Insane abroad in the world without the protection which humanity dictates and Indiana gives to them. 5th. Voting more than one hundred times by a strict party vote against a Revenue Bill and an Assessment Bill, thereby attempting to prostrate the State government, to bring her into dishonor at home and abroad by failing to pay the interest on the State debt, as provided for 1858] INDIANA, 18501900. ^5 and made obligatory by the Constitution, and inflicting other grievous injustices upon her citizens. (5th. Refusing to join and assist in the election of Senators in Con- gress, thereby setting at naught the will of the majority of the voters of Indiana as expressed at the ballot-box October 14th, 1856. 7th. Attempting, as far as in their power lay, to legalize gross, pal- pable, and wicked frauds upon the elective franchise; recognizing and re- ceiving from the counties of Rush, Fountain and Marion persons as Sen- ators conclusively proven in legal investigations to have been elected by illegal, hired, and perjured voters; stifling the voice of inquiry into their pretended and usurped right to their seats as Senators, in the face of legally instituted contests in each instance. Thus alone enabling the party in which the said spurious and illegally elected Senators belonged, to inflict their spirit of misrule upon the State; and finally sending forth to the world a forgery upon the Journals of the Senate by which to cover up their high-handed villainy, and avert from themselves if possible the just indignation of all honest men. For the foregoing and other crimes against the Constitution, the laws, public virtue, the popular will and good government, we ask the trial of the so-called Republican party before a jury of the people of Indiana in the coming canvass, and for judgment against them at the polls in October, 1858. 10. Resolved, That James Buchanan was the first choice of the Democ- racy of Indiana for the Chief Magistracy of this Republic at the Nomi- nating Convention in June, 1850, and of the people of the State at the ballot box in the ensuing November, and nothing which he has done since his elevation to the high position which he now occupies has abated or diminished our confidence in his ability, integrity, patriotism and states- manlike qualities, and we cordially approve and endorse his adminis- tration. 11. Resolved, That we endorse and approve the administration of our State government as conducted by Ashbel P. Willard, the hero of the fierce fought fight of 185(3. 12. Resolved, That harmony being essential to the strength and support of the Democratic party, we take for our motto, "The union of the Demo- cratic party for the sake of the Union of the State. POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1858 REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, J858. (The Indianapolis Journal, March 5.) 1. That our National Government ought to be so administered as to promote harmony between the different sections of our country, secure the affections of all the people of the United States, and command the re- spect of the nations of the earth. 2. That the people of a territory when they come to form a constitu- tion preparatory to their admission into the Union as a State have the right to adopt such a constitution, being Republican in form, as may be acceptable to themselves, and that no State ought to be received into the Union before the constitution thereof has been fully and fairly submitted to the people for their adoption or rejection and received the approval of the majority of its legal voters. 3. That the attempt now being so persistently made by the present administration to impose upon Kansas the Lecompton Constitution, noto- riously obnoxious to the great majority of her citizens and with no other object than to force upon them institutions against which they have repeatedly and most earnestly protested, is a gross outrage upon the rights of the people of the territory, and calculated to disturb the peace and harmony of the country. 4. That freedom is national and slavery sectional, and that we do most earnestly protest against and denounce the dangerous and alarming doctrine first promulgated by the disunionists and nullifiers of the South, that the Constitution of the United States of itself carries slavery into, and protects it in, all the territories of the United States and this doctrine and all its supporters, maintainers and defenders, whether in or out of Authority, we here pledge ourselves to resist and oppose, as enemies to the peace and welfare of the country. 5. That we re-affirm the doctrine, that Congress has the constitutional power to exclude slavery from the national territories, notwithstanding the extra judicial opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States to the contrary. 6. That we disclaim any right to interfere with slavery in the States where it exists under the shield of State Sovereignty, but we oppose now, as heretofore, its extension into any of the territories, and will use all proper and constitutional means to prevent such extension. 7. That we do not struggle for a mere party triumph, but for the right, and. the good of our whole country, and that we honor those po- litical opponents who have had the manliness to place themselves in oppo- sition to the administration in its assault upon the fundamental principles of American liberty. 8. That Jesse D. Bright and Graham N. Fitch are not of right the representatives of this State in the Senate of the United States, and ought to be immediately ousted therefrom. 9. That we will always resist the scheme of selfish and unscrupulous persons, high in power, having for its object the re-transfer of the Wabash and Erie Canal from bondholders to the State. 10. That we are in favor of granting to actual settlers on the public lands a homestead of at least 100 acres. 1860] INDIANA, 18501900. 17 DEMOCRATIC RESOLUTIONS, J860. (The Indianapolis Sentinel, January 13.) Resolved, That our Federal government is one of limited power, de- rived solely from the Constitution; that the grants of power made therein ought to be strictly construed by all departments and agents of the government, and that it is inexpedient and dangerous to exercise doubtful Constitutional powers. Resolved, That now, as heretofore, claiming fellowship with and ear- nestly desiring the co-operation of all who regard the preservation of the Union and the Constitution as the paramount issue we again declare our utter repudiation of all sectional parties and platforms concerning do- mestic slavery which tend to embroil the State, and incite to treason and armed resistance to law, and whose avowed purposes, if consummated, must end in disunion and civil war. Resolved, That the history of the past fully attests the correctness and wisdom of the adoption by the American Democracy of the principles contained in the organic laws establishing the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska as embodying the only safe and sound solution of the slavery question upon which the great National idea of the people of the whole country can repose in its determined conservatism of the Union: non-inter- ference by Congress with slavery in State or Territory, or in the District of Columbia. Resolved. That it has been fully demonstrated that by the uniform ap- plication of this Democratic principle to the organization of Territories, and to the admission of new States with or without domestic slavery, as they may elect, the equal rights of all the States may be preserved intact; the original compacts of the Constitution maintained inviolate, and the perpetuity and expansion of the Union insured to its utmost capacity; embracing, in peace and harmony, every future American State that may be constituted or annexed with a Republican form of government. Resolved, That, in the harmony and union of the Democratic party consists the strongest bond of union among the several States of this confederacy; and that the' harmony and union of our party can only be maintained by a strict observance of, and faithful adherence to, the estab- lished rules and regulations of the party; therefore, be it further resolved, that, 1 in the contest now going on for the election of Speaker in the House of Representatives, at Washington, it is the imperative duty of every Democrat from Indiana to stand firmly by, and support by his vote for that office, the regular nominee of the Democratic party. Resolved, That it is the deliberate opinion of this convention that the subject of slavery has been too long mingled with party politics, and as the result has been the creation of sectional parties, contrary to the advice, letter and spirit of the Farewell Address of the father of our common coun- try; that therefore it is the duty of every citizen, North and South, East and West, to discountenance all parties and organizations that thus violate the spirit of the Constitution and the advice of Washington. Resolved, That recognizing its importance, a measure of great national interest in securing our ascendancy in the Gulf of Mexico, and maintaining 2 Platforms. }g POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1800 a permanent protection to American commerce, we shall hail with satis- faction the success of any efforts which may be made by the present, or any future administration, for the honorable and peaceful acquisition of Cuba. Resolved, That any distinction amongst citizens on account of their religion or place of birth, continues to be utterly reprobated by the Indiana Democracy, in common with their brethren of the other States, as neither justified by the past history or future prospects of the country, nor in unison with the spirit of toleration and enlarged freedom which peculiarly distinguishes the American system of government; and that we mast ear- nestly denounce the unjust and disparaging imputation upon the character of our foreign born population, contained in the recent enactments in- corporated in the laws of that State by the so-called Republicans of Massa- chusetts, whereby a class of white men whose rights are entitled to equal respect with those of all others, are deprived of privileges and immunities accorded even to the negro, and whereby a most odious example has been set, from which that party, if successful in retaining power, may feel justified in perpetrating, there and elsewhere, new aggressions and out- rages on that portion of our population. Resolved, That the incipient efforts foreshadowed by the opposition, or so-called Republican party, to kindle anew the fires of fanaticism with a view to the establishment of such laws as are calculated to infringe on the constitutional rights of the people in determining what they shall eat and what they shall drink or wherewith they shall be clothed, will here- after as heretofore meet with our most persistent opposition. Resolved, That the Democracy of Indiana entertain a high appreciation of the ability and capacity of our distinguished Chief Magistrate, James Buchanan, and that he has our patriotic wishes for the success of his ad- ministration, and that we will on all proper occasions defend his action when carrying out the principles of the Democratic party against the unjust and unprincipled attacks of the Republican party. Resolved, That we appreciate the past labors of our present State Executive, Ashbel P. Willard, in behalf of Democratic principles, and congratulate him upon the success which has attended his administration. Resolved, That as a statesman of tried character, and a citizen in whom all sections of the Union may confide tneir interests, as the friend and supporter of our rights at home and our honor abroad, and in the sincere conviction that we will thereby contribute to secure to all sections of the Union, and each of the States, their just and equal rights, and their full share in the benefits of our Federal Union, and in no sec- tional spirit, but in the expansive love of our whole country, the Democ- racy of Indiana present to the Convention of the American Democracy to assemble at Charleston, as their choice for nomination as a candidate for the Presidency of the United States, the name of Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, and believing him to be the preference of an overwhelming ma- jority of our people, we hereby instruct the delegates this day appointed by us to that Convention to cast their votes in his favor as a unit, so long as his name is before the Convention, and to use all honorable efforts to secure his nomination; and the delegation is also instructed to vote as a unit upon all questions which may come before that body, as a majority of the delegates may determine. I860] INDIANA, 18501900. 19 Resolved, That we protest against and denounce as contrary to the plighted faith on which the Constitution of our country -was established, all acts, or inflammatory appeals, which intend or tend, to make this Union less perfect, or to jeopard or disturb its domestic tranquility, or to mar the spirit of harmony, compromise and concession, upon which the Union was formed by our fathers. Resolved, That we regard the recent outrage at Harper's Ferry as a crime, not only against the State of Virginia, but against the Union itself; and we hereby reprobate and denounce the crime and the treason. Resolved, That we are in favor of home-stead to all actual settlers upon the public lands of the United States. Resolved, That we accept the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States, as the best evidence of the true meaning of the Constitu- tion, and will respect and maintain them with the fidelity we owe to the Constitution itself. Resolved, That adhering to and being determined to stand by the well considered declaration of principles contained in the Cincinnati Platform, as expounded by President Buchanan in his letter of acceptance, we affirm that it is the unquestionable right of "the people of a Territory, like those of a State, to determine for themselves whether slavery shall or shall not exist within their limits." Resolved, That it is a slander upon the Democratic party, .both north and south, made by the Opposition, when they charge them with being in favor of a re-opening of the African slave trade. Resolved, That we believe in that provision of the Constitution and the laws thereunto enacted for the naturalization of foreigners, and that when they declare their intention to become citizens of our Government, we believe that they are entitled to its protection, wherever the flag of our country may wave over the land, as though they were native born citizens. Resolved, That we are opposed to the transfer of the Wabash and Erie Canal to the State, or any change in the relation of the State to the canal bondholders. 2Q POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1860 THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, I860. (The Indianapolis Journal, February 23.) Resolved. 1. That while disunion doctrines are proclaimed in the Halls of Congress by the Democracy, and disunion purposely openly avowed, we point with pride to the fact that not a single rejublican, either in Congress or the walks of private life not a single republican press not a single republican orator not a single republican convention, has avowed any design against the integrity of the Union, even should the present administration with its corrupt policy be perpetuated by the vote of the people. 2. That we are opposed to the new and dangerous doctrine advocated by the democratic party, that the Federal Constitution carries slavery into the public Territories; that we believe slavery cannot exist any where in this government unless by positive local law, and that we will oppose its extension into the Territories of the Federal Government by all the power known to the Constitution of the United States. 3. That we are opposed to any interference with slavery where it exists under the sanction of State law; that the soil of every State should be protected from lawless invasion from every quarter, and, that the citi- zens of every State should be protected from illegal arrests and searches, as well as from mob violence. 4. That the territory of Kansas, now desiring admission under a Con- stitution Republican in form, expressing the will ana wish of an over- whelming majority of her people, ought to be admitted as a sovereign member of the Union, speedily and without delay. 5. That we are in favor of the immediate passage by Congress of a Homestead Law, thereby giving out of our public domain homes to the homeless. 6. That the fiscal affairs of the State of Indiana have been badly managed. That State officers have been shown to be defaulters to large amounts, and suffered to go unprosecuted. That large amounts of the public moneys have been squandered to enrich officials and partisan favor- ites, and that when the representatives of the people sought to stop those peculations, by the passage of an "Embezzlement Bill" the Governor of the State vetoed that bill, and thus kept the doors of the treasury opened to be further robbed by dishonest partisans. 7. That it is the duty of every branch of the Federal Government to enforce and practice the most rigid economy in conducting our public affairs, and the acts of certain parties in high places, in cheating and de- frauding the government out of large and valuable tracts of the public lands, as well as a reckless Avaste and extravagant expenditure of the public money, by which the National Treasury has become bankrupt, and a borrower in the public markets, by the sale of bonds and treasury notes, meets our earnest condemnation. 8. That we consider the slave trade as justly held to be piracy by the law of nations and our own laws, and that it is the duty of all civilized nations, and of our public authorities to put a stop to it in all parts of the world. 1862] INDIANA, 18501900. 21 9. That we are in favor of equal rights to all citizens, at home and abroad, without reference to the place of their nativity, and that we will oppose any attempt to change the present Naturalization Laws. 10. That we regard the preservation of the American Union as the highest object and duty of patriotism, and that it must and shall be pre- served, and that all who advocate disunion are, and deserve the fate of traitors. 11. That we take this occasion to express our thanks to our Repub- lican members in Congress, from this and other States, for their persever- ance and triumphant success in the organization of the House of Repre- sentatives, in the election of high minded and national men, over the efforts of a corrupt, sectional and disunion party. 12. That a railroad to the Pacific Ocean, by the most central prac- ticable route, is imperatively demanded by the interests of the whole country, and that the Federal Government ought to render immediate and efficient aid to its construction. 13. That the soldiers of the war of 1812, who yet remain among us, deserve the grateful remembrance of the people, and that Congress should at once recognize their services by placing their names upon the pension rolls of the government. 14. That we are opposed to the retrocession of the Wabash and Erie Canal, as well as to the State becoming liable for any of the debts, or bonds for which the same was transferred to satisfy. DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, J862. (The Indianapolis Sentinel, January 9.) Resolved. 1. That we reaffirm and endorse the political principles that from time to time have been put forth by the National Conventions of the Democratic party. 2. That we are unalterably attached to the Constitution, by which the Union of these States was formed and established; and that a faithful observance of its principles can alone continue the existence of the Union, and the permanent happiness of the people. 3. That the present civil war has mainly resulted from the long con- tinued, unwise and fanatical agitation in the North, of the question of domestic slavery, the consequent organization of a geographical party, guided by the sectional platforms adopted at Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Phila- delphia, and Chicago, and the development thereby of sectional hate and jealousy, producing (as has long been foreseen and predicted by us) its counterpart in the South of secession, disunion, and armed resistance to the General Government, and terminating in a bloody strife between those who should have been forever bound together by fraternal bonds, thus bringing upon the whole country a calamity which we are now to meet as loyal citizens, striving for the adoption of that mode of settlement best calculated to again restore union and harmony. 4. That in rejecting all propositions likely to result in a satisfactory adjustment of the matters in dispute between the North and the South, 22 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1862 and especially those measures which would have secured the border slave States to the Union, and a hearty co-operation on their part in all consti- tutional and legal measures to procure a return of the more Southern States to their allegiance, the Republican party assumed a fearful responsibility, and acted in total disregard of the best interests of the whole country. 5. That if the party in power had shown the same desire to settle, by amicable adjustment, our internal dissensions before hostilities had actu- ally commenced, that the Administration has recently exhibited to avoid a war with our ancient enemy, Great Britain, we confidently believe that peace and harmony would now reign throughout all our borders. 6. That the maintenance of the Union upon the principles of the Fed- eral Constitution should be the controlling object of all who profess loy- alty to the Government, and in our judgment this purpose can only be accomplished, by the ascendancy of a Union party in the Southern States, which shall, by a counter revolution, displace those who control and direct the present rebellion. That no effort to create or sustain such a party can be successful which is not based upon a definite settlement of the question at issue bet\veen the two sections; and we therefore demand that some such settlement be made by additional constitutional guaranty, either in- itiated by act of Congress or through the medium of a National Con- vention. 7. That the Republican party has fully demonstrated its inability to conduct the Government through its present difficulties. 8. That we are utterly opposed to the twin heresies Northern section- alism and Southern secession, as inimical to the Constitution; and that freemen, as they value the boon of civil liberty and the peace of the coun- try, should frown indignantly upon them. 9. That in this national emergency the Democracy of Indiana, ban- ishing all feeling of passion and resentment, will recollect only their duty to the whole country; that this war should not be waged in the spirit of conquest or subjugation, nor for the purpose of overthrowing or interfer- ing with the rights or institutions of the States, but to defend and main- tain the supremacy of the Constitution, and to preserve the Union with all the dignity, equality and rights of the several States unimpaired; and that as soon as these objects are accomplished the war ought to cease. 10. That we will sustain, with all our energies, a war for the mainte- nance of the Constitution, and of the integrity of the Union under the Con- stitution; but we are opposed to a war for the emancipation of the negroes, or the subjugation of the Southern States. 11. That the purposes avowed and advocated by the Northern dis- unionists, to liberate and arm the negro slaves, is unconstitutional, insult- ing to loyal citizens, a disgrace to the age, is calciilated to retard the sup- pression of the rebellion and meets our unqualified condemnation. 12. That the total disregard of the writ of habeas corpus by the au- thorities over us, and the seizure and imprisonment of the citizens of loyal States where the judiciary is in full operation, without warrant of law and without assigning any cause or giving to the party arrested any oppor- tunity of defense, are flagrant violations of the Constitution and most alarming acts of usurpation of power, which should receive the stern rebuke of every lover of his country and of every man who prizes the se- curity and blessings of life, liberty and property. . 1862] INDIANA, 18501900. 23 13. That liberty of speech and of the press are guaranteed to the peo- ple by the Constitution, and none but a usurper would deprive them of these rights; they are inestimable to the citizen and formidable to tyrants only. And the attempts which have been made since our present unfor- tunate troubles, to muzzle the press and stifle free discussion, are exer- cises of despotic power against which freedom revolts and which can not be tolerated without converting freemen into slaves. 14. That the seizure of Slidell and Mason, on board a neutral vessel, on the high seas, was either in accordance with international law, and so legal, or else in violation of such law, and so illegal. If the former, we lament that our nation has been humiliated by their surrender, under a threat; if the latter, it was the duty of the Administration at once to have disavowed the act of their officer, and instead of incarcerating the captives in Fort Warren, to have immediately repaired the wrong by placing them, as far as practicable, in the same condition in which that officer had found them. In either event, the action of the Administration was vacillating and cowardly, and degrading to the dignity of a great nation. 15. That the action of the Republican party, as manifested in the partisan character of all appointments of the Administration to civil office; and, in holding party caucuses by the Republican members of Con- gress for the purpose of impressing upon the legislative action of that body the peculiar dogmas of that party, have demonstrated that their professions of "sacrificing party platforms, and party organizations, upon the altar of their country," are but so many hypocritical and false pre- tences by which they hope to dupe the unwary into their support; and we warn all loyal persons, as they love their country, not to be deceived thereby. 16. That the disclosures made by the investigating committee in Con- gress of the enormous frauds that have stalked into the army and navy departments, implicating the heads of those departments in a connivance at, if not an actual participation in a system of corruption, and in which our brave soldiers have been defrauded of their proper supplies, and our Government threatened with bankruptcy, demands a thorough investiga- tion into all our expenditures, both State and National, and that a speedy and marked example be made of all such "birds of prey," who, taking ad- vantage of the necessities of our country, have fed and fattened upon public plunder. 17. That the meritorious conduct of the Indiana troops, in every battle field where the victory has perched upon the national banner, has filled the people of this State with the highest gratitude to her gallant sons, and that we send our best wishes to officers and men, dispersed throughout the country, and the heartfelt greetings of every Democrat for their further brilliant achievements in the coming contests for the maintenance of the Constitution and the Union. POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1802 UNION (REPUBLICAN) PLATFORM, J862. (The Indianapolis Journal, June 19.) Whereas, the National Government is engaged in a war waged against it by its enemies for the avowed purpose of its destruction and the subver- sion of our Republican form of .Government, therefore Resolved, That the present civil war was forced upon the country by the dis-unionists in the Southern States, who are now in rebellion against the constitutional government; that in the present national emergency, we, the people of Indiana, in convention assembled, forgetting all former polit- ical differences, and recollecting only our duty to the whole country, do pledge ourselves to aid with men and money the vigorous prosecution of the present war which is not being waged upon the part of our Govern- ment for the purpose of conquest, subjugation or overthrowing or inter- fering with the rights of established institutions of any of the States, but to suppress and put down a wicked and causeless rebellion, defend and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution, and to preserve the Union SUB established by our patriot fathers, with all the dignity, equality and rights of the several States unimpaired, and when these objects are fully accomplished, and not before, we believe the war ought to cease; and that we invite all who coincide in these sentiments to unite with us in support of the ticket this day nominated. Resolved, That we demand and expect of our Executive and Legisla- tive bodies, both State and National, an economical administration of governmental affairs, and the punishment of fraud against the govern- ment, as well as a fearless discharge of their duties. Resolved That as long as patriotism, courage, and the love of consti- tutional liberty shall be honored and revered among the people of the United States, the heroic conduct of the soldiers of the Union, who have offered their lives for the salvation of their country, will be remembered with the most profound feelings of veneration and gratitude, and that we now tender to them the warmest thanks and lasting gratitude of every member of this Convention. Resolved, That we tender to the 60,000 volunteers from Indiana our heartfelt congratulations, and hail with pride the fact that upon every battle field where Indianians have been found, they have displayed the bravery of patriots in defence of a glorious cause, and we pledge them that while they are subduing armed traitors in the field, we will condemn at the ballot box all those in our midst who are not unconditionally for the Union. 18G4J INDIANA, 18501900. 25 DEMOCRATIC RESOLUTIONS, J864. (The Indianapolis Sentinel, July 13.) Resolved, 1. That we utterly condemn as revolutionary and subversive of the Constitution of our State, the action of Governor O. P. Morton in counseling the factions and lawless conduct of the Republican members of the last General Assembly,' and we wholly condemn their conduct in seceding from the House of Representatives, in violation of their official oaths and solemn duty, as representatives of the people, thereby defeating all necessary legislation, either in the making of appropriations to carry on the government of the State, or for the support and assistance of our sick and wounded soldiers, and we denounce as worthy of especial con- demnation the conduct of Governor Morton in usurping, for personal and partisan purposes, the power and functions of the coordinate departments of the government. 2. That we disapprove of, and condemn the action of Governor Morton in establishing a "financial bureau," an institution unknown to the Con- stitution, the laws, and the usages of the State of Indiana; in securing, dis- bursing and squandering the funds of the State; in borrowing money on the faith of the State and pledging the property and the energies of the people to pay such loans, and interest thereon, and in paying out such money in open and flagrant disregard of the Constitution and laws of the State, without any appropriation directing the payment thereof, and with- out any of the checks and safeguards that the wisdom and experience of the past have demonstrated were necessary for the safety, preservation and economical expenditure of the money of the people of the State. 3. That the suppression of the right of the writ of habeas corpus in States or places not in actual rebellion, and the suppression of the freedom of speech and of the press by the Administration, are alike crimes against civilization and the highest hopes and interests of mankind. 4. That the profligate and reckless expenditure of the public treasure by the administration, and its criminal inefficiency in the management of the general business and finances of the country, always either leading to or directly tolerating public immorality, or the shamelessly dishonest waste of the people's money, have brought the nation to the verge of bankruptcy and general ruin. 5. That the suppression of newspapers; the arrest of citizens without warrant, and their confinement in prisons without examination or trial; the denial of the right of asylum, and forcible seizure of subjects of for- eign powers and their delivery to agents of such Governments, without law or treaty, are criminal violations of civil liberty and the rights and privileges secured to the citizen and alien under the American Consti- tution. 6. That the failure of the Administration to promptly pay disabled or discharged soldiers, and pensions to the widows and children whose husbands and fathers have fallen in battle or died in camp or by the way- side, and the readiness with w r hich the powers at Washington audit and pay shoddy contractors, officers and placemen of the government, are cruel wrongs to the destitute and deserving, and merit the withering scorn of the American people. 2Q POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1864 7. That the noble and patriotic sons of Indiana, who, for love of country and a restoration of the Union as established by our fathers, have sacrificed the endearments of home for the hardships and perils of war, merit the thanks of the people of Indiana; that we will ever hold in grate- ful recollection the memory of those who have fallen in battle, and that it is the duty, and should be the highest pleasure of the people to make ample provision for the support of those who have received disabilities in the service of the country, and the thousands of widows and tens of thou- sands of orphan children, whose husbands and fathers have sacrificed their lives in defense of their country and honor of the American flag. 8. That a faithful adherence to the Constitution of the United States, to which the Democracy are pledged, necessarily implies the restoration of liberty, and the rights of the States under that Constitution unimpaired, and w r ill lead to an early and honorable peace. 9. That we cordially sympathize with the Democracy of Kentucky in their present subjugated condition, deprived of the rights of free men, and we will stand by them in a manly and lawful struggle to recover con- stitutional liberty. 10. That we pledge ourselves to cordially support the nominations made by this Convention. Resolved, That w r e, the Democracy of Indiana in State convention as- sembled, are in favor of maintaining personal and constitutional liberty, and we pledge ourselves to sustain our rights as citizens to the bitter end. UNION (REPUBLICAN) PLATFORM, J864. (The Indianapolis Journal, February 24.) 1. Resolved, That the cause of the Union demands of every patriotic citizen the sacrifice of every partisan feeling, of all selfish purposes, of all private ambition, and that no action of the Government, whether in accordance with our views of correct policy or not, can absolve any man from the duty to render every possible aid to crush the rebellion, by furnishing the Government men and means, counsel and encouragement. 2. That we hail with joy the indications of approaching peace, not by a compromise with rebels in arms, but by their complete and utter subjugation to the laws and constitution of the United States; and that we are in favor of the destruction of every thing which stands in the way of a permanent and perpetual peace against the people of all the States, and a full and complete restoration of the just authority of the Union under the Constitution of the United States. 3. That those who persist in their opposition to the Government in its hour of peril, who denounce its every act for the preservation of the Union, who refuse to contribute men or money for its support, or who organize secret combinations to embarrass the Government by resisting the laws and encouraging desertions, are hereby rendering the rebel cause more effective support than if they joined the rebel armies, and are entitled to and will receive the execration of all patriotic citizens to the latest posterity. 4. Resolved, That now, henceforth and to the end of time, the thanks of a grateful people are due to the rank and file of the army and navy, 18GG] INDIANA, 1850-1000. 27 to the officers and men, who on so many battle fields have perilled their lives in defence of their homes and of constitutional liberty, and by their patient endurance of trials and privations, by their dauntless courage and their devotion to the Union have covered themselves with imperishable renown. 5. Resolved, That in the midst of a civil war for the preservation of the life of the Government, and having confidence in the patriotism, the wisdom, the justice and the honesty of Abraham Lincoln, we regard his re-election to the position he now occupies as essential to the speedy and triumphant end of the war, and therefore, hereby instruct the delegates to be appointed by this Convention to represent this State in the National Union Convention, to cast their votes for his nomination. G. Resolved, That the gratitude of the American people is due to An- drew Johnson, of Tennessee, for his unselfish devotion to the cause of the Union, and his patriotic and successful efforts for the overthrow of the rebellion, and that we present his name as the choice of our people for the Vice-Presidency of the United States. 7. Resolved, That duty, patriotism, and the interests of Indiana, de- mand the election of Oliver P. Morton as her next Governor and we hereby declare him to be the Union candidate for that position. DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, J866* (The Indianapolis Journal, March 16.) 1. Resolved, That among the powers reserved to the States, that of withdrawal at will from the Union cannot "be found, and consequently, such doctrine can be asserted only as a revolutionary measure, and not peaceably as a right; and the late action of the Southern people, in resort- ing to such means as a mode of redress of grievances, was illegal, and had no sustaining principle but that of physical force, and that, having proved insufficient, those principles became remitted to their constitutional obli- gations or rights, of which obedience and protection are chief. 2. Resolved, That the principles avowed by President Johnson in his annual message, looking to the early practical restoration of all the States to their rights in the Union, meets with our hearty approval; and the action of the majority in Congress, dictated as it may be by revenge, fa- natacism, or thirst for political power, and being exerted to thrust such States out of the Union, we solemnly condemn; therefore, we cordially en- dorse the vote of the Freedmen's Bureau bill, and declare that in our judgment the courage displayed, the doctrines avowed, and the high sense of rights manifested in that message, and subsequent speeches, promise well for the future administration of the President, and we hereby pledge him the earnest and disinterested support of the Indiana Democracy in all his conflicts with that fanatical congressional majority in his laudible efforts to prevent them from changing or destroying our cherished form of government. 3. Resolved, That, in our opinion, the sole power of the Senate and House of Representatives over the admission of members to their re- 28 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1866 spective chambers, is confined to the "election, return and qualification of its members respectively;" that this convention further declares its conviction that Congress, in rejecting from representation eleven States acknowledged to be in the Union, by having their votes counted in favor of the Constitutional amendment abolishing slavery, the Senate and House have usurped powers not delegated to them by the Constitution, and are acting in violation thereof. We further believe that all members from the Southern States who have been lately elected, and possess the con- stitutional qualifications, should be immediately admitted and upon the refusal of Congress to admit the members of such States to their seats, it is the prerogative and duty of the President of the United States to defend and uphold the integrity of every State now in the Union, and "to take care that the laws be faithfully executed." 4. Resolved, That we are inflexibly opposed to a prohibitory or pro- tective tariff, for the reason that it largely increases the price of all articles of consumption, and decreases the revenues of the Government, that it operates greatly to add to the honerous burdens of industry, while it yearly adds fabulous wealth to the manufacturing interests of New England, and that it is oppressive to the great agricultural interests of the north west, in making such interest subservient to that of the manufac- turing, by greatly decreasing the profits of the former, and largely in- creasing that of the latter. 5. Resolved, That we declare it to be a just principle that taxation and representation should go together that property of every descrip- tion, whether houses, lands or merchandise, or government bonds, should bear its fair share of taxation, and that there should be no "favored classes" on the duplicate. The man who has money to buy bonds, and live on the interest, is exempt, and contributes not a dollar to support State, county or city. As Democrats, we are compelled to say that these laws are unjust, oppressive, and should be changed. We believe that the men who voted for them should not be trusted, and that the party which sustains them should not have charge of this government. We ask that all men pay in proportion to their wealth, their means and their ability. 6. Resolved, That the repudiation of the rebel debt by the Southern States themselves, by solemn enactment, has relieved the people of the nation from all apprehension that they will ever be called upon to pay any portion of the same; but if this is not deemed suflicient, the De- mocracy hereby declare that no portion of that unjust debt shall ever be paid with our consent. -7. Resolved, That the soldiers who left the comforts of a home to sus- tain the flag of our country, are entitled to, and should receive, the heart- felt thanks of a grateful people. And those who early rushed to the standard should, by the action of Congress, be equally remunerated, by an equalization of bounties, or otherwise, with their brethren who, at a later day, were called upon to fill that highest duty of a citizen. 8. Resolved, That we will cheerfully and heartily sustain the man who, in an official capacity, either State or National, shall be guided by the principles we this day avow; and in so doing, we will not let party affiliations prejudice our actions. 1866] INDIANA, 18501900. 29 9. Resolved, That the vote of the House of Representatives conferring the right of suffrage on negroes, against the almost unanimous vote of the people of the District of Columbia, shows a recklessness which none but fanatics would defend, and none but tyrants practice; and we hereby denounce that vote as a precursor of universal negro suffrage, and to other outrages upon the rights and liberties of the people of the various States. 10. Resolved, That we are opposed to the repeal of the 13th article of the Constitution of Indiana prohibiting negroes and mulattoes from settling in this State, and now, more than ever, deprecate the entrance of that class of persons within its borders; and we most emphatically con- demn and disapprove the action of the Republican majority in the late General Assembly of Indiana in passing through the House a joint resolu- tion providing for the abrogation of that article in the Constitution. 11. Resolved, That we are in favor of the Legislature, by friendly enactments, encouraging immigration to this State. 12. Resolved, That eight hours in twenty-four is as long as a laboring man can work and have left 10 him sufficient time for rest and improve- ment; and we therefore insist that it shall be declared by statute that eight hours shall constitute a legal day's work. 13. Resolved, That we 'are in favor of religious toleration, as the founders of our Democratic institutions achieved and understood it, and which they secured to all our people by constitutional guarantees; and we declare that this great principle, and the personal rights of every citizen, ought to be maintained free from invasion, either by means of Legislative interference, or the equally tyrannical proscription of political parties, founded on bigotry and intolerance. 14. Resolved, That the immense frauds, in financial, cotton and other matters, practiced by the State and Federal governments, under abolition rule, is deserving the stern condemnation of this convention. 15. Resolved, That all prohibitory liquor laws, or laws affecting the private rights of citizens to use their own time in innocent pursuits, or to force men to abstain by law, under pains and penalty, are injurious to the cause of personal temperance and morality, and should be discounte- nanced. The agencies of moral suasion are more in consonance with the character of our people and their institutions. The luxury of doing right without constraint is, to all men, an ennobling sentiment. We further believe that the people of Indiana have had enough of "Maine lawism" under the fanatical rule of men opposed to the Democratic party in days gone by, and, with our consent, that kind of legislation shall never be re-enacted in this State. We are equally hostile to the pet law of Republican fanatics, defeated by Democratic votes at the late extra session of the General Assembly, and all kindred legislation. We shall oppose all .radical temperance and other schemes having for their object the annoyance of any class of our people. 10. Resolved, That Senator Hendricks, and Representatives Niblack, Kerr and Voorhees, by their untiring devotion to constitutional liberty, have shown themselves true patriots; and the expulsion of Mr. Voorhees from the House we denounce a high-handed outrage of a profligate, un- scrupulous party. POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [I860 UNION (REPUBLICAN) PLATFORM, J866. (The Indianapolis Journal, February 23.) Resolved, That we have full faith in President Johnson and his Cabi- net, and in the Union members of both Houses of Congress, and in the sincere desire and determination of all of them to conduct the affairs of the Government in such manner as to secure the best interests of the whole people; and we hereby declare that we will sustain them in all constitutional efforts to restore peace, order and permanent union. Resolved, That in Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, we recognize a patriot true, and a statesman tried, that we will support him in all his Constitutional efforts to restore national authority, law and order among the people of the States lately in rebellion, on the basis of equal and exact justice to all men; and that we pledge to the Administration, Executive and Legislative, our united and hearty co-operation in all wise and prudent measures devised for the security of the Government against rebellion and insurrection in times to come. Resolved, That whilst we endorse the President of the United States in his Constitutional efforts for the safety of the Union, and the restoration of law and order, we do hereby express our entire confidence in the Union majority in Congress, and pledge to it our cordial support. Resolved, That it is the province of the legislative branch of the Gen- eral Government to determine the question of reconstruction of the States lately in rebellion against that Government; and that, in the exercise of that power, Congress should have in view the loyalty of the people in those States, their devotion to the Constitution, and obedience to the laws; and until the people of those States, by their acts, prove themselves loyal to the Government, they should not be restored to the rights and position enjoyed and occupied by them before their rebellion. Resolved, That the Constitution of the United States should be so amended that no representation in Congress, or the Electoral College, shall be allowed to any State, for any portion of her population that Is excluded from the right of suffrage on account of race or color. Resolved, That, under the Constitution of the United States, the power to determine the qualifications requisite for electors in each State rests with the States respectively. Resolved, That in the election of Abraham Lincoln and Andrew John- son to the highest offices in the gifts of a great people, and in the libera- tion of four millions of oppressed people as an incident of the war for the Union, the nation has approached the perfection of free government, which makes merit, and not birth or property, the basis of public con- fidence, and secures universal intelligence and freedom, and the honor and dignity of human labor. Resolved, That the Union of these States has not been, and cannot be dissolved except by a successful revolution; but that after the suppression of a formidable rebellion against the General Government, we declare that the Government may, and should hold in abeyance the powers of the rebellious States, until the public safety will allow of their restoration. 1866] INDIANA, 18501900. 3^ Resolved, That it is the duty of the Government of the United States to see that emancipation shall be thorough and complete; that no State legislation shall be tolerated which will tend to keep the blacks a subject and servile race, and that full protection to life, liberty and property, shall be guaranteed to them by National legislation. Resolved, That no man who voluntarily participated in the rebellion ought to be admitted to a seat in Congress, and that the law excluding them therefrom ought not to be repealed. Resolved, That the constitutional provision, "that tne citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States." shall be enforced by proper congressional legislation. Resolved, That the assumption of the rebel debt and the direct or in- direct repudiation of that of the General Government, are alike measures which can receive favor only from the enemies of the country; that we de- nounce both as but part of that treason which in the South was lately in armed conflict with the National authority, aided in the North by the whole influence of a corrupt political organization which now has the effrontery to seek power over a country it sought to destroy. Resolved, That the country owes a debt of gratitude to the soldiers and sailors lately composing the armies and navies of the Union, which no language can express, and that we shall co-operate with them, at the ballot-box, in excluding from places of public trust in Indiana, those who during the rebellion, plotting treason, sought to bring disaster to the Flag, and disgrace upon the brave men who upheld it with their lives upon the battle field. Resolved, That justice and duty demand the bounties of our National defenders should be so equalized in land grants or money, as to render the amount received by those who entered the service in the first years of the war. equal to the highest sums paid by the Governm?nt to those who subsequently volunteered. Resolved, That a rigid economy in public expenditures is absolutely essential to the maintenance of the national credit, and that measures of taxation should be so framed that the plighted public faith shall suffer no dishonor, and the public burdens be equally borne by all classes of the community in proportion to their wealth. Resolved, That, sympathizing with every effort to elevate the great mass of the people to a condition of the highest intelligence, we approve the movement in favor of the laboring population to reduce the time of toil to eight hours per day, and to give practical effect to this declaration we respectfully request the next General Assembly of this State to pass a law making eight hours the rule for a day's labor in all cases, except where the parties interested shall expressly make a different agreement. Resolved, That we are decidedly in favor of bringing the late rebel leader, Jeff Davis, to trial for treason against the Government, as soon as a fair and impartial trial can be had before a competent tribunal, and if convicted, to the end "that treason may be made odious," that he be punished as prescribed by law. Resolved, That we most heartily indorse the administration of Oliver P. Morton, as Governor of Indiana, and tender him our gratitude for his humane and patriotic treatment of her soldiers; and that we deeply sympa- thize with him in his recent afflictions. /^ o (( UNIVERSITY \ 32 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [18(38 Resolved, That we have implicit confidence in the intelligence and patriotism of Acting Governor Baker, and we rejoice tnat in the absence of Gov. Morton, the Executive Department of the State Government is so ably and impartially administered, and we hereby tender him our full confidence. DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, 1868* (The Indianapolis Journal, January 9.) 1. Resolved, That language is not adequate to express our abhorrence and condemnation of the Radical reconstruction policy of Congress a policy condemned by every consideration of justice and constitutional obligation; a policy fraught with the most alarming apprehensions of evil to ten States of the Union, and of destruction to the Union itself; a policy that largely increases taxation; a policy that requires a large standing army, which adds nearly one hundred million dollars annually to the expenses of the Government, while it beggars the people; a policy the avowed object of which is to continue in power the most venal and cor- rupt political party that ever dishonored any civilization; a policy vindic- tively enacted and mercilessly prosecuted with the unconstitutional pur- pose of centralizing and perpetuating all political powers of the Govern- ment in the dominant Radical party in Congress, and a policy which if not early arrested by the American people, will sooner or later overwhelm our national Government in one common and appalling ruin. We demand the unconditional repeal of the act of Congress conferring exclusive rights or privileges upon any class or classes of citizens at the expense of other classes. 2. That we demand the unconditional repeal of acts of Congress, con- ferring exclusive rights or privileges upon any class or classes of citizens at the expense of other classes. 3. That the national bank system organized in the interest of the bondholders ought to be abolished, and United States notes substituted in lieu of the national bank currency, thus saving to the people in interest alone more than eighteen million dollars a year; and, until such system of banks be abolished, we demand that the shares of such banks in Indiana shall be subjected to the same taxation, State and municipal, as other property of the State. 4. That the bonds and other securities of the United States and every description of property should bear equal proportion of taxation for State, county, and municipal purposes, and to that end the bonds ?md other securities of the United States ought to be taxed by Congress for national purposes in amount substantially equal to the tax imposed on property in the several States for local purposes. ."). That we are in favor of the payment of the Government bonds in Treasury notes, commonly called greenbacks, except expressly made pay- able in gold by law, at the earliest practicable point. 6. That the unjust and iniquitous tariff laws now in force ought to be repealed, and the tariff adopted looking to revenue only. 1868] INDIANA, 18501900. 33 7. That the monstrous extravagance of the Republican leaders in the administration of government at all times, and all places, has been profli- gate to an extent unexampled in history; and for the hundreds of millions of dollars expended by them since the termination of the war, they have nothing to show save several States under a military despotism, oppres- sive law^s, usurped power, and a mutilated Constitution; that the burden of taxation, too grievous to be borne, demands their removal from all places of trust, and a thorough course of retrenchment and reform. 8. That we are opposed to conferring the right of suffrage on negroes. We deny the right of the General Government to interfere with the ques- tion of suffrage in any of the States of the Union. 9. That it is the duty of the United States to protect all citizens, whether native-born or naturalized, in every right at home and abroad, without regard to the pretended claim of foreign nations to perpetual allegiance. 10. That the attempt to regulate the moral ideas and aspects of the people by legislation is unwise and despotic, and we are opposed to that class of legislation which seeks to prohibit the people from the enjoyment of all proper appetites and amusements. 11. That we shall ever hold in sacred recollection the dead who freely sacrificed their lives for the defense of our glorious Union, that the present and future generations might enjoy the rich inheritance of a form of government that secures an equality of rights and privileges to all the citizens thereof; that the nation owes to the surviving soldiers and sailors of the Union the highest marks of praise and gratitude for the great sacri- fices they made in the late war, and to those disabled in the service of the Union, and the widows and orphan children of those who fell in battle, or died of wounds, or in the military service of the Union, such personal aid as will enable them to enjoy the substantial necessaries of life. 12. That we recognize in the restoration measures of Andrew John- son, President of the United States, a policy which would have given peace, security, and prosperity to the State, and dispelled the dark clouds caused by the vindictive measures of a Radical Congress. The adoption of the President's policy would, in our opinion, have saved the nation the expenditure of untold millions of treasure, lessened the burden of taxation, secured peace to the South, and prosperity to the Union. 13. That Major-General Hancock, by his order at New Orleans, rein- stating the civil law and dethroning the military despotism, has mani- fested the highest respect for constitutional liberty, for which he deserves the commendation of all friends of constitutional government, and who revere the noble profession of arms. Like the great' and good Washing- ton, this gallant soldier had learned to respect the civil rights of all good citizens, and to declare that in time of peace military tribunals should have no place in our jurisprudence. Eternal honor to the soldier who refused to rise above the laws! 14. That we congratulate the Democracy of our sister State of Ohio on the gallant political campaign closed on the 8th day of October, 1867 a campaign marked by the highest order of devotion, ability, and effect, and that prominent and close in the association in the minds of our fel- low-citizens of Indiana stands the name of the Hon. George H. Pendleton, identified with the vital measures upon which our party enters the canvass 3 Platforms. 34: POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1868 for 1868, together with his ability as a statesman and his high personal qualities. All these entitle him to the commendation of the convention as a true and consistent Democrat, and one who has our entire confidence and preference. THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, J868. (The Indianapolis Journal, February 21.) The Union Republican party of Indiana, assembled in convention at Indianapolis, on the 20th day of February, 1868, to consult in reference to the present condition of the country, make the following declaration of principles: First. The Congressional plan of reconstruction was made necessary by the rejection of the Constitutional amendments, and the continued rebellious spirit of the Southern people; and if they will not, upon the con- ditions prescribed by Congress, become the friends of the Union, it is the duty of Congress to do whatever the emergency requires to prevent them from doing harm as enemies. Second. The extension of suffrage to the negroes of the South is the direct result of the rebellion and continued rebellious spirit maintained therein, and was necessary to secure the reconstruction of the Union and the preservation of the loyal men therein from a state worse than slavery, and the question of suffrage in all the loyal States belongs to the people of those States under the Constitution of the United States. Third. The government of the United States should be administered with the strictest economy consistently with the public safety and interest. Revenue should be so laid as to give the greatest possible exemption to articles of primary necessity and fall most heavily upon luxuries and the wealth of the country, and all property should bear a just proportion of the burden of taxation. Fourth. The public debt made necessary by the rebellion should be honestly paid; and all the bonds issued therefor should be paid in legal tenders, commonly called greenbacks, except where, by their express terms, they provide otherwise; and paid in such quantities as will make the circulation commensurate with the commercial wants of the country, and so as to avoid too great inflation of the currency, and an increase in the price of gold. Fifth. The large and rapid contraction of the currency, sanctioned by the votes of the Democratic party in both Houses of Congress, has had .a most injurious effect upon the industry and business of the country; and it is the duty of Congress to provide by law for supplying the de- ficiency in legal tender notes, commonly called greenbacks, to the full extent required by the business wants of the country. Sixth. We are opposed to the payment of any part of the rebel debt, or to any payment whatever for emancipated slaves. Seventh. Of all who were faithful in the trials of the late war, there are none entitled to more especial honor than the brave soldiers and sea- men, who endured the hardships of campaign and cruise, and imperiled 1868] INDIANA, 18501900. 35 their lives in the service of their country; the bounties and pensions pro- vided by law for these braves defenders of the nation are obligations never to be forgotten; the widows and orphans of the gallant dead are the wards of the nation a sacred legacy bequeathed to the nation's pro- tecting care. Eighth. The public lands are the property of the people; the monopo- lies of them, either by individuals or corporations, should be prohibited; they should be reserved for actual settlers; and, as a substantial recogni- tion of the services of the Union officers and soldiers in the late civil war, they should each be allowed one hundred and' sixty acres thereof. Ninth. The doctrine of Great Britain and other European powers, that because a man is once a citizen he is always so, must be resisted at every hazard by the United States, as a relic of the feudal times, not authorized by the law of nations, and at war with our national honor and independence. Naturalized citizens are entitled to be protected in all their rights, of citizenship, as though they were native born, and no citi- zen of the United States, native or naturalized, must be liable to arrest and imprisonment by any foreign power for acts done or words spoken in this country; and, if so arrested and imprisoned, it is the duty of the gov- ernment to interfere in his behalf. Tenth. We cordially approve the course of the Republican members of Congress in their active support of the bill prohibiting a further con- traction of the currency, in which they faithfully represented the will of the people of Indiana. And this convention expresses their unwavering confidence in the wisdom and patriotism of Oliver P. Morton his devotion to the vital interests of the nation during the past six years has endeared him to every lover of the Union, and Liberty, and we send greeting to him, in the American Senate, and assurance to him of our unqualified endorsement of his course. Eleventh. General Ulysses S. Grant, and the Hon. Schuyler Colfax are the choice of Indiana for President and Vice-President of the United States; and this convention hereby instruct the delegates to the National Convention to cast the vote of Indiana for these gentlemen. 36 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1870 DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, J870. (The Indianapolis Sentinel, January 10.) That the Federal Union, with all the rights and dignity of the several States, should be preserved; and to secure that great national blessing the Constitution must be respected and observed and every approach to cen- tralized despotism defeated, whether attempted by Congress or the Executive. That recent events have, more than ever, convinced us of the in- famous and revolutionary character of the reconstruction measures of Congress, and we denounce these measures as an invasion of the sovereign and sacred rights of the people and of all the States. That the independence of the Supreme Court of the United States is essential to the safety and security of the States and the people; and we declare that the measures of Congress having in view the destruction of the powers of that Court, to adjudicate on the constitutionality of the enactments of Congress is a dangerous evidence of the usurpations of the legislative over the judicial department of the Government. That we are in favor of a tariff for revenue only; and we demand that the burdens of taxation shall be fairly and equally adjusted, and that such an adjustment can not be made without striking from the statute book the present unjust and odious tariff laws a system of taxation based upon favoritism, and which has destroyed American shipping and com- merce, oppressed the people of the great agricultural regions which com- pels the many to pay to the few, and which has built up monopolies that control not only every American market, but also the legislation of Congress; and we demand that the prime articles of necessity, such as tea, coffee, sugar and salt, shall be placed upon the free list. That we are willing to pay our national debt, in strict compliance with our contracts, whether it was made payable in gold or greenbacks, but we are unwilling to do more than that; and we declare that the five- twenty bonds are payable in greenbacks, or their equivalent; and we con- demn the policy of the Administration which is squandering millions of money by buying such bonds at a high rate of premium, when the Govern- ment has the clear right to redeem them at par. That the National Bank system, organized in the interest of the bond- holders, ought to be abolished, and greenbacks issued in lieu of such bank paper, thus saving millions annually to the people, and giving to the whole people (instead of the few) the benefits of issuing a paper currency. That the business of the country demands an increased and main- tained volume of the currency; and the burthen of the public debt, the high rate of interest and taxation imperatively forbid the contraction of the currency in the interest of the bondholders. That the shares of stock in the National Banks ought to be subjected to school and municipal taxation on the same conditions, as other prop- erty; and we demand of our State Legislature that the shares of such Banks shall be subjected to equal taxation with other property of the State. 1870] INDIANA, 18501900. 37 That the bonds of the United States ought to be taxed by Congress for national purposes to such an extent as will substantially equalize the taxation of such bonds with other property subject to local taxation. That we denounce the action of our last Legislature in attempting to force upon the people the proposed' fifteenth amendment to the Constitu- tion of the United States, as in palpable violation of our State Constitu- tion, and we solemnly protest against Indiana being counted for said amendment; and we hereby declare our unalterable opposition to its rati- fication. That any attempt to regulate the moral ideas, appetites, or innocent amusements of the people by legislation is unwise and despotic. That we are opposed to any change in the naturalization laws of the United States, whereby admission to citizenship will be made more diffi- cult or expensive; and we especially denounce the proposed plan of trans- ferring the naturalization of aliens to the Courts of the United States and in abridging the powers of State courts in that respect, as a hard- ship and expense to the poor and friendless candidate for American citi- zenship; we recognize the proposed change as the off-shoot of intolerant "Know-Notliingism" the "twin relic" of Radicalism itself. THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, J870. (The Indianapolis Journal, February 23.) The Union Republican party of Indiana, assembled in Convention at Indianapolis, on the 22d day of February, 1870, makes the following dec- laration of principles: I. We congratulate the country on the restoration of law and order in the late rebellious States, under the reconstruction measures adopted by the General Government, and upon the prevalence of peace and return of fraternal feeling among the people of all the States, under a Constitution, securing an equality of political and civil rights to all citizens, without distinction of race or color. II. FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT. That we reverence the Constitution of the United States as the Supreme law of the land, and a wise embodiment of the principles of free government, and following its teachings we will adopt from time to time such amendments as are necessary more completely to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility and secure the blessings of liberty to our- selves and our posterity; and that we rejoice at the ratification of the Fifteenth amendment which forever secures an equality of political rights to all men, and we extend to the colored man a helping hand to enable him in the race of life to improve and elevate his condition. 38 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1870 III. NATIONAL DEBT. That the national debt created in the defense and preservation of the Union, however great the burden, must be cheerfully borne, until honor- ably and honestly extinguished in accordance with the letter and spirit of the several laws authorizing the debt; and that all attempts at repudia- tion of principal or interest should meet the scorn and denunciation of an honest and patriotic people. IV. ECONOMY. That we demand in every department of the Government, from -the highest to the lowest, the strictest economy in all expenditures, consistent with the requirements of the public service; the reduction and abolish- ment of all extravagant fees and salaries; the closing of all useless offices, and the dismissal of their incumbents, and all efforts to these ends in Congress, or elsewhere, have our unqualified approval. V. REDUCED TAXES. That a reduction of taxation is demanded, both of tariff and internal taxes, until it reaches the lowest amount consistent with the credit and necessities of the Government; and that we are in favor of a tariff for revenue, believing that a proper adjustment of duties must necessarily afford all the incidental protection to which any interest is entitled. VI. CURRENCY. That we are in favor of a currency founded on the national credit, as abundant as the trade and commerce of the country demand; and that we disapprove of all laws in reference thereto which establish monopoly or inequality tnerein. VII. LANDS AND SUBSIDIES. That we are opposed to the donation of the public lands, or the grant of subsidies in money to railroads and other corporations; and that we demand the reservation of the public domain for the use of actual settlers and educational purposes. VIII. SOLDIERS AND SAILORS. That we reaffirm that "of all who were faithful in the trials of the late war, there are none entitled to more especial honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who endured the hardships of campaign and cruise 1870] INDIANA, 18501900. 39 and imperiled their lives in the service of their country, and the bounties and pensions provided by law for those brave defenders of the nation are obligations never to be forgotten, and should be paid without cost to the recipient. The widows and orphans of the gallant dead are the wards of the nation a sacred legacy bequeathed to the nation's protecting care." IX. ENDORSEMENT OF CONGRESS. That we approve the general course of our Senators and Republican Representatives in Congress, and express our full and entire confidence that they will act with wisdom and integrity in all that concerns the wel- fare of the people; and that we tender thanks to Senator Morton for his exertions in so shaping the legislation of Congress on the reconstruction of the late rebel States, as to secure the passage of the Fifteenth Amend- ment. X. ENDORSEMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION. That we endorse the administration of General Grant as President of the United States; accept the increased collections of revenue, the reduction of expenditures, and payment of a large portion of the public debt as a fulfillment of his promises of economy, and rejoice that the victorious General of the Union armies should, as a civil officer, receive the last of the rebel States in its return to the national family. XI. MORAL LEGISLATION. Inasmuch as all Republican governments depend for their stability and perpetuity on the intelligence and virtue of the people, it is the right and duty of the State and national authorities to establish, foster and secure the highest moral and intellectual development of the people. XII. COUNTY REFORM. The taxation for county and other local purposes has become so great as to be oppressive to the people; that our system of county administration needs reform, and we demand of our representatives in the Legislature such changes in the statutes of the State as will protect the people from extravagant tax levies by local authorities; and as an aid to this needed reform we favor a reduction of the fees of county officers to a standard which will furnish a fair and reasonable compensation for the services rendered, and that no officer should be favored with salary, fees, or per- quisites beyond such fair and reasonable compensation. 40 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1872 XIII. CANAL BONDS. That the canal stocks, issued under the legislation of 1840 and 1847, commonly called the "Butler Bill," were, by the terms of the contract, charged exclusively upon the Wabash and Erie Canal, its revenues and lands; and the faith of the State never having been directly or indirectly pledged for the payment or redemption thereof, said canal stocks there- fore constitute no part of the outstanding debts or liabilities of the State. That the Constitution of this State ought to be amended at the earliest practicable period, so as to prohibit the taking effect of any law or acts of the General Assembly proposing to recognize or create any liability of the State for the said canal stock, or any part thereof, until such proposition shall have been submitted to a direct vote of the people of the State and approved by them. XIV. ENDORSEMENT OF STATE ADMINISTRATION. That we heartily endorse the administration of our State affairs by Governor Baker, and his associate State officers, and especially congratu- late the people that the time is so near when the State debt will be en- tirely liquidated. DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, 1872. (The Indianapolis Sentinel, June 13.) Resolved, by the Democracy of Indiana, in convention assembled: That the principles of the Cincinnati Liberal Republican Convention, taken in connection with the propositions contained in Horace Greeley's letter accepting the nomination of that Convention, constitute a platform on which all the elements of opposition to the present corrupt Adminis- tration of the Federal Government can stand, and which propositions are as follows: 1. All the political rights and franchises which have been acquired through the late bloody convulsions must and shall be guaranteed, main- tained, enjoyed, respected evermore. 2. All the political rights and franchises which have been lost through that convulsion should and must be promptly restored and re-established, so that there shall be henceforth no proscribed class, and no disfranchised caste within the limits of our Union, whose long estranged people shall reunite and fraternize upon the broad basis of universal amnesty, with impartial suffrage. 3. That, subject to our solemn constitutional obligation to maintain the equal rights of all citizens, our policy should aim to local self-govern- ment, and not at centralization; that the civil authority should be supreme over the military; that the writ of habeas corpus should be jealously upheld as the safeguard of personal freedom; that the individual citizens 1872] INDIANA, 18501900. 4.^ should enjoy the largest liberty consistent with public order; and that there shall be no Federal supervision of the internal policy of the several States and municipalities, but that each shall be left free to enforce the rights and promote the well being of its inhabitants by such means as the judgment of its people shall prescribe. 4. That there shall be a real and not merely a simulated reform in the civil service of the Republic; to which end it is indispensable that the chief dispenser of its vast official patronage shall be shielded from the main temptation to^use his power selfishly by a rule inexorably forbidding and precluding his re-election. Resolved, That we regard it as unwise and imprudent to place two tickets in nomination for the office of President and Vice-President as the representatives of these principles, as the division of its friends would in- sure the defeat of both, and it is therefore the fixed conviction of this convention that the Democratic Convention to assemble in Baltimore in July should adopt the nominees of the Liberal Republican Convention, instead of making other nominations for the Presidency and Vice-Presi- dency of the United States. Resolved, That the delegates appointed from this State to the Balti- more Convention be, and they are hereby instructed to vote as a unit upon all questions in accordance with the opinion of a majority of the delegation. Resolved, That all drainage and other law T s by w r hich the owners of property may be divested of their title by arbitrary assessments or sum- mary process should be carefully guarded, so as to protect the people from undue oppression, and their property from being taken without just com- pensation and due process of law; and that all laws contravening these principles should be promptly repealed, or modified so as to conform thereto. Whereas, The Union soldiers and sailors, by their patriotism and courage in the great rebellion of 1861, preserved the life of the nation and made our public domain valuable; therefore, Resolved, That we demand for each of the living who was honor- ably discharged, and for the widows or orphans of the dead, one hundre'd and sixty acres of the public lands not heretofore entered, or given away by a Republican Congress to railroad corporations to be theirs absolutely, without requiring them to become actual settlers thereon. Resolved, That justice and equality demand that all soldiers who en- listed in the military service of the country during the war of the late rebellion, and who have been honorably discharged therefrom, shall have a bounty granted to them by Congress in proportion to the time they may have served, whether that time shall have been for three months or a longer period. 42 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1872 REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, J872. (The Indianapolis Journal, February 23.) 1. That in the future, as in the past, we will adhere to the principles of the Declaration of Independence, and firmly sustain the Constitution of the United States as the true basis of popular freedom; and will main- tain the equal rights of all men before the laAv; and .the authority of the National Convention against all false theories of State rights. 2. That we therefore approve of the acts of Congress, and of the ad- ministration, which put the rights of all citizens under the protection of the National authority when they are assailed by hostile legislation, or by the violence of armed associations, whether open or secret; and we demand the enforcement of the laws, that these rights may be securely and amply protected wherever and whenever invaded. 3. That we congratulate the country on the complete restoration of the Union; and now as heretofore, the Republican party remembers with gratitude our brave soldiers and seamen who imperiled their lives in the service of the country, and to whom as men who saved the nation in the hour of her peril we owe the highest honor; and we declare that our obligations to them shall never be forgotten, and we demand that the bounties and pensions now, or which may be provided for these brave defenders of the nation, shall be paid without cost to the recipients; and that the widows and orphans of the gallant dead, the wards of the nation, shall receive the nation's protecting care, and while we cheerfully assume all these burdens, we can not forget, and the American people can never forget, that to the Democratic party, South and North, we owe all the calamities of the late slave-holders' rebellion, and the debt now resting upon the industry of our State and nation. 4. That we indorse the action of Congress, and of the administration in maintaining the traditionary policy of the nation of living in friendly relations with other governments, yet avoiding entangling alliances with them, as evidenced in checking hostile expeditions from our shores, refus- ing to interfere in domestic revolutions, even where our sympathies are strongly enlisted, and agreeing to the arbitration of disputed claims, while demanding admission of the wrong done. 5. That we approve the action of Congress and of the present admin- istration in all their efforts to reduce expenditures in the several depart- ments, and in the reduction of the tariff and internal taxes as rapidly as trie exigencies of the Government will admit, while continuing to main- tain the public credit by the sure and gradual payment of the debt of the nation, and by discharging the obligations due her soldiers, sailors and pensioners. 6. That we favor all efforts looking to the development of the great industrial interests of the State, and we request our Senators and Repre- sentatives in Congress to use their influence, in any revision of the tariff; to secure to the coal and iron interests of our State all the incidental pro- tection consistent with a due regard to the principles of reducing the bur- den of taxation. 7. That the adherence of Congress and the administration to the pres- ent financial policy in spite of the hostility of political opponents has 1872] INDIANA, 18501900. 43 been fully justified by the payments made on the public debt, and in the stability, security and increased confidence it has given to all the business affairs of the country. 8. That the financial affairs of the State and Nation should be con- ducted on the principles of economy, and to this end all useless offices should be abolished, fees and salaries limited to a fair compensation for the services rendered, and by prohibiting the allowance of all perquisites, and by avoiding all unnecessary appropriations and expenditures; and in this State we favor the abolition of the offices of Agent of State and State Printer. 9. That we are opposed to granting further donations of public lands to railroads or other corporations, and demand that the public domain be reserved for the use of actual settlers, the discharge of the obligations of the country to its brave defenders, and the purposes of general education. 10. That Congress ought to interfere for the protection of immigrants, to shield them from the unjust exactions levied upon them in the shape of capitation taxes, under the laws of New York and other seaboard States; the true policy of the country being to extend a cordial invitation to the citizens of other countries to cast their lot with us, and share on terms of perfect equality the blessings which we enjoy. 11. That we approve the efforts being made for the vindication of honest government by the exposure, removal and punishment of corrupt officials, whether of municipalities, State or Nation; we hail such expo- sures, undeterred by fears of party injury, as proof of the integrity of the party; and we spurn the attempts of the opposition to turn these efforts at self-purifkation into proofs of party venality; and we. demand of all public officers honesty, sobriety and diligence in the discharge of their duties. And we announce our unrelenting hostility to all attempts by cor- porations, monopolies or combinations to influence elections, or the Legis- lature of the State, by the use of corrupt means. 12. That as a general dissemination of knowledge and learning among the people is essential to the existence of a free republic, we hold the public free schools to be the safeguard of our liberties, and pledge our- selves to cherish and maintain them. 13. That we are in favor of such a revision of our criminal code as will secure the more speedy and effectual administration of justice, and such wise and judicious legislation as will enforce individual responsibility for all acts affecting public interests. 14. That the efforts now being made by the working men of the nation to improve their own condition, and more completely to vindicate their independence of class subordination, meet our cordial approbation; and for proof that the Republican party is the true friend of the laborer, we point to the fact that while opposing all attempts to array capital and labor against each other as mutually destructive, it has been by the efforts of this party that labor was emancipated from the ownership of capital: free homesteads provided for settlers on the public domain; the hours of labor reduced and complete equality of rights established before the law; and therefore we invite working men to seek whatever further advantage or amelioration they may desire, within the embrace of the party of lib- erty and equality. 44: POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1874 15. That the joint resolution passed by the last General Assembly pro- posing to amend the Constitution so as to prohibit the Legislature from ever assuming or paying the canal debt which was charged exclusively upon the Wabash and Erie canal under the legislation of 1846 and 1847, commonly called the Butler Bill, ought to be adopted by the next General Assembly, and submitted to the people, to the end that it may be ratified and become a part of the Constitution. 16. That we endorse the administration of Governor Conrad Baker, and applaud the firm, able and courteous manner in which he has dis- charged the duties of his high office, and we greatly regret that he has not had the co-operation of a Republican Legislature to carry out the various measures proposed for the reformation of abuses, the protection of the people, against fraudulent canal claims and the further development of the immense resources of the State. 17. That our Senators and Republican members of Congress deserve the approbation of their constituents for the firm, able and energetic man- ner in which they have discharged their duties. 18. That the administration of General Grant has been consistent with the principles of the Republican party, and eminently just, wise and humane, and such as fulfills his pledges and deserves our cordial support. And, therefore, we instruct our delegates to the National Convention to vote for the renomination of Grant and Colfax as our candidates fo'r President and Vice-President. THE INDEPENDENT PLATFORM (DEMOCRATIC), 1874. (The Indianapolis Sentinel, June 11.) In making this call, and presuming to enter into competition with existing parties, it is meet that we should give to the world our reasons, as well as the remedies, we propose for the wrongs of which we com- plain. Starting, then, with the maxim that our government is founded on the sovereignty and consent of the governed, and its purposes to protect property and enforce natural rights, we acknowledge the broad prin- ciple, that difference of opinion is no crime, and hold that progress toward truth is made by difference of opinion, while the fault lies in bitterness of controversy. We desire a proper equality, equity and fairness, protec- tion for the weak, restraint upon the strong; in short, justly distributed burdens and justly distributed powers; these are American ideas, the very essence of American independence, and to advocate the contrary is un- worthy of the sons and daughters of an American republic. For our business interests we desire to bring producers and consumers, farmers and manufacturers, into the most direct and friendly relations possible. We wage no aggressive warfare against any other interests whatever; on the contrary, all our acts and all our efforts, so far as business is con- cerned, are not only for the benefit of the producer and consumer, but also for all other legitimate interests that tend to bringing these two parties into speedy and economical contact. Hence we hold that trans- portation companies of every kind are necessary to our success; that their 1874] INDIANA, 18501900. 45 interests are intimately connected with our interests, and harmonious action is mutually advantageous. We shall, therefore, advocate for every State the increase, in every possible way, of all the facilities of trans- porting cheaply to the seaboard or between home producers and consum- ers, all the productions of our country. We adopt it as our fixed purpose to open out the channels in nature's great arteries, that the life blood of commerce may flow freely. We are not enemies of railroads, navigable and irrigating canals, nor of any corporation that will advance our indus- trial interests. We are friendly to all laboring classes, but we hold that all class legislation, whereby these original and common elements, or the proceeds of the same, enhanced by intelligent labor, are prevented from their original design, and made to enure to the benefits of non-producers, and to the injury of producers, is wrong and subversive of the purposes of good government. That all ablebodied, intelligent persons should con- tribute to the common stock, by useful industry, a sum or quantity equal to their own support, and legislation should tend as far as possible to the equitable distribution of the surplus products. If these propositions are true, our government is wholly perverted from its true design, and the sacred names, democracy and republicanism, are the synonyms of despotism, and the parties represented thereby as now organized are engines of oppression, crushing out the lives of the people. We need only point to the facts that in this beneficent country of un- limited resources, with the land annually groaning beneath the products of human effort, the mass of the people have no supply beyond their daily wants; compelled from unjust conditions in sickness and misfortune, to become paupers. Pauperism and crime are the perplexing questions of all modern statesmanship, and it is with these we have to deal. How far these evils are connected with the abuses inflicted on labor, a superficial statesmanship seems not to perceive. Chattel slavery has been abolished, but the rights and relations of labor stand just where they did before the emancipation, in respect to the divisions of its products. The differ- ence lies only in the methods of abstracting the results and concentrating them in the hands of a few capitalists. Capital is now the master, and indicates the terms, and thus all laborers are -practically placed in the same condition of the slave before his emancipation. In thus placing them, the interest of all laborers become common, and they must fight the battle in unity if they would succeed. What, then, are the instru- mentalities by which these wrongs are inflicted? 1st. Banking and monied monopolies, by which, through ruinous rates of interest, the products of human labor, are concentrated in the hands of non-producers. This is the great central source of these wrongs, in and through which all other monopolies exist and operate. 2d. Consolidated railroads, and other transit monopolies, whereby all industries are taxed to the last mill they will bear, for the benefit of the stockholders and stock-jobbers. 3d. Manufacturing monopolies, whereby all small operators are crushed out, and the price for labor and its products are determined with mathematical certainty in the interest of the capitalists. 4th. Land monopolies, by which the public domain is absorbed, by a few corporations and speculators. 5th. Commercial and grain monopolies, speculating and enriching their bloated corporations on human necessities. We propose to restore 46 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1874 the government to its original purpose, and as far as possible to remedy these evils and remove their results. 1. By abandoning the gold basis fallacy, and establishing a monetary system, based on the faith and resources of the nation, in harmony with the genius of this government and adapted to the exigencies of legitimate commerce. To the end the circulating notes of the national and State banks, as well as all local currency, be withdrawn from circulation, and a paper currency issued by the government, which shall be a legal tender in the payment of all debts, public and private, duties on imports included, and declared equal with gold, the lawful money of the United States; this currency or money to be interchangeable at the pleasure of the holders for government bonds bearing a low rate of interest, say 3 65-100; the government creditors to have the privilege of taking the money or bonds at their election, reserving to Congress the right to regulate the rate of interest on the bonds and the volume of the currency, so as to effect the equitable distribution of the products of labor between money or non- producing capital and productive industry. 2. By paying the national debt in strict accordance with the laws under which it was originally contracted, gold, where specifically prom- ised, but all other forms of indebtedness, including the principal of the 5-20 bonds, should be discharged at the earliest option of the government in the legal tender currency of the United States, without funding it in long bonds, or in any way increasing the gold paying and untaxed obliga- tions of the government. Resolved, That we are in favor of the office seeking the man, and not the man the office; that we will endeavor to select men to fill the various offices who are honest and capable, without regard to former political opinions; that we detest bribery, corruption and fraud in obtaining votes, either by the use of money or whiskey, and will not support any man for office known to be guilty of the same; and that we are opposed to solicit- ing any man to fill the same office for more than one term in succes- sion, from the President down. Resolved, That we uncompromisingly condemn the practice of our pub- lic officers in receiving free passes from railroad managers. Resolved, That we denounce the action of our last Legislature and Rep- resentatives in Congress, and the Senate, for the increase of taxes, fees and salaries, and we will use all honorable means in our power to reduce the taxes, fees and salaries of all to a reasonable basis. Resolved, That we dejnand the reduction of all public expenditure, to the end that taxation may be reduced to the lowest possible limit. Resolved, That it is contrary to the policy of good government to en- courage litigation, and that the law allowing ten per cent, on judgments and the collection of attorney's fees off of defendant encourages litigation, favors capital, and is a source of corruption and subserves no good end, therefore, ought to be remedied by appropriate legislation. Resolved, That the present assessment laws of real estate imposes unequal and unjust burdens on the producing class, and favors capital and corporate wealth, and we demand its speedy amendment. Resolved, That we demand a change in our grand jury system, that their jurisdiction extend to felonies only. Resolved, That no party is worthy our confidence who denies the right of the people to restrict the abuses of the liquor traffic. 1874] INDIANA, 18501900. 47 THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, J874. (The Indianapolis Journal, June 18.) The Republican party appeals with pride and confidence to its past history, in proof of fidelity to its principles and its consistent discharge of duty to the country, in peace and war. These principles, and the meas- ures growing out of them, have been stamped with the public approval. There is no taint of suspicion now resting upon its honor as a party. It has so conducted public affairs that, at the last Presidential election, one of the ablest and most earnest defenders of its policy was accepted as the Democratic candidate for the Presidency thereby leaving that party no other hope of future success than may be found in a return to its original and abandoned organization, or in negative hostility to measures it has solemnly approved. It recognizes the fact that diversities of individual opinion will exist in reference to details of public policy, and does not seek or expect precise agreement among its members, in all such details. Unity in fundamental principles is all that can reasonably be expected in a country like ours, where the people are capable of intelligent thought. Unlike the Democratic party, it lays no claim to political infallibility. But it does claim that it has shown itself both ready and competent to resist every form of wrong and oppression to restrain injustice, to remove the public ills when they are known to exist; to condemn the conduct of dis- honest and faithless public agents, and to detect and expose abuses in the administration of government, even when practiced by its professed supporters. It has never failed in the work of reform, when shown to be necessary. No offender, detected in corruption, has escaped its condem- nation, no matter what party services he may have rendered. It has never endeavored to defeat the public will, but regards the people, and not mere party organizations as the primary source of all political power. By Credit Mobilier investigation its repeal of the "salary grab" saw the aboli- tion of the corrupting moiety system and of the Sanborn contract it has shown how readily it pays obedience to the public judgment. By its searching investigation into abuses in the District of Columbia and its prompt condemnation of administrative officers it has demonstrated its unabated hostility to the demoralizing doctrine that "to the victors belong the spoils of office." And having thus secured a record which defies im- peachment and brought the country into its present condition of peace and prosperity by measures which no party is reckless enough to assail it has left no practical differences to settle except upon mere questions of admin- istrative policy. And yet it is a progressive party wedded to no class and the especial interests of no class but as the party of the people it suits its policy to each step in the progress of those developments which marks the advancing eras of our prosperity. The Republicans of Indiana therefore assembled in State Convention, do hereby declare their unchangeable determination to adhere to all the fundamental principles of the Republican party, in so far as the future condition of the country shall require their enforcement. 1. As the Union remains unbroken, and the people of all the sections are again bound together as brethren by a common destiny and under a 48 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1874 common flag, we favor such measures as shall develop the material re- sources of every portion of it; secure to all, of every class and condition, full protection in all the just rights of person and property; remove all the acerbities of the past, and perpetuate the nation as the "Model Republic" of the world. 2. We recognize that as the true policy of government which shall harmonize all the diversified interests and pursuits necessarily existing in a country of such vast extent as ours; and as this can be done only by so directing legislation as to secure just protection and reward to every branch of industry, we are in favor of giving precedence to those measures which shall recognize agricultural and mechanical pursuits as entitled to the amplest protection and the fullest development; of putting a stop to large grants of the public domain to railroad corporations, and reserving it for settlement and cultivation; of improving the navigation of our great inland rivers; of securing cheap transportation and profitable markets for the products of argicultural and manufacturing labor; of encouraging such manufacturers as shall bring the consumer and the producer in the neigh- borhood of each other, and thus to establish mutual relations between them and those engaged in commerce and transportation; of properly ad- justing the relations between capital and labor in order that each may receive a just and equitable share of profits, and of holding those in the possession of corporate wealth and privileges in struct conformity to law, so that by these combined influences the people of all the varied pursuits may be united together in the common purpose of preserving the honor of the nation, of developing the immense resources of every section of the Union and of advancing the social and material prosperity of all its in- dustrial and laboring classes. 3. We are in favor of such legislation on the question of finances as shall make national banking free; as shall furnish the country with such an additional amount of currency as may be necessary to meet the wants of the agricultural, industrial and commercial interests of the country to be distributed between the sections according to population and such as, consistent with the credit and honor of the nation will avoid the pos- sibility of permitting capitalists and combinations of capital from con- trolling the currency of the country. 4. We are in favor of such a revision of our patent right laws as shall destroy the oppressive monopoly incident to the present system, and shall regulate and control the manufacture, use and sale of patent right articles, for the benefit alike of the inventor, consumer and manufacturer. 5. That the Republican party continues to express its gratitude to the soldiers and sailors of the republic for the patriotism, courage and self- sacrifice with Avhich they gave themselves to the preservation of the coun- try during the late civil war; and will especially recognize the services of the enlisted men by favoring the extension from time to time, as the ability of the Government will 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 main- tained this right, and it can not 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 1870] INDIANA, 18501900. 49 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 a beverage shall be per- mitted therein, and such as will hold the vendor responsible for all dam- ages resulting from such sales. 7. We favor the enactment of a law limiting the power of the Town- ship Trustee, County Commissioners, and municipal authorities to assess taxes, and increase township, county and municipal indebtedness. 8. Inasmuch as great abuses have grown up under our present system of fees and salaries, we demand such legislation as will so reduce and reg- ulate all fees and salaries as will allow no more than a fair and just compensation for services rendereu. 9. We look with pride and satisfaction upon our common school sys- tem, and regain! its munificent fund as a sacred trust to be faithfully and honestly administered, so that all the children of the State may be edu- cated in the duties of citizenship, and thereby become better able to per- petuate our popular institutions; and whosoever shall seek to strike it down, or to impair its usefulness, will meet our ceaseless and unrelenting opposition. 10. We have entire confidence in the integrity and honor of the Presi- dent of the United States; and our Senators and Republican Representa- tives in Congress are entitled to our thanks for the zeal with which they have represented the principles of the Republican party during the present sessiL\XA, 18501900. (39 nomination of his party friends to fill the vacancies about to occur in the boards of directors of said institutions. 12. We also approve of the repeal by said legislature of the infamous law passed by the former republican legislature for the settlement of decedents' estates, under which law estates were being consumed by court costs, and we declare in favor of all fees and salaries according to the necessities of the times, and that rigid economy shall be observed in every department of the State and Federal Government. 13. We also approve of the passage by said legislature, of the Metro- politan Police Bill, whereby a riotous partisan police, at the capital of the State, whose chief business was to labor to keep the republican party in power, was superceded by a strictly non-partisan police equally divided as to politics between democrats and republicans, and who are required by the law to preserve order and attend to regular police business, and for- bidden to interfere in elections. It is particularly appropriate that the State should have some voice in choosing the police of its own capital, where the State Treasury, public buildings, and archives and much public property are situated, and where its principal public officers reside, or periodically assemble, and about the greatest nuisance that can be inflicted upon a city is a mere partisan police chosen by a lot of ward bummers and low grade politicians and adventurers. We favor all measures that will elevate and purify municipal governments and make them protective of the interests of the whole people rather than of the party which, for the time being, happens to be in power. 14. AVe commend the act of the last democratic legislature in refusing an indirect subsidy to the contractors upon the New State House, and it is the sense of the democratic party of Indiana that no subsidy either direct or indirect, shall be hereafter voted to contractors on said building. 15. Resolved, That we are opposed to calling a convention to alter and amend the constitution of this State. Such a convention would be a great and useless expense, and would result in unsettling laws and systems now well established and understood, and which could not be as well understood under a new constitution for a quarter of a century. It will be wise in this matter to let well enough alone. The country has pros* pered and grown great under the present Constitution and it needs no tink- ering with at the present time, especially in the interest of any party seek- ing to invade the rights of private property and personal liberty now se- cured by the Constitution. And any amendments that may become neces- sary in the future should be made in the cheap, simple and just manner provided in the Constitution itself. 16. It is provided by the Constitution of this State that the liberty of the people should be protected and that their private property should not be taken without just compensation, and we are opposed to any change in the Constitution tending to weaken these safeguards, or to any legislation which asserts the power to take or destroy the private property of any portion of the people of this State without compensation, or which un- justly interferes with their personal liberty as to what they shall eat or drink, or as to the kind of clothing they shall wear, believing that the government should be administered in that way best calculated to confer the greatest good upon the greatest number, without sacrificing the rights of the person or of property, and leaving the innocent creeds, habits, 70 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1884 customs and business of the people unfettered by sumptuary laws, class legislation, or extortionate monopolies. While standing faithfully by the rights of property and personal liberty guaranteed to the people by the Constitution, we distinctly declare that we are in favor of sobriety and temperance, and all proper means for the promotion of these virtues, but we believe that a well regulated license system, and reasonable and just laws upon the subject, faithfully enforced, would be better than extreme measures which being subversive of personal liberty and in conflict with public sentiment, would never be effectively executed, thus bringing law into disrepute and tending to make sneaks and hypocrites of our people; Therefore we are opposed to any Constitutional amendment relating to the subject of the manufacture and sale of intoxicating and malt liquors. 17. Believing that the elections should be controlled by the people under State laws, and that the stability of our institutions depend upon fair elections and an honest count of the votes cast by the people, the democratic party demands a repeal of the laws enacted by the republican party designed to place the elections under federal control in violation of the rights of the States, and that it will hold up for the detestation of the people the supreme fraud of 1876-77 by which the will of the people was set aside and usurpers were placed in the two most important offices of the country. 18. The republican party stands arraigned at the bar of public opinion for its long and continued course of usurpation and misrule. It has disre- garded the rights of the people and of the States; it has held on to its ill- gotten poAver in defiance of the popular will by the corrupt use of money in the elections (especially in Indiana in 1880) and it has corrupted public morals by elevating to high places men who are known to be dishonest, and has continued during a period of peace a system of high taxation justi- fied only by a condition of war in which it had its origin, and to furnish a pretext for its continuance has favored every extravagant appropriation of the public money, entailed a burden on the people, and which is benefit only to those who share in the plunder. The remedy for these evils is an immediate change of administration. Let taxation be reduced to the end that the money shall remain in the pockets of the people instead of accumulating in the Treasury to tempt the cupidity of the venal and corrupt. 19. The continuance of the same party or set of men in power con- secutively for a great many years is naturally corrupting, and not in ac- cordance with the genius of our republican institutions. The long con- tinuance of the republican party in power, now nearly the quarter of a century, has led to Star-route and other frauds and corruptions frightful to contemplate, the full extent of which will never be known until the party is driven from power, which is now demanded by the best interests of the country; and we favor holding all public officers to a strict accounta- bility, and their prompt and severe punishment for all thefts of public money and corrupt mal-administration of office. 20. Resolved, That our confidence in, and esteem for Hon. Daniel W. Voorhees, our great representative in the United States Senate, continues unabated, and we cheerfully greet him, and his democratic associates from Indiana in the House of Representatives, with the plaudit, "well done, good and faithful public servants." 1884] INDIANA, 18501900. 71 21. Resolved, That it will be the mission of the democratic party to foster and build up the great business and material interests of the coun- try and restore the government to the purity of earlier days. To success- fully accomplish this a man should be placed in the presidential chair in whom the business men of the country, and the whole people have im- plicit confidence; a man fully endowed with all the qualities desirable in. the head of the great American Republic; a man with a pure and spot- less personal and political record, and always sound upon all the great questions of the times. We know Joseph E. McDonald of Indiana, to be such a man. We respectfully present his name to the people of the United States as worthy to be their President, and we hereby instruct the delegates from Indiana to the Democratic National Convention to support his nomination for that high office as a unit, and to use all honorable means to secure his nomination. THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1884. (The Indianapolis Journal, June 20.) The republicans of Indiana, in State convention assembled, ratify and adopt the platform of the recent national republican convention at Chicago as a comprehensive and sufficient declaration of their faith and purposes in respect to all questions of national scope and character; and they ratify and approve the nomination of James G. Elaine and John A. Logan for the offices of President and Vice-President of the United States, and pledge to them the earnest and united support of the republican party of Indiana. "I. We endorse with pride and satisfaction the pure, able, dignified, and patriotic administration of Governor Albert G. Porter. "II. We favor an appropriation by the legislature for the erection of a suitable monument to the memory of the loyal and brave sons of Indiana, who gave their lives to save the republic. "III. In the lapse of thirty-three years, by the increase of our popu- lation, and by the marvelous development of our material resources and the spread of intelligence, our state has outgrown the Constitution of 1851, and we therefore favor the calling of a convention at an early day, for the purpose of framing a new State Constitution, adapted to the present circumstances of a great and growing Commonwealth. "IV. We favor such change in the law as shall take the administra- tion of the prisons and the reformatory and benevolent institutions of the State out of the domain of party politics. "V. We regard the system of prison contract labor as a degrading competition with the labor of the honest citizen, and we favor its aboli- tion. "VI. We favor the enactment and enforcement of laws for the im- provement of the sanitary conditions of labor, and especially for the thorough regulation and ventilation of mines, under the supervision of the police authority of the State. 72 POLITICAL PLATFOlfMX. [1886 "VII. We renew the pledge of our devotion of the free, unsectarian public schools, a,nd will favor all measures tending to increase its effi- ciency, and especially such as will promote its usefulness as a prepara- tion for the practical duties of life. "VIII. The amendment of the Constitution of the State, which author- ized and contemplated a revision of the laws relating to fees and salaries ought not to remain a dead letter, and we favor the enactment of such laws as will place the compensation of all public officials upon a basis of fair compensation for services rendered. "IX. Recognizing with gratitude the services of the Union soldiers in defending the government against armed rebellion, we favor a just equalization and adjustment of bounties and pensions, and a liberal con- struction and application of all laws granting pensions to honorably dis- charged soldiers of the Union army. "X. We denounce the action of the democratic majority in the last General Assembly in enacting laws of purely partisan character whereby experienced, competent, and efficient officials were displaced, and mere politicians appointed, to the serious injury of the benevolent institutions of the State, including those for the deaf and dumb, the insane, the blind, the Boys' Reformatory, and the Soldiers' Orphan Home; and in the passage of a metropolitan police bill, by 'which, in cities of a certain population, the control of municipal affairs is taken from the citizens con- cerned and placed in the hands of a partisan state commission. THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, 1886. (The Indianapolis Sentinel, August 12.) Resoh T ed, That the democracy of Indiana, in convention assembled, cordially approves the administration of President Cleveland, for its ability, integrity and economy in the management of national affairs, and recognize in the President and members of his cabinet faithful and patri- otic servants. Resolved, That the Democrats of Indiana sincerely lament the loss of their honored and trusted leader, the late Thomas A. Hendricks. By his wise counsel and superb leadership the democracy of Indiana gained and enjoyed an enviable reputation for heroic and unselfish devotion to the principles of just government. The memory of our latfe beloved leader can not be better perpetuated than by a steadfast observance of his con- ciliatory counsel and patriotic teachings, to the end that the efforts of all true democratic citizens may be directed to the faithful application of those grand and ennobling principles that conduce to the welfare and happiness of a liberty loving people. We also profoundly deplore that during a brief period of time, the nation, and particularly the democratic party, has suffered the loss of four other eminent citizens, in the person of the gallant leader, George B. McClellan; the superb hero, Winfield Scott Hancock; the pure and wise statesman, Horatio Seymour; and more recently the demise of that dis- cerning statesman, sagacious counselor and profound political philoso- 18SG] IXDIAXA, l^nllinn. 73 pher, Samuel J. Tiki en. The career of these illustrious men may well serve as examples for those upon whom shall devolve the responsibility of leadership. Resolved, that taxation of the people for other purposes than raising revenue for the expenses of the government, economically administered, is robbery under the forms of law. We are, therefore, in favor of a reduc- tion of the present unjust tariff to a revenue basis, and we hereby reaffirm the principles laid down in the Chicago platform on that subject, and heartily indorse the action of the democratic representatives in Congress from this State for their fidelity to the cause of tariff reform. Resolved, That the action of the Democratic House of Representatives of the Forty-eighth and Forty-ninth Congresses in declaring forfeited and reclaiming from railroad corporations about one hundred millions of acres of land is hereby heartily endorsed and approved. That the ownership of real estate in this country by persons not citi- zens of the United States is injurious to true American interests and may be attended with many evil consequences. We therefore heartily approve the act of the last General Assembly in prohibiting the ownership of real estate in Indiana by aliens, and thereby repealing the act allowing aliens to hold and convey real estate passed by a republican legislature and approved by a republican Governor. And we specially approve of such legislation by Congress as shall effectually protect the public lands from such aliens' entry and ownership, so that the same may, as far as possible, be reserved for our own citizens. That the financial policy in which the gold and silver coin and paper money, readily convertible into coin, including the volume of United States notes now provided for by law, shall be the circulating medium; they insist that the surplus in the National Treasury shall be promptly applied in payment of the National public debt, and that taxation shall be reduced to the end that large accumulations in the Treasury beyond the proper necessities of the public service shall not occur, thus assuming honest and economical government, and relieving the people from unnecessary and oppressive taxation. Resolved, That the State Government of Indiana, in all its depart- ments, has been characterized by prudence, economy and wisdom, and we cordially endorse the same. Resolved, That the democratic party of Indiana is now, as it has al- ways been, opposed in principle to all sumptuary laws and prohibitory legislation, but it is in favor of just and proper measures for regulating traffic in spirituous and intoxicating liquors under a license system de- signed to repress the evils of intemperance, and it favors a reasonable in- crease of the license tax, discriminating between malt liquor and wines and distilled spirits so as to place the highest license on distilled spirits. The proceeds of such tax to be applied to the support of the Common Schools. Resolved, further, That we demand the abrogation of all laws, which do not bear equally upon labor and capital; the passage of stringent laws to promote the health and enhance the safety of employes of railways, manufacturing establishments and mining operations, and to compel the employers to make prompt payment of wages to those in their employ; the enactment of laws prohibiting the hiring out of convict labor in com- 74 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1886 petition with the honest laborers of the country, prohibiting the employ- ment of children under fourteen years of age in the mines and factories of the State, and, finally, that the importation of foreign laborers under contract be forever prohibited under stringent penal statutes. And we especially commend and approve the action of the last General Assembly in prohibiting the importation of foreigners and aliens under contract to perform labor within the State of Indiana. We demand such further legislation by Congress as may be necessary to prevent such importation of foreign laborers into this country, and we declare ourselves in favor of the strictest enforcement of acts prohibiting Chinese immigration both of these systems, being in our judgment, hostile and destructive of the best interests of the American laborer and mechanic. Resolved, That it is due to the memory of the brave men of Indiana who gave their lives for the preservation of the Government, that a suit- able monument should be erected at the capital of the State, and for that purpose we ask of the General Assembly of the State a liberal appro- priation. Resolved, That we are in favor of such revision of the law as will bring about a just and equitable valuation of the property of the State, in order that no county shall pay more than its just proportion of the State taxes. Resolved, That we approve the joint resolution proposing an amend- ment to the Constitution making the term of county officers four years. Resolved, That the democratic party is interested in the cause of lib- erty wherever and whenever it is being waged, and especially do we feel a profound sympathy with Ireland, and her friends in her struggle for Home Rule, and we confidently predict that that contest which has but fairly begun, will find no abatement of its strength, but will continue to grow until she achieves that position and power to which she is entitled as a brave and generous people. Resolved, That we cordially approve the recent legislation of Congress giving increased pensions to the widows and dependent parents of deceased soldiers, and to soldiers who were disabled in the Union army and we cordially approve all measures of legislation in behalf of the soldiers of the Union army who suffered in defense of their country and of their widows and orphans. Resolved, That in the enactment of all laws a strict regard should be had for the rights of the laboring masses; that taxation should be re- stricted to the lowest amounts required by an economical administration of public affairs; that wage-workers should be protected by legislation from the oppressive power of monopolies and corporations; and that all laws not in harmony w T ith the foregoing purposes should be repealed. 1886] INDIAXA, 18501900. 75 THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, J886. (The Indianapolis Journal, September 3.) The republicans of Indiana, in convention assembled, invoke the dis- passionate judgment of the people of the State upon the acts and record of the democratic party. Succeeding to power in the national govern- ment by virtue of unpardonable crimes against free suffrage, it has demonstrated its incapacity and insincerity by failure to redeem its pledges made to the people. Promising economy in public expenditures, the appropriations made by the last Congress, and approved by the President, were of unparalleled extravagance. Its attempts to legislate on tariff and finance served only to weaken public confidence, to paralyze industry, to check the returning tide of prosperity, and to interfere with the orderly and regular reduction of the public debt, which was so conspicuous a feature of republican administration. Under its control the civil service has been degraded by the appointment, not only of unfit persons, but of convicted criminals to posts of responsibility and honor. It has scandal- ized justice and decency by the methods inaugurated by the postoffice and other departments to distribute the offices to party workers, while it sought to placate the growing sentiment against the spoils system by false pretenses. The federal appointments made in Indiana are a fair sample of what has brought the cause of civil service reform into need- less disfavor and made its success an impossibility under democratic auspices. The attempt of the democratic House of Representatives to make odious pension legislation by adding a special tax bill to every pension measure (thus declaring that pensions should not be paid out of the general treasury) the spirit and language of numerous vetoes of meritorious pensions, and the failure of the Democratic House of Repre- sentatives to even reconsider them before adjournment of Congress, reveal the continued enmity of the democratic party to the Union soldier and his cause. Since its advent to power the old heresy of State sovereignty has been rehabilitated. In the Southern States, where the political strength of the party resides, the country has witnessed the resurrection of treason and traitors, the flaunting of the rebel flag, and the defiant expression of senti- ments at war with the integrity of the Union. The flag of the United States has been lowered in honor of a man who gained unique infamy by his despicable course as a public enemy; the services and memory of men held in reverence by loyal people have been attacked in Congress by those who were formerly in arms against the government; persons have been appointed to high office who have offensively declared the national government to be "bloody usurpation of natural rights;" and in federal appointments preference has been given to those who were most conspicu- ous in their service to the Southern Confederacy. Anxious for the full and complete harmonizing of all sections of the Union we can but repro- bate those evidences of hostility to the principles of the government. There can be no assurance of permanent safety and security until all peo- ple unitedly honor the Union, and as unitedly deplore the differences, which, in past years, so seriously threatened its overthrow. ( UNIVERSITY 76 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1880 In its relations with foreign governments the democratic administra- tion has conspicuously failed to maintain the .honor and dignity of the nation, and to protect the rights of American citizens. It has disfran- chised hundreds of thousands of voters in the North, by its failure to discharge an imperious moral obligation, imposed by the Constitution, for the admission of Dakota into the Union, for the same reason that led it to extinguish republican majorities in the Southern States by fraud and violence. The last legislature of Indiana was democratic in both branches by a majority of two-thirds. It passed apportionment bills, disfranchising nearly half the voters in the State in legislative and congressional elec- tions, thus accomplishing under the forms of law what it has accomplished elsewhere by the tissue ballot and the shotgun. It failed to redeem its pledges to the laboring classes made in its last platform, promising a reduction in the hours of labor on public works, the establishment of bureaus of labor statistics, the use of prison labor so as not to compete \vith free and honest labor, the prohibition of the em- ployment of children under fourteen years of age, the prohibition of the watering of corporate stocks. All bills which were even introduced to accomplish any of these things were defeated by democratic vote. It failed to pass a bill to restrain the manufacture and use of dyna- mite for the purpose of destroying life and property. It failed to amend the extravagant fee and salary bill; it defeated measures introduced by republicans to limit the excessive allowances of county officers; it refused to cut dow r n the enormous perquisites of the Reporter of the Supreme Court; it refused to provide means for ascertain- ing and recovering from the clerk of that court sums of money due from him and wrongfully withheld; it forced upon the State at great expense and without just cause, an extra session of the General Assembly; and although it appropriated four and one-half millions of dollars, it crippled our educational institutions by insufficient allowances and left unpaid just debts of the State, due to private citizens, by refusing to pass the specific appropriation bill. It failed to provide the citizens of the State w T ith the speedy justice guaranteed in the Constitution, by defeating all measures for the relief of the overcrowded condition of the docket of the Supreme Court. It failed to obey the imperative mandate of the Constitution to enact a law providing for the registration of voters in the interest of free and fair elections. It failed to comply with the just demands of our colored citizens for equal rights, and a bill to secure such rights, introduced by a representa- tive of the negro race, was defeated through democratic opposition. It failed to honor its profession favoring civil service reform, "so that honesty and capability might be made the condition of public employ- ment." It defeated a bill for this reform introduced and unanimously supported by republicans. It consigned the benevolent institutions to cor- rupt and partisan boards; it surrendered the management of feeble- minded children, and the orphans of our Union soldiers, to trustees and care-takers, by whom they were debauched, outraged, handcuffed, confined in dungeons, and maltreated under circumstances of unspeakable bar- barity. 1886] It failed to investigate the acts of the democratic Treasurer of State, after it was proved and admitted that large sums of money had been lost; that he had used the moneys of the State and received interest thereon, in violation of the criminal statutes; and, notwithstanding the fact that the vouchers exposed by him to the legislative committee as part of his assets, a large portion showed the money they represented to have been deposited within two days prior to their inspection, another portion appeared to have been antedated, and part consisted of county orders long since due and taken in violation of law, and only $7,700 appeared in cash in the treasury. And it declined to allow even an inquiry into, these evidences of presumed credit. It has enormously increased the public debt of the State. Its scandal- ous alliance with the Liquor League forced it to defeat a bill to permit the effects of alcohol on the human system to be studied by our children in the public schools. On this record we ask the verdict of the people, and also upon the following- Declaration of Principles. The security of government rests upon an equal, intelligent and honest ballot, and we renew our declaration against crimes of fraud and vio- lence, wherever practiced and under whatever form, whereby the right of every man to cast one vote, and have that vote counted and returned, is imperiled or abridged. We especially protest against the flagrant crime of the democratic party of Indiana against free suffrage in the passage of an infamous gerrymander. We demand that, man for man, the votes of members of all parties shall be given equal force and effect. Freedom of labor is essential to the contentment and prosperity of the people. Workingmen should be protected against the oppressions of cor- porate monopolies and combinations. We are opposed to the importation of contracted and ill-paid labor from abroad; the unfair competition of convict labor with free labor; the competition of "assisted" emigrants and the vicious classes of Europe with American workingmen; the employment of young children in mines and factories; and we recommend to the next General Assembly the passage of such laws as will guarantee to working- men the most ravorable condition for their labor especially in the proper ventilation and safeguards for life and health in mines and factories and the sure and prompt payment of wages. We favor the reduction of the legal number of working hours wherever practicable, and the sub- mission of all matters of controversy between employe and employer, under just regulation, to impartial arbitration. The right of all men to associate for the promotion of their mutual good and protection without interfering with the rights of others cannot be questioned. We favor the maintenance of the principle of protection, under which the resources of the State and nation have been and are being developed and whereby the wages of working men are from 15 to 30 per cent, higher than under the revenue tariff in force before the republican party came into power. Favoring the reduction and readjustment of the tariff from time to time as circumstances may require, upon the basis of affording protection to tjie products and results of American skill and industry, in our opinion the duties should be reduced as low as will be allowed by a 78 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1886 wise observance of the necessity to protect that portion of our manu- factures and labor whose prosperity is essential to our national safety and independence. We, at the same time condemn the declaration of the democratic party of Indiana in favor of practical free trade as a menace to the prosperity of the State arid to the welfare and advancement of work- inginen. The wisdom and honesty of the republican party secured sound money to the people. Gold and silver should be maintained in friendly relation in the coin circulation of the country, and all the circulating medium coin and paper alike should be kept of equal and permanent value. The surplus in the Treasury should be steadily applied to the reduction of the national debt. We favor a thorough and honest enforcement of the civil service law, and the extension of its principles to the State administration wher- ever it can be made practicable, to the end that the corruption and flagrant abuses that exist in the management of our public institutions may be done away with, and they be liberated from partisan control. The republican party carried into effect the homestead policy, uncle* 1 which the Western states and Territories have been made populous and prosperous. We favor the reservation of public lands for small holdings by actual settlers, and are opposed to the acquisition of large tracts of the public domain by corporations and non-resident aliens. American lands should be preserved for American settlers. The watering of corporate stock should be prevented by law. Railway and other public corporations should be subjected to the control of the people, through the legislative power that created them, and their undue influence in legislation and in courts should be summarily prevented. We favor the creation of a bureau of labor statistics, whereby the interests of both capital and labor may be protected and the welfare of the State promoted. The constitutional provision that all taxation shall be equal and uni- form, should be made effective by such revision of the assessment and tax- ation laws as will remedy the injustice whereby certain localities have been made to bear more than their due share of public burdens. The strict and impartial enforcement of law is the only safeguard to society; and we demand of state and local authorities the vigorous execu- tion of legal penalties against all criminals. We congratulate the people on the unanimous opposition of all classes to the imported crime of anarcn- isni, which is the enemy of social order and an attack upon the safety of life and property. It is the special foe of honorable workingmen, and is justly condemned by intelligent and patriotic labor everywhere. Lapse of time does not weaken the graititude due the soldiers and sail- ors of the Union. W T e favor such changes in the pension laws as will make proof of enlistment conclusive evidence of the physical soundness of the applicant, that will equalize allowances, and will simplify the methods by which just claims can be adjudicated in the Pension Office. We favor the .in-anting of a pension to the survivors of the Mexican War who are not laboring under political disability. We favor the separation of the Sol- diers' Orphan Home from the Home for the Feeble-Minded Children. We favor the granting of a pension to every honorably discharged Union sol- dier and sailor suffering from unavoidable disability. The legislature 1886] INDIANA, 18501900. 79 should make a liberal appropriation for the erection of a soldiers' and sailors' monument at the capital of the State. We renew the pledge of our devotion to the free, unsectarian school system, and favor measures tending to increase its practical value to the people. We are opposed to any movement, however insidious, whether local or state, whereby a sacred fund may be diverted from its legitimate use, or the administration of the schools made less impartial or efficient. The amendment to the Constitution of the State providing for the equalization of fees and salaries ought not to remain a dead letter, and we favor the enactment of a just law for the compensation of all public officials. We favor the pending constitutional amendment making the terms of county officers four years, and striking out the word "white" from Section 1, Article 12, of the Constitution, so that colored men may become a part of the regular militia force for the defense of the State. The attempted domination -of the Liquor League of political parties and legislation is a menace to free institutions which must be met and defeated. The traffic in intoxicating liquors has always been under legis- lative restraint; and believing that the evils resulting therefrom should be rigidly repressed, we favor such laws as will permit the people in their several localities to invoke such measures of restriction as they may deem wise, and to compel the traffic to compensate for the burdens it imposes on society and relieve the oppressions of local taxation. The party of freedom to all, irrespective of the accidents of birth or condition, the republican party welcomes every advance of the people to a higher standard of political rights. The peaceful revolution in Great Britain, whereby Ireland is sure to receive the benefits of local self- government after centuries of oppression, has our sympathy, and should command every proper and legitimate assistance. Hon. Benjamin Harrison, United States Senator for Indiana, has worthily won a front rank among the trusted and honored statesmen of the Nation, and by his signal abilities and devotion to the highest public interests, has brought credit upon the State and country. His course in the Senate of the United States meets with our warmest approval, and we commend him to the confidence and esteem of all the people. The re- publican representatives in the lower house of Congress also deserve the thanks of the republicans of the State for their faithful and honorable service. In common with the nation we deeply mourn the death of Ulysses S. Grant, whose deeds in war and peace secured for him the grateful admira- tion of his country, and the honor of the world. We favor an appropria- tion by Congress for such an amount as may be necessary to erect, in the city of Washington, a monument befitting the military achievements and civic virtues of one who shed imperishable luster upon the American name and character. Coupled with our great chieftain and leader, in the coun- try's history, is the name of one of Indiana's most illustrious citizens, Hon. Schuyler Coif ax. His death is sincerely lamented and his memory should be appropriately honored. POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [18SS THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, J888. (The Indianapolis Sentinel, April 27.) The democratic party in convention assembled, renews its pledge of fidelity to the constitution and the doctrines taught oy the illustrious men who were its founders and illustrated them in their administration of the government, and insists upon an honest and economical administration of public affairs, federal, state and municipal. It will resist all efforts to deprive the federal government of any of its powers as delegated in the constitution, and will maintain for the States and the people respectively the rights and powers reserved to them in the constitution. 2. We congratulate the people of the whole country upon the emi- nently successful administration of President Cleveland. Coming into power under circumstances peculiarly difficult and embar- rassing, after a long period of republican rule, he has conducted the affairs of the executive department with such prudence and ability as to challenge the approval of all unprejudiced people. That he has earnestly labored to discharge the duties of his great office, in the interest of all the people, there can be no question. That he has succeeded so well is a source of pride and gratification to those who elected him as it should be to all his countrymen. Not even party malice dares to assail his honesty or integrity, and all his acts have not only been clean, but above suspicion. The country is at peace with all the world, the laws are faithfully administered, good order and economy prevail wherever the executive has control, and the whole country is enjoying remarkable prosperity under his wise and beneficent administration; therefore the democracy of Indiana feels that it would be unwise to risk the hazard of a change, and declare themselves emphatically in favor of his re-election. 3. We are opposed to taking money from the pockets of the people and hoarding it in the Treasury of the United States beyond the needs of a proper administration of the government, thus converting it into dead capital at the expense of the business of the country, and encouraging extravagant and corrupt expenditures. To the end that these cruel bur- dens be removed from the taxpayers, and that such expenditures shall cease, we insist that the taxes on imports be reduced to the lowest point consistent with efficiency in the public service, and we demand an immedi- ate revision and reform of the present unjust tariff as recommended in the late message of the president. 4. The democratic party of Indiana favors such rules and regulations for the civil service, both national and state, as will secure honest, capable and deserving public officers, but, where honesty, ability and merit are equal, we believe there would De both wisdom and justice in giving prefer- ence to those who would harmonize in principle and policy with the party having the responsibility of administration. 5. The democratic party being of the people and for the people, favors such legislation as will guarantee the broadest protection to the interests and welfare of the industrial masses; it recognizes the fact that labor is the producer of the wealth of a nation, and that laws should be so framed 1888] INDIANA; 18501900. g} as to encourage and promote the interests, progress, and prosperity of all classes, and especially of all laboring people. (I. We recognize the right of all men to organize for social or material advancement; the right of wage- workers to use all lawful means to pro- tect themselves against the encroachments of moneyed monopolists, and the right to 11 x a price for their labor commensurate with the work re- quired of them, and we hold that every man has the right to dispose of his own labor upon such terms as he may think will best promote his interests. In relations between capital and labor the democratic party favors such measures and policies as will promote harmony, between them, and will adequately protect the interests of both. "We freely indorse and approve the laws passed pursuant to the de- mands of former democratic conventions making provision for the safety and protection of laborers and miners, and providing for the collection of their wages, and are in favor of all other enactments to that end. which may be necessary and proper. 7. It is the duty of the government to repossess itself of all public lands heretofore granted for the benefit of corporations which have been forfeited by non-compliance with the conditions of the grants, and should hold the sair.e for the use and benefit .of the people. Laws should be passed to prevent the ownership of large tracts of land by corporations, or by persons not citizens of the United States, or who have not declared their intention to become such as provided by law. Congress shouldtdis- courage the purchase of public land in large bodies by any parties for speculative purposes, but should preserve the same, as far as practicable, for actual settlers, and to that end all subsidies of land, as well as money, to corporations and speculators should cease forever. 8. It is provided by the constitution of this State that the liberty of the people should be protected and that their private property should not be taken without just compensation, and we are opposed to any change in the constitution tending to weaken these safeguards, or to any legisla- tion which asserts the power to take or destroy the private property of any portion of the people of this state without compensation, or which unjustly interferes with their personal liberty as to what they shall eat or drink or as to the kind of clothing they shall wear, believing that the government should be administered in that way best calculated to confer the greatest good upon the greatest number, without sacrificing the rights of person or property, and leaving the innocent creeds, habits, customs and business of the people unfettered by sumptuary laws, class legisla- tion or extortionate monopolies. While standing faithfully by the rights of property and personal liberty guaranteed to the people by the constitu- tion, we distinctly declare that we are in favor of sobriety and temper- ance, arid all proper means for the promotion of these virtues, but we be- lieve that a well regulated license system, and reasonable and just laws upon that subject, faithfully enforced, would be better than extreme meas- ures which, being subversive of personal liberty and in conflict with pub- lic sentiment, would never be effectively executed, thus .bringing law into disrepute and tending to make sneaks and hypocrites of our people. 9. We unqualifiedly condemn the action of the republican party in the last general assembly of the State of Indiana in their revolutionary scheme to unseat democratic members, and thus obstruct needful legis- 6 Platforms. g2 POLITICAL /-7,.177-'0/M/N. [1888 lation and subvert the will of the people as expressed at the ballot-box, and we heartily commend and endorse the action of the democratic mem- bers thereof in their successful effort to preserve that majority. 10. The democratic party of Indiana believes in fair elections and an honest count, and deplores and holds up for the detestation of the people the supreme fraud of 1876-7 by which the will of the people was set aside and men not elected were placed in two of the most important offices of the country; also for the use of vast sums of money in controll- ing and corrupting- the elections in 1880, which leading men of that party have admitted reached the enormous sum of .$400,000 in this state alone; also for setting the bad example in various other ways of carrying elec- tions by unfair and unlawful methods, both in this State and elsewhere. 11. The democratic party is the faithful friend of the soldiers* their widows and orphans, and in appreciation of the heroic and unselfish service of the soldiers and sailors we declare in favor of liberal legisla- tion in their behalf, including an enactment by Congress of a just and equitable service pension law, as a recognition of patriotism and a reward for honorable services rendered the government. 12. Resolved, That our contidence and esteem for the Hon. Daniel W. Voorhees and the Hon. David W. Turpie, our great representatives in the United States Senate, continues unabated, and we cheerfully greet them and their democratic associates from Indiana in the House of Representa- tives with the plaudit, "Well done, good and faithful public servants." We heartily indorse the pure and able administration of Gov. Isaac P. Gray, and commend him to the democratic national convention as the choice of the democracy of Indiana for vice-president, and hereby in- struct oiu' delegates to present his name to the convention for that high office, and to cast their votes for him as a unit while his mime is before the national convention as a candidate. THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, J888. (The Indianapolis Journal. "August 0.) With grateful pride the republicans of Indiana indorse and ratify the action of the national convention held at Chicago, in June last. Affirm- ing allegiance to the principles and policy of the republican party, we pledge to the nominees for President and vice-president a united and suc- cessful support. The electoral votes of Indiana will be given 'for Har- rison and Morton. In commending Benjamin Harrison to the people of the United States, we repeat the words in which the state presented him as a candidate for nomination: "A republican without equivocation, always in the forefront of every contest, devoted to the principles of the party with which he has been identified since its organization, prominent and zealous in all campaigns, wise and trusted in its councils, serving with honorable distinction in the military and civil service of the govern- ment, of great abilities, long and distinguished public life,, of high char- acter and unblemished reputation." The national platform expresses the faith of the party upon national questions. For the republicans of Indiana we declare 1888] IX 1)1 AX A. 18501900. 3 Crimes against an equal ballot and equal representation are destructive of free government. The iniquitous and unfair apportionment for the con- gressional and legislative purposes, made at the behest of the Liquor League of Indiana, followed by conspiracy, and forgery upon the election returns of 1880, in Marion county, for which a number of prominent demo- cratic party leaders were indicted and tried, two of whom are now suffer- ing the deserved penalty of their acts, demands the rebuke of every patriotic citizen. The gerrymander by which more than half of the people of the State are shorn of their just rights must be repealed, and constitu- tional apportionments made whereby the votes of members of all political parties shall be given equal force and effect. We believe equal political rights to be the only basis of a truly democratic and republican form of government. The action of the democrats in the last general assembly was revolu- tionary and criminal. The will of the people, expressed in a peaceable and lawful election, advised and participated in by the democratic party, was set at defiance, and the constitution and laws, as expounded by the {supreme Court of the State, disregarded and nullified. Public and private rights were subverted and destroyed, and the Capitol of the State dis- graced by violence and brutality. The alleged election of a United States Senator was accomplished by fraud and force, by high-handed usurpation of power, the overthrow of constitutional and legal forms, the setting aside of the results of popular election, and the theft of the prerogatives of duly elected and qualified members of the Legislature. The stolen senatorship is part of the democratic administration at Washington, now in power by virtue of public crimes and the nullification of constitutions and laws. The sworn revelations of corruption, scoundrelisni and outrage in the conduct of the penal and benevolent institutions of the State, made before investigating committees of the last legislature, and confessed by the action of a democratic Governor and democratic legislators, en fore 3 the demand of an enlightened public sentiment that these great and sacred trusts be forever removed from partisan control. We favor placing all public institutions under a wisely conceived and honestly-administered civil-service law. Labor is the foundation of the State. It must be free, well paid and intelligent to remain honorable, prosperous and dignified. In the inter- ests of labor we favor the establishment and permanent maintenance of a bureau of labor statistics. We favor the passage and strict enforcement of laws which will absolutely prevent the competition of imported, servile, convict or contract labor, of all kinds, with free labor: prohibit the employ- ment of young children in factories and mines; guarantee to workingmen the most favorable conditions for their service, especially proper safe- guards for life and comfort in mines and factories, on railways, and in all hazardous occupations to secure which the duties and powers of the State Mine Inspector should be enlarged, and provisions made whereby only skilled and competent men may be placed in positions where they may be in control of the safety and lives of others; enforce the certain and frequent payment of wages; abridge the hours of labor wherever prac- ticable, and provide for the submission co just and impartial arbitration, under regulations that will make the arbitration effective, of all contro- 84 POLITICAL PLATFORM*. [1888 versies between working men and their employers. The right of wage- workers to organize for the legitimate promotion of their mutual good cannot be questioned. A just and equal enforcement of the law is the only sure defense for the rights of the people. It is the highest duty of the State and local governments to administer all laws for the protection of life and property, and the abdication of this function to private and personal agencies is dangerous to the public peace and subversive of proper respect for legal authority. We favor such legislation as will secure to every head of a family in Indiana a comfortable homestead, in addition to the personal property now exempted from execution by the law. Fees and salaries should be equalized under the constitutional amend- ment adopted by so large a majority for that purpose, and a law for the equitable compensation of public officials should be promptly enacted. The methods of county and township business should be economized and simplified. The amendments to the State Constitution making the terms of county officers four years, and striking out the word "white" from Section 1, Article 12, so that colored men may become a part of the regular militia force for the defense of the State, should be renewed. Railway and other public corporations should be subject to control through the legislative power that created them; their undue influence in legislation and courts, and the imposition of unnecessary burdens upon the people, through illegitimate increase of capital, should be summarily prevented. The free, unsectarian school system must be protected against im- pairment or abridgment from any cause. The constitutional provision for a common school education of the children of all the people should be given the widest possible scope. The State Normal School for the training of teachers for the common schools should be rebuilt, and the school fund of the state released from restrictions that keep it out of the hands of the people. Politics and legislation must be kept free from the influence of the saloon. The liquor traffic must obey the law. We favor legislation upon the principle of local option, whereby the various communities throughout the State may, as they deem best, either control or suppress the traffic in intoxicating liquors. The gratitude of a patriotic people to the defenders of the Union cannot be measured by money. They will not consent that any Union soldier or sailor, or his widow or orphans, shall be impoverished or embarrassed because of the refusal of liberal provision by the government, or by tech- nical requirements of law or administration in securing recognition of their just claims. Proof of an honorable discharge and of existing disa- bility ought and must be deemed sufficient showing to warrant the award of a pension. We congratulate the people of the State upon the indications of a pros- perity that is being maintained despite all adverse influences. The rapid iitiliza.tion of natural gas has greatly stimulated the industrial interests of the commonwealth, and rendered more essential the continuance of that economic system under which our marvelous advancement has been 1800 J INDIAyA, 18501900. 85 made. State legislation should be directed towards the reclamation of untiliable lands and the development of our resources of every kind. Democratic filibustering in the House of Representatives prevented the return to the Treasury of the State of Indiana of the sum of $904,875.33, the justice of which claim against the general government has been offi- cially acknowledged and its repayment provided for. Like hostile demo- cratic action has prevented the return to our State Treasury of $60(5,979.41 discount and interest on war-claim bonds rendered necessary to equip and maintain the volunteer soldiers who went out under the first call for troops in 1SG1. More than a million and a half dollars justly due the State are thus withheld, in the presence of an increasing federal surplus and of a practically bankrupt State treasury, caused by the incompetence of the democratic state administration. The services of our republican members of the national House of Rep- resentatives meet our unqualified approval. They have been alert to protect the interests of the State and their respective constituents. The location of a branch of the national soldiers' home, and the prospective establishment of a marine hospital, within the borders of the State, are causes for special congratulation. Under this declaration of facts and principles, the republicans of In- diana invite the co-operation of all citizens, irrespective of past political faith or action. THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, J890. (The Indianapolis Sentinel, August 29.) We. the democracy of Indiana, in convention assembled, for the first time since the memorable contest of 1888, when we went down in defeat but not in dishonor, overcome by the shameless methods of Dudleyism and the blocks-of-nve, do solemnly declare: That the electoral vote of Indiana was obtained for Harrison and Morton by the most flagrant crimes against the ballot-box ever perpetrated in an American commonwealth; that these crimes were committed under the direct auspices of William Wade Dudley, then aiid now treasurer of the national republican committee, and by the procurement and connivance of republican leaders in this State and in the nation; that the administra- tion of Benjamin Harrison has made itself an accessory after the fact to these crimes by shielding the criminals from punishment, and even by rewarding them for their knavery; and that the brazen prostitution of the machinery of the federal court for the district of Indiana, by its judge and attorney, to the protection of these conspirators against the suffrage, constitutes the most infamous chapter in the judicial annals of the repub- lic. The federal court of Indiana has decided that advising and organizing bribery is not a crime. We appeal from the decision to the people of Indiana, and we demand a verdict against William A. Woods, and the miscreants whom he saved from legal punishment. We denounce the administration of Benjamin Harrison for its delib- erate abandonment of civil service reform; for its use of cabinet positions (3 POLITICAL PLATFORM*. [1890 and other high stations in payment of financial campaign debts: for treat- ing the public patronage as a family appendage, instead of a public trust, and quartering a host of relatives, by blood and by marriage, upon the na- tional treasury; for dismissing honest and competent public servants, in violation of solemn pledges, because of their political opinions, and filling their places with men devoid of character or capacity and whose only title to preferment rested upon disreputable partisan work; for its dalli- ance with questionable gift enterprises; for its complete subservience to Wall st. and the money power, and its undisguised hostility or indifference to the rights and interests of the producing and laboring masses. We denounce the tariff monopolists for their efforts to perpetuate themselves in power by measures inconsistent with free institutions and contrary to good morals. We find in the force election bill, the bills cre- ating rotten borough states and the McKinley tariff bill, the open mani- festations of a gigantic conspiracy of the minority to oppress a groaning people w T ith additional burdens of taxation for private benefit and to fasten it on the country in such a way that the people can not free themselves from the galling load. We condemn the republican party for the deliberate theft of two seats in the Senate of the United States from the people of Montana; for degrading the house of representatives from a deliberate body into a one- man despotism under the false and hypocritical pretense of expediting the public business; for unseating legally elected representatives of the people in order to strengthen a partisan majority, which was originally the product of fraud; for trampling upon the rights of the minority in disregard as well as justice and decency as of parliamentary usage and the plain requirements of the constitution; and for reckless prodigality in appropriations, which has converted the surplus accumulated under the wise, frugal and statesmanlike administration of Grover Cleveland into a deficit of alarming dimensions, involving in the near future, a further heavy increase of the people's burden. We denounce the force election bill, which has passed the house, and has the active support of the administration, as revolutionary and uncon- stitutional. It strikes down home rule and local self-government; sug- gests and encourages fraudulent elections, and provides the machinery to accomplish dishonest returns and false certificates of election; fosters sectionalism and bayonet rule where every interest of the people invites to peace, fraternity and unity; outrages the traditions and customs of a century by giving life tenure to partisan returning boards; makes the legis- lative and executive branches dependent upon the judiciary, and converts the judiciary into an instrument of oppression and corruption: involves the unnecessary expenditure of millions of the people's money, and in Indi- ana nullifies the Andrews election law passed by the last legislature over the determined opposition of the republicans. We declare that interfer- ence of any kind by the federal government with state elections is a dan- gerous menace to the form of government bequeathed us by the framers of the constitution, and that the intelligence and patriotism of the Amer- ican people may safely be trusted to remedy any evils that may exist in our elections. We denounce the McKinley tariff bill as the most outrageous measure of taxation ever proposed in the American congress. It will increase taxes 1890] IXDIANA, 18501900. 87 upon the necessaries of life and reduce taxes upon the luxuries. It will make life harder for every farmer and wage-earner in the land in order that the profits of the monopolies and trusts may be swelled. It affords no relief whatever to the agricultural interests of the country, already staggering under the heavy burdens of protection; in the words of James G. Elaine, "it will not open a market for a single bushel of wheat or a sin- gle barrel of pork." We are opposed to legislation which compels Indiana farmers to pay bounties to the sugar planters and silk growers of other states. We are opposed to class legislation of every kind; to subsidies and bounties of every description and in every disguise. We are in favor of that wide measure of commercial freedom proposed by Grover Cleve- land which would benefit the farmers and laborers of the entire country, instead of that limited measure of so called reciprocity offered by Mr. Elaine, which would benefit only a few eastern manufacturers. So long as the government depends for support in any degree upon a tariff, we demand that it be levied for revenue only, and so far as possible upon the luxuries of the classes, instead of the necessaries of the masses. We denounce the silver bill, so-called, recently enacted, as an igno- minious surrender to the money power. It perpetuates the demonetization of silver and the silver gold standard, whereas the interests of the people require the complete remonetization of silver and its restoration to per- fect equality with gold in our coinage. We demand the free and unre- stricted coinage of silver upon the basis existing prior to 1873. We are in favor, as we always have been, of a just and liberal pension system. We denounce the republican party for making pledges to the veterans in 1888 which have not been redeemed, and were not intended to be redeemed, and we warn them against further attempts at deception from the same quarter. We are rejoiced at the evidences of an awakening of the farmers of the country to the necessity for organized efforts to better their own con- dition and protect themselves against unjust legislation and oppressive administration. We invite attention to the fact that farmers are demand- ing, in substance, the same measures of relief which the democratic party has been advocating for years, but has not had the power to enact, and that the surest and speediest way of obtaining this relief is to restore the democracy to power in every department of the government. We demand legislation prohibiting aliens from acquiring lands in America, and for die forfeiture of titles to the 20,742,000 acres of our public lands now held by them. We favor the election of United States Senators by the people. We endorse most heartily the legislation of the general assembly of 1889. We applaud the election reform laws and pledge ourselves to their support and full enforcement. We applaud the school text-book laws by which the people are given school books at one-half their former price. We favor such additional legislation as will give full effect to the objects of this act, and will extend its scope as far as practicable, and pledge our- selves to resist every attempt of the school-book trust to regain its old control over our public schools. We favor such simplification of the school laws affecting township trustees and county superintendents, and their duties as will increase their efficiency and decrease expenses. $8 POLITICAL PLA.TfOtf.MK. [1800 We applaud the bill for county farmers' institutes, and pledge our- selves to countenance and extend that valuable means of universal instruc- tion in agricultural science. We applaud the state board of charities law, and commend the excel- lent work done by that board in improving the conditions and methods of our benevolent and reformatory institutions. The creation of our splendid system of public charities, and their honest and efficient manage- ment, constitutes one of the strongest titles of the Indiana democracy to popular confidence and support. Wo applaud the law for funding the school debt, by which the State is saved annually $120,000 in interest and nearly $4,000,000 has been dis- tributed to the counties to be loaned to the people at 6 per cent, interest. We denounce the conspiracy of certain republican state officials and newspapers to destroy the State's credit for partisan purposes by dis- seminating false statements as to her financial condition and resources.^ Indiana is not bankrupt. Her taxes are low and her debt is not oppressive, and for every dollar of it she has more than value received in great public institutions a fact which speaks volumes for democratic integrity, econ- omy and efficiency. The state debt obligations should not be hawked over the country, but should be made a popular domestic security, issued direct to the people of the state in bonds of small denomination, drawing a low rate of interest, and non-taxable, that the interest paid may remain at home, and the se- curities may be made a safe investment for trust funds and the people's savings. We demand the adoption of a system of equalizing the appraisement of real and personal property in this state, to the end that an equal and proper uniformity in such assessments shall be secured, for the reason that under existing regulations many counties are compelled to pay an unjust proportion of the state's expenses, w T hich others as unjustly escape. We applaud the eight-hour labor law, the law to prevent "blacklisting," the law prohibiting "pluck-me" stores, the laws for the protection of coal miners, the law preventing the importation of Pinkerton detectives, and the repeal of the republican intimidation law of 1881 as manifestations of the steadfast friendship of the democratic party to the workingmen. We point to these laws as evidence that our friendship to American labor is not confined to words alone. We denounce the employment of Pinkertons by a railroad corporation in New York in the pending contest with^its employes and hold it to be the duty of state and local officials everywhere to prevent such an usurpa- tion by capital of the police powers of the state. We are in favor of arbi- tration as the only just and fair method of settling labor controversies, and we demand of the next legislature the passage of a law creating a permanent tribunal of arbitration for that purpose. We insist that labor has as good right to organize in self -protection as capital, and that labor organizations should be placed on a perfect equality before the law with organizations of capital, known as corporations. We favor the just and equitable apportionment of the school revenues of the State. We favor the total abandonment of the system of fees and perquisites in the payment of state and county officers; and we demand the enact- 1890 J IX DIANA, 1S50 !'.">< >. go, ment of a law by the next legislature fixing fair salaries for all public officials, the same to go into effect as soon as practicable. Judges Coffey, Berkshire and Olds, republican members of the supreme bench, deserve the contempt of the people of Indiana for their action in overturning the settled construction of the constitution, reversing all legal precedents, and contradicting their own rulings for the sake of a few petty offices and at the dictation of unscrupulous political tricksters. While we heartily indorse, and will always uphold, maintain and foster, at any cost, our system of public schools for the free instruction of all who choose to make use of them, we are unalterably opposed to all attempts to regulate by law the course of study in any private or parochial school, and we deprecate and denounce any interference on the part of the state in the management of schools, maintained by citizens at their own ex- pense, as an arbitrary, despotic and intolerable encroachment upon private rights. We favor legislation for establishing and preserving the township libraries of the State of Indiana as invaluable adjuncts of our common school system. We heartily indorse the course of Daniel W. Voorhees and David Turpie in the United States Senate, and commend them for their able and brilliant advocacy of democratic principles and their vigilant defense of the public interests against the assaults of plutocracy and monopoly. We also indorse the course of Indiana's ten democratic representatives in Congress. Resolved, That it is the sense of this convention that hereafter the members of the state central committee shall be chosen on the 8th of January of each alternate year (commencing in the year 1892) by the voters of the respective congressional districts represented by delegates appointed by the respective counties and such delegates shall assemble at the call of the chairman of the state central committee. The members of the state central committee thus chosen shall hold their position for two years and until their successors are respectively elected. 90 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1800 THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, J890. (The Indianapolis Journal, September 11.) The republicans of Indiana congratulate the people of the State upon the fact that, since we were last assembled on a like occasion, the State has been honored the first time in its history by the elevation of one of its citizens to the position of chief executive of the nation. We endorse the administration of Benjamin Harrison, and the able statesmen selected as his co-laborers and advisers, as being wise, vigor- ous and patriotic. He has kept the pledges made to the people, has care- fully guarded and zealously promoted their welfare, and elevated the condi- tion of the public service. We heartily approve the action of the republicans in Congress. Under the brilliant and fearless leadership of Thomas B. Reed they have again proved that the republican party can be relied upon to meet and solve great political questions, and have once more demonstrated its capacity for intelligent and patriotic government. Important treaties concluded and pending, liberal pension laws, the revision of the system of impost duties, provision for the certain and impartial collection thereof, laws authorizing States to deal with articles deemed harmful, legislation to secure pure food, for our people, and removing all objections of the products of our farms in foreign markets, provision for increasing the volume of a sound currency, laws designed to make elections fair and pure, legislation for the protection of railroad employes, laws against trusts and monopolies, to suppress lotteries, to prohibit convict labor on public works, to prohibit importation of foreign laborers under contract, for the protection of miners, to endow colleges of agriculture and mechanic arts, and stat- utes adding six stars to the flag of the Union, each representing a common- wealth already great and populous, constitute work completed or well advanced, which, in character and value has rarely been equalled in any single session of Congress. Familiar with the history of the last thirty years, the people need scarcely be reminded that all this useful legislation has met democratic opposition, prolonged, bitter and determined. With single persistence the representatives of the party have flung themselves under the wheels of the car of progress and filled the ears of the people with their outcries. Charged with high public duties, they have vehemently insisted that they were not present in the halls of legislation except for the purpose of re- ceiving their salaries and obstructing public business. We condemn their conduct as unworthy of the representatives of the people w T hose govern- ment is founded on the right of the majority to rule, and as hostile to the welfare of the laborer, the mechanic, the soldier, the farmer and the manu- facturer, all of whose interests are directly involved in the legislation they have so violently opposed. We reaffirm our belief in the republican doctrine of protection to Amer- ican industries. Home markets, with millions of consumers engaged in varied industries, are the best in the world, and for many perishable articles the only ones accessible. American markets should be first for our citizens, and to this end we favor levying import duties upon products 1890] INDIANA, 18501900. 9^ of other nations, often the result of degraded labor, selecting such articles as we can produce profitably, and as will bring revenue to the government and impose the least burden upon our people. We condemn the democratic doctrine of free trade, under the operation of which thousands now engaged in manufacturing, mining and like indus- tries, must be driven to agricultural pursuits, at once increasing our farm products and destroying the best and most reliable market for them, and commend the policy of reciprocity proposed in connection with pending tariff legislation, to the end that when our markets are opened more freely to the products of other countries, we should obtain as a consideration therefor more favorable trade privileges with countries so benefited. We will thus secure, especially in Mexico, the Central and South American States, and adjacent islands, such a market for our agricultural and manu- factured products as will enable us to pay for our sugar and coffee with the product of our mills and farms. We heartily approve the action of republicans in Congress in making generous provision for him who has borne the battle, and his widow and orphans. A wise liberality, far surpassing any similar action by other nations, gives to the defenders of the Union and those dependent upon them, at least one hundred and fifty millions of dollars annually. Of this vast amount over fifteen millions will be disbursed in the State of Indiana each year, bringing needed relief to thousands of patriotic homes, and stimulating business by largely increasing the volume or money circulating among our people. As against all democratic promises and pretenses, we proudly recall the fact that all important pension legislation has been placed on the stat- ute books by the republicans; and against constant democratic opposition they have steadily maintained a revenue system adequate to meet its demands. Nor has it been the habit of republican Presidents to sneer at or veto laws adding to the comfort of those who maintained the integ- rity of the Union, and gave to the Nation one flag of honor and authority. In justice to the Union soldiers and sailors, we urge the passage of the service pension bill. We commend the action of republicans in Congress on the subject of silver coinage. Every democrat in Congress who is recorded as voting, including the last candidate of that party for Vice-President, at the time of the demonetization of silver, voted in favor of the measure. Ex-Presi- dent Cleveland, by messages to Congress, strongly opposed all legislation favorable to free coinage, and the law recently enacted was passed in spite of persistent democratic opposition. Under its beneficent influence, silver has rapidly approached the gold standard of value, farm products are advancing in price, and commerce is feeling the impulse of increased prosperity. It will add more than $50,000,000 annually of sound currency to the amount in circulation among the people and is a long yet prudent step toward free coinage. Prosperous and dignified labor is essential to a free State. It should be well paid, and the hours of employment be such as to leave leisure for recreation and mental and moral culture. We favor protection against every form of convict or servile labor, prohibition of the employment of young children in factories and mines, protection of railroad employes by requiring the adoption of a uniform coupler, protection of employes en- 92 POLITICAL PLATFORlLti. [1890 gaged in factories and mines, or other hazardous occupations, from every danger that can be removed or diminished, the adjustment of differences between employe and employer by arbitration, and such legislation as may be needed to facilitate and protect organizations of farmers and wage laborers for the proper and lawful promotion of their mutual in- terests. And we condemn the conduct of the representatives of the demo- cratic party, both in Congress and the Legislature of Indiana, who, while professing abundant regard for the welfare of the workingman, have failed to enact valid and efficient laws on these subjects. We repeat our demand for elections that shall be free, equal and honest in every part of the Union. Upon such elections depend the political equality and just representation of the people of every State. Our national government is founded upon the idea that there shall be such elections, and we urge the Congress of the United States to enact such laws as will accomplish this result, and make ample provision for forcing the discon- tinuance of intimidation, corruption and fraud. We believe that the soil of the United States should be reserved for its own citizens, and such as may become citizens, and favor such legisla- tion by Congress and the State Legislature as will prevent aliens becoming the owners of the land needed for homes for independent American farmers. Believing that the food supply of the people should be kept as pure as possible, and that all articles should be sold under such names as will indicate their true character, -we favor such legislation by Congress and the State legislature as will best accomplish these purposes. W T e denounce all trusts and combinations tending to hurtfully affect the price of commodities, as opposed to the welfare of the people at large, and favor such State legislation as will supplement the action of a republican Congress looking to their suppression. To cheapen transportation and so improve the markets of our farms and mills, w^e favor improvement of our rivers and harbors, wherever a reasonable expenditure will increase the facilities for carrying freight. We cordially indorse the administration of Gov. Alvin P. Hovey and his republican associates as courageous, prudent and earnestly devoted to the best interests of the people of the State. We demand that our benevolent institutions be placed above the level of partisan politics, and that they be controlled by boards composed of members of different political parties, appointed by the Governor, to the end that the cost of their maintenance may be reduced, and the helpless and unfortunate wards of the State may not be made the victims of unfit appointments dictated by the caucus, and made as a reward for party services. We denounce all attempts to correct supposed evils by the lawless acts of mobs, commonly called White Caps, as unworthy of a civilized State. We favor such legislation as will aid the executive and local authorities in exterminating such evils in the few localities where there have been occasional manifestations of this lawless spirit, and that there may be no pretext for lawless attempts to redress supposed grievances we demand the vigorous enforcement of the laws against all offenders by the duly constituted authorities of the State. The efforts of the saloon to control political parties and dominate elec- tions must be met and defeated. The traffic in intoxicating liquors has 1890 J INDIANA, 18501900. 93 always boon regarded as a proper subject for legislative restraint, and those engaged in it should be compelled to obey the laAvs. We favor legislation upon the principle of local option, whereby the various com- munities throughout the State may, as they deem best, either control or suppress the traffic, and approve the recent action of Congress remitting the control of this subject to the several States. We believe that all State officers who serve the whole people should be elected by them as soon as appointments made by the executive under the Constitution expire, and favor such an amendment to the national Con- stitution as will extend the same method to the election of United States Senators, thus reducing the danger of corruption, giving the majority representation, and making such an election as that under which one Indiana Senator now misrepresents its people impossible. We believe that the making of public improvements, and other purely business affairs of our larger cities, can be best and most economically managed by non-partisan boards, and favor legislation to that end, but we maintain the right of local self-government, and believe that such boards should be appointed by the Mayor of the city they are to serve. The better to secure the savings of our people so largely invested in building associations, we favor legislation requiring foreign associations and those organized in other states to make proper proof of their solvency, furnish ample security, and pay a reasonable license fee for the privilege of doing business in the State. We condemn the legislature of Indiana for creating offices and attempt- ing to fill them with its own favorites, contrary to the established cus- toms and in defiance of the Constitution. We denounce as unpatriotic and as tending to revolution and anarchy, denunciation of able and upright judges of any political party, by party newspapers and political plat- forms, for the sole reason that in the conscientious and proper discharge of high judicial duties such judges have rendered opinions against supposed partisan interests. We believe our State and federal judges to be able and conscientious, and recognize in the malignant censure bestowed upon them another democratic attempt to bring the law into disrepute, and teach the lesson of disobedience by villifying the judges charged with the grave duty of deciding all controversies among our citizens. The constitutional amendment adopted by an immense majority in March, 1881. authorizing the legislature to enact laws grading the com- pensation of officers according to population and services required, ex- pressed the demand of the people for such laws. In party platforms and public utterances the democratic party has often declared in favor of such legislation, but having often a majority in both branches of the legislature, it has suffered this amendment to remain a dead letter for nine years. We favor legislation under this amendment, by which officers shall be paid fixed salaries, having regard to population and the cha-ac- ter of the services rendered, and the prices paid for similar work in other occupations, and all fees collected be paid into the proper treasury for the public benefit. Such legislation should take effect at the close of officials' terms for which elections have been made at the time of its enactment, and should be followed by a constitutional amendment making the terms of State and county officers, except the judiciary, four years, and render- ing incumbents ineligible for re-election in any period of eight years. 94 POLITICAL PLATFOIfMS. [1890 We congratulate the people of the State upon its magnificent free- school system. It has always been fostered and cherished by the repub- lican party as the great safeguard of government by the people. To the end that free schools may accomplish more perfect work and extend the inestimable benefits of education still further, to free school-houses and free tuition, we would add free text-books, so that to the humblest child within our borders would be offered an education absolutely free. Legis- lation to this end should not be postponed, but be so framed as not to impair contracts to which the State stands pledged. To further promote the efficiency, and the better to secure equality in the operation, of our school laws we favor a just and equitable apportionment of the school funds of the State. AVe are opposed to any interference with the rights now conceded to citizens maintaining private and parochial schools. We condemn the reckless and unbusinesslike policy of the Democratic party, under which, at a time when neighboring States have been reducing their indebtedness, Indiana presents the spectacle of a rapidly-increasing public debt, amounting now to more than eight million dollars. It is a most flagrant instance of that extravagant and utterly indefensible demo- cratic policy of making large expenditures, entailing heavy interest charges upon the people, while attempting to delude them with the false pretense of reducing their burdens. Extravagant appropriations for the expenses of the legislature, to pay its numerous officers and attendants, and for the benefit of parasites demanding compensation for partisan services, have helped to swell the current expenses of the State until they exceed the revenue provided for their payment by nearly half a million of dollars annually. The condition that confronts us is one that has be- come sadly familiar, where there has been a period of government by the democratic party. We have no surplus to distress us, but a robust and growing deficiency. We would meet it, first, by such rigid economy in appropriations as will limit them to the actual necessities; second, by in- creasing in revenue by laws designed to compel personal as well as real property to bear its full share of the public burdens, and also by requir- ing corporations, obtaining valuable franchises belonging to the people and granted by the State, to pay to the State a substantial license fee therefor, to be fixed according to the value and character of the franchise granted. And only as a last resort do we favor any additional taxation, either by increasing the rate, or under the guise of a higher appraisement. We condemn the gerrymandering of election districts to secure partisan advantages, as in violation of the spirit of our State Constitution, and as an assault upon political equality and popular government, having the same object as similar disfranchisement accomplished by forged returns, tissue ballots and the shotgun, and as being equally infamous. By this iniquity two successive legislatures have directly opposed the will of our people, and to that extent government by the people has been overthrown. One of them, by methods violent and revolutionary, elected a member of the United States Senate, who assumes to represent a constituency that voted against his principles at the very election at which this legislature was chosen. Aiding him in misrepresenting our people are ten members of the National House of Representatives, elected at an election at which the party that carried the State chose but three. Above all other questions in which any class of our people are interested, stands the question of our 1S92] IXDIAXA, 18501900. 95 power to make public opinion public law, but the party responsible for the existing outrage upon popular rights does not even promise us in its platform that it will either mitigate or correct it. We stand pledged to a just and equitable apportionment of the State for legislative and con- gressional purposes, under which any party having a majority of votes can elect a majority of representatives, and we invite all who believe in government by the majority, who concede to their neighbors the political rights claimed by themselves, to aid us in accomplishing this reform, upon which all other reforms depend. THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, J892. (The Indianapolis Sentinel, April 22.) ' We, the democracy of Indiana, in delegate convention assembled, re- affirm our devotion to the time-honored principles of our historic party. We believe that the powers delegated by the people should be strictly construed; that the anatomy of the states and the rights of local self- government and home rule should be jealously guarded; that no money should be taken from the people, under any pretext, for other than public purposes: that the strictest economy should be exercised in all government expenditures, whether local, state or national: that legislation should be confined to the legitimate objects of government; that public office is a solemn public trust. We are uncompromisingly opposed to the enlarge- ment and concentration of federal powers; to the usurpation by the cen- tral government of the functions of the states; to bounties and subsidies in every form; to every species of class legislation and government partner- ship with private enterprises; to the whole theory and practice of pa- ternalism. We believe that in a "free country the curtailment of the absolute rights of the individual should only be such as is essential to the peace and good order of the community," and we regard all legislation looking to the infringement of liberty of person or conscience, not absolutely neces- sary to the maintenance of public order, as vicious in principle and de- moralizing in practice. We arraign the administration of Benjamin Harrison for its subservi- ency to the interests of the money power, which created it. and its indiffer- ence to the welfare of the people; for its brazen violation of its solemn pledges to the country, to elevate and purify the public service; for its shameless prostitution of the public patronage to the vilest partisan pur- poses, as illustrated by the sale of a cabinet office to John Wanamaker; by the employment of the pension bureau as a party machine, and by the promotion of William A. Woods to a higher post in the federal judiciary as a reward for his services in saving the "blocks-of-five"' conspirators from the penitentiary: for its contemptuous repudiation of its promises to the veteran soldiers of the Union; for its wicked attempt to fasten upon this country the odious and un-American force bill, intended to deprive the people of the right to regulate their own elections. 96 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1892 We favor such a radical and comprehensive measure of tariff reform as shall relieve the necessities of the people and the crude material of our manufacturers from federal taxation. We condemn the so-called reciprocity policy as a transparent attempt to impose upon the American people the shadow of commercial freedom, for its substance, in order to perpetuate the existing system of licensed spoliation for the benefit of trusts and monopolies, which are the chief support of the republican party. We believe that there should be kept in constant circulation a full and sufficient volume of money, consisting of gold, silver and legal tender paper currency at par with each other. We favor the election of U. S. Senators directly by the people and commend Senator Turpie for his efforts in Congress to secure this great reform. We indorse the course of our distinguished Senators Daniel W. Voorhees and David Turpie. We most heartily applaud the action of our two last legislatures 'in passing the school book laws, thereby giving the people of Indiana a com- plete series of school text-books, equal to those formerly used, at one-half of the old trust prices. We pledge ourselves to resist every attempt of the school-book combine to regain their control of Indiana, and by that means bring about the frequent expensive changes in books, of which the people justly complained in former years. We approve the Australian election system, introduced in Indiana by the democratic party. It has stood the test of experience and we are in favor of maintaining it intact. This convention hereby renews the expression of appreciation of the patriotism of the soldiers of Indiana in the war for the preservation of the Union, and we favor just and liberal pensions for all disabled soldiers, their widows and dependents; but we demand that the work of the pension office shall be done industriously, impartially and honestly. We denounce the administration of that office by the present commissioner, Green B. Raum, as incompetent, corrupt, disgraceful and dishonest, and we demand his immediate removal from office. We heartily indorse the new tax law as a wise and beneficent act. by which the increased revenues necessary for the support of the state gov- ernment are raised entirely from the corporations of the State, that had heretofore unjustly escaped their fair proportion of taxation. We com- mend the legislature for refusing to adopt Governor Hovey's recommenda- tion to increase the state levy from 12 cents to 25 cents on the $100, and for meeting the necessary expenses of the State's benevolent institutions by a levy of 6 cents on the $100. We denounce the infamous conspiracy of the republican county commissioners, township trustees and other offi- cials of Indiana, who, for the purpose of creating unfair prejudice against the new tax law, have wantonly and needlessly increased the local taxes, in the forty-six counties controlled by them, more than $1,250,000 a sum greater than the total increase of state taxes in the entire state. We call on the taxpayers of those counties to rebuke at the polls these local offi- cials, who have put this needless and oppressive burden upon them. Inasmuch as the exemption of the greenback currency from taxation by national law is not only unjust in principle, but also is the occasion of much fraudulent evasion of local tax laws, and inasmuch as interstate 1892] INDIANA, 18501900. 97 transportation companies are exempted from equitable taxation, by Hie constitutional powers conferred on Congress concerning interstate com- merce, vre demand that the Indiana senators and representatives in Con- gress use their influence to secure the passage of laws making greenbacks taxable as other money, and making interstate commerce taxable on the same terms as domestic commerce. We congratulate the taxpayers of Indiana on the adoption by the legis- lature, of the system of paying public officials stated salaries instead of giving tlTem power to compensate themselves by fees and perquisites. We reaffirm our unswerving devotion to the interests of public educa- tion, not only as identified with the common school system, but also in connection with the higher institutions of learning, free public libraries and all other legitimate means for promoting and preserving the virtue and intelligence of the people. The democratic party stands by its record as the friend of the masses as against the classes, and calls attention of the laboring men of Indiana that it has given to them the eight-hour law; the law to prevent blacklist- ing; the law prohibiting "pluck-me" stores; the law for the protection of miners, and laws which make it impossible for Pinkerton detectives to arrest and slay laboring men in Indiana because of their efforts toward self-protection. For twenty years the republican party has legislated for the rich and powerful and in the interest of corporate wealth. The democratic party pledges itself to remedy the costs growing out of such class legislation and in ail future contests to stand by the great producing masses whose toil and self-sacrificing are at the foundation of all natural wealth. We commend the organization of the industrial classes for self-pro- tection against trusts, combines and monopolies, and call the attention of farmers and laborers to the fact that every evil complained of by them is the result of republican legislation. Resolved, That this convention indorse the w r ise and patriotic admin- istration of Grover Cleveland; that the presidential campaign of 1892 should be conducted on the issue of tariff reform as defined in the presi- dential message of 1887; that upon this issue Mr. Cleveland is the logical candidate of the democratic party. Resolved, That the democratic party of Indiana expresses its un- alterable confidence in and attachment to its gallant leader, Isaac P. Gray: that it holds him worthy of any honor in the gift of the American people, and that his name be presented to the convention by the delegation this day appointed, and in the event that the national convention deems the nomination of Mr. Cleveland inexpedient, the delegation is instructed to use every honorable effort to secure the nomination of Governor Isaac P. Gray for the presidency. 7 Platforms. 98 POLITICAL PLATFORM*. [1892 THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1892. (The Indianapolis Journal, June 29.) The republicans of Indiana heartily approve the declarations adopted by the republican national convention at Minneapolis. As citizens of Indiana we congratulate the people of the State upon the nomination for President of the United States our fellow-citizen, Benjamin Harrison. The administration of the national government under his lead- ership has been marked with such wisdom and patriotism as to impress the whole country and give abundant assurance that its continuance will add lustre to the American name and increase the comfort of the Amer- ican home. We commend the candidates of the republican party of the Nation as eminently worthy of the suffrage of an intelligent and patri- otic people. The democratic party has often demonstrated its incapacity for govern- ment in both national and state affairs. In Indiana, believing itself intrenched behind a gerrymander of surpassing iniquity, it has shown a reckless disregard of the people's interest and welfare, imposing intol- erable burdens without benefit. We therefore condemn the democratic management of our State affairs as incompetent, wasteful and in the in- terest of party managers, and direct attention especially to the subject hereafter mentioned. Debt and Democracy are synonymous terms with the tax-payers of Indiana. Unparalleled extravagance in public expenditures has marked the course of democracy in Indiana during the past decade until the state is now burdened with a debt of nine million dollars. The current expenses of the State government have been radically increased by reckless manage- ment. The burdens thus imposed have become too oppressive to be en- dured. Our progress as a, people has been greatly impeded, and the credit of the State will soon become seriously impaired, unless radical changes in the conduct of our public business are speedily introduced. Relief lies with the people, and we invite the voters of all political opinions to unite in turning out of power the party that has always been false to its pledges of economy and reform. We arraign the democratic party of Indiana for enacting an unequal and unjust tax law. It imposes upon the farmer, laborer and householder an excessive and unjust share of public burden. It creates a great number of unnecessary offices hitherto unknown to law. To the burden of taxa- tion, already too heavy, it adds more than $100,000 for the fees, salaries and expenses of these offices and officers. We demand its radical revision. We pledge ourselves to enact such amendments to the present tax law as shall relieve the farm and home from the unjust taxation now borne by them; which shall place a just share of the public burden on capital and incorporate property and provide a more simple and less expensive method of assessment. We condemn the action of the last democratic legislature in largely in- creasing the fees and salaries of State and county offices. It made many public offices sinecures by providing for the performance of official duties by deputies paid out of the public funds. 1892] lyDIANA, 18501900. 99 The law passed by the last Democratic Assembly, apportioning the state for legislative and congressional purposes, was designedly and wick- edly framed, so as to deny to many counties and localities fair and equal representation in the legislative department of the State and Nation to place and retain under democratic control in this state all its public insti- tutions and affairs, and to give that party an increased and unfair repre- sentation in Congress and the Legislature. Such a policy is dangerous and destructive of all good government, and merits the condemnation of all patriotic people. And we now pledge the "republican party to continue the warfare against this dishonest policy of the democratic party until the state shall be honestly apportioned by giving to each county and locality its fair and equitable representation in proportion to its numbers. We denounce the purpose of the democratic party, clearly avowed in the national platform, to repeal the law imposing a 10 per cent tax on State Bank issues, and thus removing the only barrier to a return of the system of "wild-cat" money, which once disgraced our state and largely impoverished our people. The democratic party deserves the emphatic condemnation of every citizen of the State for its refusal to replace our benevolent institutions upon a non-partisan basis, when murder, cruelty, debauchery, fraud and incompetency mark that party's management of many of these institu- tions, and for still persisting in retaining partisan control of the asylums of the helpless and unfortunate that they may be made the coin in pay- ment for party services. We, therefore, demand an absolute non-partisan management of the benevolent and reformatory institutions of the State through boards whose members shall be appointed by the Governor, from the different political parties of the State, to the end that they may be re- lieved from the present profligate management. We favor the enactment by Congress of a law, thrice recommended by President Harrison, compelling the use of standard safety car-couplers for the protection of the lives and limbs of employes engaged in interstate commerce. The people in the employ of railroad companies in this state form a large percentage of its population, and are justly entitled to such legislation, as will place them on an equality with such corporations be- fore the law; and we are opposed to railways maintaining insurance companies by coercing their employes to become members of them. The -employers of labor should be liable in damages for injuries to persons, or destruction of life where the employer is more at fault than the employe. We also favor a law governing convict labor in the penal institutions of the State that will work the least possible injury to free labor. We are in sympathy with all well directed efforts of laboring men to improve their condition by united action or otherwise, and pledge ourselves to give them such legislation as will tend to advance the interests of wage-workers. We most heartily endorse the generous pension laws enacted by re- publicans in Congress, and congratulate the country that during the ad- ministration of President Harrison no pension bill has been vetoed. We demand that proper and suitable provisions be made for the care and maintenance of indigent soldiers, and their wives and widows, to the end that no soldier, or wife or widow of a soldier shall ever be an inmate of a poor-house in the State of Indiana, and that such provisions be made that the soldier, when overtaken by poverty and adversity, shall not,' in 100 POLITICAL PLATFOHMH. [189* his declining years, be separated from the wife of his youth. We, there- fore, advocate the establishment, by the State, in connection with the Indiana Department of the Grand Army of the Republic, of a suitable state soldiers' home for the care and maintenance of indigent soldiers, and their wives and widows, upon the plan recommended by the G. A. R. The people of Indiana cherish the memory of Alvin P. Hovey. He was a native of this State, and with only such opportunities as were open to all, arose to high position in the State and Nation, and distinguished himself as a jurist, soldier and statesman. The republicans of Indiana lament his death as the loss of a trusted leader and of a statesman who crowned a long and useful career by a courageous and manly defense of the Constitution he helped to frame and of the just powers of tlie State's chief executive. We tender to that eminent republican leader, James G. Blaine, and the members of his family our sincere sympathy, and with them mourn the loss of those who so recently formed part of their family circle. THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, J894. (The Indianapolis Sentinel, August 16.) The democratic party of Indiana takes just pride in the strength of the record it has made in the legislative and executive departments of this commonwealth by the enactment and enforcement of wise and benefi- cent laws in the interest of the people and in the fulfillment of its pledges. It passed the mechanic lien laws and the law giving laborers a lien upon the product of their labor for wages and materials furnished, the law protecting labor organizations, the law providing for the safety of miners and proper ventilation of mines, constituting eight hours a clay's labor in public employment, prohibiting the blacklisting of employes, prohibiting "pluck-me" stores, the employes' liability law, forbidding the employment and importation of Pinkerton detectives, against the importation of alien or foreign labor. It enacted the school book law, saving large sums to the people, breaking down an oppressive monopoly and placing the instru- ments of education within the reach of the poorest and humblest citizens; it enacted our existing laws purifying elections, giving an untramineled ballot to the voter, and by the Australian ballot successfully preventing fraud and the intimidation of employes and others at the polls. It framed and. passed our present tax law, thus adding millions of property to our tax duplicates; it passed the present fee and salary law; ii enacted the Barrett improvement law which has proven a blessing wherever used; it also passed the state board of charities law, which has insured honest, humane and intelligent administration of our public institutions. All this has been accomplished in almost every instance, in spite of the determined objection and opposition of the republican party. By this course of legislation in fulfillment of pledges to the people. Indiana has been placed at the fore front of all the states in matters of this kind and kindred reform legislation, and we pledge ourselves to the maintenance and enforcement of these measures, while the republican party stands 1894J I\I)[A.\A, 1S501900. pledged, at the first opportunity, to destroy, either by repeal or amendment, the most important of these wise laws. We congratulate the people of Indiana upon the upholding of the tax law of 1891, under which more than a hundred millions of dollars of cor- porate property has been added to the tax duplicate. And we especially commend the action of the state officers in charge in prosecuting and en- forcing to a successful conclusion the provisions of said laws. We reaffirm our opposition to the vicious system of class legislation, miscalled protection, and pledge ourselves to continue the battle against it until every species of extortion and robbery fostered by the McKinley act shall be obliterated from our revenue system and the people enjoy all the blessings of commercial liberty. The protective system has built up the great monopolies and trusts which control absolutely so many indus- tries and has done so much to debauch the politics of the country and corrupt the legislative department of the government. We denounce tariff protection of every kind as a fraud and a robbery of the great ma- jority of the American people for the benefit of the few. We maintain that no tariff taxes should be levied except for the purpose of revenue only and that such taxes should be limited to the necessities of the government, when honestly and economically administered. We denounce the McKinley tariff law enacted by the Fifty-first Con- gress as the culminating atrocity of class legislation. We approve the efforts of President Cleveland and his administration of the democratic house of representatives and of the large majority of the democratic sen- ators, and particularly our distinguished senators from Indian ?i, the Hon. Daniel W. Voorhees and the Hon. David Turpie, and our entire democratic delegation in congress, to redeem the pledges made to the country by the last democratic national convention, and to execute the will of the Amer- ican people, as expressed so emphatically at the ballot box in November, 1892. We condemn the republican party for its persistent efforts to pre- vent the execution of this unmistakable popular verdict, and we especially condemn a small coterie of senators who, masquerading as democrats, by threats to defeat all tariff legislation, have temporarily prevented the democratic party from carrying out all of its pledges to the people for tariff reform, as announced in the democratic national platform of 1892. We congratulate the democratic party and the country upon the fact that, notwithstanding the open opposition of the republican party and the conduct of a few pretended democrats, a substantial measure of reform has been enacted; that many important raw materials of our industries have been placed on the free list; that a material reduction has been made in the duties on iron ore and coal, and that the tariff tax on nearly all classes of manufactured goods, including woolens and on the necessities of daily life, have been very largely reduced. We approve the action of the house of representatives in following the enactment of this law with the passage of separate acts, placing sugar, coal, iron ore and barbed wire on free list, and we demand that the senate shall concur in these righteous measures at the earliest possible moment. We especially indorse the income tax as a wise and equitable measure designed to place a fair share of the burdens of the government upon the property of the country, for the benefit of which the expenses of the gov- ernment are so largely incurred. POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1894 We indorse the law passed by a democratic congress authorizing the taxation of greenbacks as other money is taxed as a great measure of reform, and we take pride in the fact that the demand for such reform was first formulated by the democracy of Indiana, and that it is due to the per- sistent and intelligent efforts of a democratic representative from Indiana that this reform has been embodied into law. We favor the prompt en- actment of a law by our next legislature for the taxation of that class of money. We most heartily indorse the action of the democratic congress in re- pealing the odious election law. We are in favor of a constitutional amendment providing for the election of United States senators by direct vote of the people. We are also in favor of such constitutional and other changes as may be necessary in order that Congress may assemble as soon after its election as practica- ble, and to the end that the will of the people, as expressed at the polls, may receive full and prompt legislative expression. We believe and declare that the policy and principles of what is called the American protective association are illiberal, unwise, unpatriotic, un- democratic and un-American. In the spirit of that religious freedom which characterizes our constitution and laws, and the spirit of that wise toleration and generous statesmanship which seeks to accord to all the rights and privileges of American citizenship, we call upon every man to do battle against such an organization. The democratic party of Indiana is, as it always has been, the friend of the laboring man, of whom its membership is so largely composed. It is in hearty sympathy with every lawful effort to secure for those who earn their livelihood by their daily toil full protection in all their rights as American citizens, to better the condition of their lives, to secure for them full and fair compensation for their labor and to afford them every possible opportunity for moral, social and material advancement. We con- demn the efforts that have been made, whether by the professed friends or the avowed enemies of our wage-workers, to identify their cause with the infamous conspiracies of lawlessness and anarchy which threaten the very foundations of social order and civilization. We are opposed to every manifestation of violence and mob spirit and stand squarely for the main- tenance of law and order upon all occasions and under all circumstances. We favor the enactment and enforcement of such laws regulating immigration from other countries as shall exclude the pauper and vicious classes, who are unfitted to become American citizens, and whose presence in the country will furnish a standing menace to the order and prosperity of our land. We denounce the unprincipled and cowardly effort of the republican party to escape the responsibility for the existing depressed condition of the business affairs of the country. This condition is the natural, logical and inevitable result of the infamously corrupt system of taxation known as McKinleyism, combined with other vicious legislation and the profligate extravagance of the republican party. We favor the establishment of a tribunal of arbitration in which there may be secured a peaceful settlement of all disputes between employers and employes. 1894] INDIANA, 18501900. 103 The democratic party is, as it has ever been, opposed to all sumptuary laws as contrary to the principles of free government, and favor the largest individual liberty of the citizens consonant with good government. We indorse the repeal of the purchasing clause of that cowardly re- publican makeshift, the Sherman silver act of 1890. We reaffirm our be- lief that both gold and silver should be used as the money standard of the country, and that both should be coined without discriminating against either metal and without charge for mintage. We believe it absolutely necessary to the welfare and prosperity of the great producing masses-, that silver should be restored to the place it occupied in the currency sys- tems of the world a quarter of a century ago, and we hail with delight the many signs of a revolution in public opinion in the great commercial na- tions in favor of a restoration of the bimetallic system. We pledge our hearty efforts to secure the adoption of every measure for the complete restoration of silver to its proper place in our monetary system, either through international agreement or by such safeguards of legislation as shall insure the maintenance of the parity of the two metals, and the equal power of every dollar at all times in the markets and in payment of debt; and we demand that all paper currency shall be kept at par and redeem- able in such coin. We declare that the present national administration has acted wisely and honorably in permitting the people of Hawaii, unawed by our naval or military forces, to manage their own domestic concerns and to place their country in the family of republics. We heartily indorse the able, fearless and patriotic administration of Grover Cleveland and especially his course in maintaining law and order. We heartily indorse the wise and patriotic administration of Governor Matthews, whose conduct as a public servant has called forth the com- mendation of the people of every state in the Union and placed our state in the foremost rank for good government, and cordially commend the ac- tion and conduct of our several state officers. We remember with gratitude the patriotic services of the soldiers and sailors of the late war, and recognize the fact that, after the lapse of thirty years, by reason of the hardships, privations and exposures of army life, many are passing away and others becoming more helpless. We therefore demand that congress in the matter of pensions, shall not only deal gen- erously, but bountifully with those aged veterans. We also reiterate the declaration of our convention in 1892, that the state should provide by liberal appropriation for the support of a home where our disabled veterans, with their wives, may be supported without sending them to almshouses. 104 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1894 THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, J894. (The Indianapolis Journal, April 26.) We, the republicans of Indiana, in delegate convention assembled, re- affirm our faith in the progressive principles of the republican party. We believe its policies, past and present, best calculated to promote the happi- ness and prosperity of the people. The administration of President Harrison and the congressional legis- lation of that period was wise, pure and patriotic, and we point to the marked contrast between the home and foreign policies of that adminis- tration and the present travesty on government inflicted upon the Ameri- can people. We believe in the republican doctrine of protection and reciprocity, which furnishes a home market for the products of our factories and our farms and protects the American laborer against the competition of the pauper labor of Europe. We denounce the unwise and unpatriotic action of the democratic party in attempting to eliminate the reciprocity principle from our tariff system, thereby closing a large foreign market to the products of American farms and depressing agricultural interests. We denounce the present attempt of the Democratic Congress to overthrow and destroy the American industrial system, a course that, with the gen- eral fear of violent readjustment of the country's business to a free-trade basis, has increased the national debt, has plunged the country into the most disastrous business depression of its history, has closed large num- bers of banks and factories throughout the country, has thrown an unprec- edented number of American citizens out of employment, has compelled thousands of able-bodied and industrious men to humiliate themselves by asking for charity and has filled our broad land with free soup houses and food markets. . We believe in a currency composed of gold, silver and paper, readily convertible at a fixed standard of value and entirely under national con- trol; and we favor the imposition of increased tariff duties upon the im- ports from all foreign countries which oppose the coinage of silver upon a basis to be determined by an international congress for such purpose. We denounce the avowed purpose of the democratic party to restore the era of "wild-cat" money. We believe in a liberal construction of our pension laws, and we con- demn the unjust policy of the present administration in depriving ex- soldiers of their pensions without a hearing, a policy intended to cast odium upon loyalty and patriotism. We believe it to be the duty of the State as well as the nation, to make suitable provision for the care and maintenance of all indigent soldiers, and their wives and widows; we therefore favor the establishment by the State of a suitable soldiers home for the reception of such soldiers, their wives and widows, as may be over- taken by adversity. We demand a rigid enforcement of all existing immigration laws by the national government, and demand such further legislation as will protect our people and institutions against the influx of the criminal and vicious classes. 18DG} iyi.)IAXA, 1850 WOO. 105 We denounce the unpatriotic action of the Cleveland administration in hauling down 'the American flag- in Hawaii, and condemn the arrogant assumption of power displayed in the effort to restore a tyrannical Queen over a free people, who had thrown off the yoke of despotism. We condemn the outrageous bargain and sale of federal patronage by the Cleveland administration in its unblushing efforts to usurp the pre- rogatives of the legislative branch of the government, to force favorite measures through Congress and compel the confirmation of presidential appointments by the Senate. We condemn the reckless and extravagant administration of the finan- cial affairs of this State, whereby the people are subjected to unjust and unnecessary burdens of taxation, by an increased assessment of property and an increased rate of taxation and by a multiplication of offices to be supported by the tax-payers of the State. We believe that the educational, benevolent and correctional institu- tions of the State should be placed under nonpartisan control. We believe in such legislation, state and national, as will protect the lives and limbs of employes of railroads, mines and factories. We condemn the policy steadily pursued by the democratic legislatures of Indiana in so gerrymandering the State as to deny the people a fair representation of their views in the State Legislature and national Con- gress, thus imperiling the foundations of our institutions. DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, J896. (The Indianapolis Sentinel, June 25.) Resolved, That we reaffirm our adherence to and faith in the demo- cratic doctrine of bimetallism, and therefore we demand the immediate restoration of bimetallism by the free and unrestricted coinage of both silver and gold, as primary money, at the ratio of 16 to 1, without waiting the cooperation of Great Britain or any other foreign power, all such coin- age to be full legal tender in the payment of all debts, private and public. Resolved, That we believe the existing tariff laws will be fully equal to all demands for needed revenue for the expenses of government eco- nomically administered under the conditions which will arise from the restoration of bimetallism. We are opposed to the redemption and final cancellation of United States notes (greenbacks) or any other notes or certificates issued by the United States to circulate as money, such redemption and cancellation necessarily involving an increase of the public debt by the issue of bonds and the reduction of currency. We demand a sufficient, stable volume of money gold, silver and paper to meet the requirements of our ever-growing population and the con- stant increase of our productive interests. We protest against the increase of the public debt by the issue of interest-bearing bonds, or otherwise, in a time of peace, and if the redemp- tion clause of the so-called Sherman "resumption act" of 1875 authorizes, as is claimed, the right of the treasury department to issue interest-bearing 106 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1896 bonds without limit, without the express and definite authority of Con- gress as to each issue of such bonds, we demand that that provision of said act be unconditionally repealed. The democratic party has never be- lieved that a public debt is a public blessing. We demand that obligations of the government, of every form, be paid and redeemed, in conformity with the laws under which they were issued, in coin, gold and silver, at the option of the government of the United States, a"nd not at the option of the creditor. Resolved, that we have heretofore favored and enforced much legisla- tion in our state friendly to labor; we continue to support, and shall maintain a policy favorable of organized labor, with all its rightful ordi- nances and orders, and we especially commend the action of the United States Senate, during its last session, in passing the act providing trial by jury in the federal courts in cases of alleged contempt. That we demand such legislation by the general assembly of the state as shall provide for a just and equitable method of arbitration of all dis- putes and controversies arising between employees and employers. To the gallant survivors of the army of the union, to the widows and children of those deceased, we tender our steadfast regard and gratitude. We favor the prompt adjustment, the punctual and regular payment of all pensions as the same accrue. We believe that the pension is a vested right. We heartily indorse the rule of Commissioner Murphy that no name shall be arbitrarily dropped from the rolls, and the fact of enlistment and service should be deemed conclusive evidence against prior disease or disability. That we do most earnestly sympathize with the people of the island of Cuba in their gallant struggle against the Spanish monarchy, for free- dom and independence. We believe that public war exists in Cuba, and that the parties thereto ought to be accorded all the rights of belligerents. We are in favor of the election of United States Senators by direct vote of the people of the several States. The democratic party is the faithful and consistent adherent of that great principle of popular government known as personal liberty of the citizen and oppose intolerance of whatever character, and especially oppose any attempt to control the habits of the people where such habits are con- sistent with the public order and general welfare. The comfort and convenience of all the inhabitants of the State re- quire good roads. We are, therefore, in favor of such legislation, as will serve to stimulate the enterprise of the people to the end that such roads may be constructed. We are opposed to all subsidies of land grants to private corporations, believing that the remainder of the public domain ought to be subject to entry by actual settlers only. Resolved, That this convention fully and cordially indorses the course and action of Senator Voorhees and Senator Turpie in the senate of the United States as having been at all times true and loyal to the interests of our state and country, and as having been distinguished by signal ability and success in the discharge of the duties of their high position, and we tender the Hon. Daniel W. Voorhees, the faithful and long-tried friend of the people, our sincere sympathies in the severe illness from which he has suffered, with our heartfelt wishes for his early and complete recovery. 1896] INDIANA, 1850-1900. 107 Resolved, That we indorse the administration of Hon. Claude Mat- thews, governor of Indiana, as having been wise, prudent and patriotic, and that his practical ability, his executive genius and capacity for public affairs, as well as his high personal integrity and character and his popularity with the* people all show him to be well worthy of higher honors. We therefore earnestly commend him, in full confidence of success, at the election, to the democracy of the United States as a candidate for the presidency. And the delegates from Indiana to the national convention are hereby instructed to cast their votes in his favor for president, first, last and all the time, and to use all honorable efforts to secure his nomina- tion. The thirty delegates selected to represent the democracy of Indiana in the Chicago national convention are instructed to vote as a unit upon all questions involving platform or candidates in that convention. THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, J896. (The Indianapolis Journal, May 8.) The republicans of Indiana are in favor of protection. We demand a tariff that will not only secure the necessary amount of revenue, but will also afford adequate and certain protection to the wage workers and pro- ducers of the country. We demand that American sellers shall have the first chance in Ameri- can markets. From Lincoln to Harrison, under the wise policy of pro- tection and reciprocity, we steadily decreased our bonded debt, re- sumed specie payment, maintained the public credit, kept unimpaired the gold reserve, increased the wealth of the whole country, and added to the comfort and happiness of the people in a degree unparalleled in the history of nations. The reversal of this beneficent and patriotic policy by the democratic party has brought to the American people noth- ing but distrust, deficit and disaster. We therefore demand a return to the sound republican policy of protection and reciprocity. We are firm and emphatic in our demand for honest money. We be- lieve that our money should not be inferior to the money of the most en- lightened nations of the earth. We are unalterably opposed to every scheme that threatens to debase or depreciate our currency. We favor the use of silver as currency, but to the extent only and un- der such regulations that its parity with gold can be maintained; and in consequence are opposed to the free, unlimited and independent coinage of silver at a ratio of 16 to 1. We demand a rigid enforcement of all existing immigration laws by the national government, and the enactment of such further legislation as will the better protect our people from the influx of the criminal and vicious classes of foreign countries. We believe in a liberal construction of our pension laws, and condemn the unjust and unfair policy of the present administration in depriving ex- 103 POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1898 soldiers of their pensions without notice and without a hearing upon charges filed against them. We believe it to be the duty of the State as well as the nation to make suitable provision for the care and maintenance of all unfor- tunate soldiers, their wives and widows, and we therefore commend the act of the last legislature of Indiana providing a suitable home for the reception of such soldiers, their wives and widows as may be overtaken by adversity. Believing as we do, in a protective tariff, the leading issue before the people, we favor the nomination for President of the United States of the man who perfectly represents a protective tariff, and the cardinal prin- ciples of the republican party; a man who has devoted his life to the defense of his country in war and in peace; one who, at seventeen, fought with Hayes and Crook and Sheridan at Antietam and in the Shenandoah in defense of our flag against foes within; and for fourteen years in Con- gress contended against our country's foes from without, beating back British free trade and aggression which finally, under the present demo- cratic administration, obtained possession of our markets and has almost destroyed our industries; a man, who, with the resistless shibboleth, "pro- tection and prosperity," has challenged the attention of the commercial world and won the support of every patriotic workingman of our coun- try; whose life and work, open as a book, are in themselves a platform, and whose very name is magic that loyal American citizen, soldier, states- man and Christian gentleman, William McKinley of Ohio; and the dele- gates to the Republican National Convention selected by this body are directed to cast their vote for William McKinley as frequently and con- tinuously as there is any hope for his nomination. THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, J898. (The Indianapolis Sentinel, June 23.) We, the democracy of Indiana, in convention assembled, now, as al- ways, loyal to our country and our flag, affirm that the cause for which the United States is engaged in war with Spain, is just and righteous. We recall with pride the early espousal and united and persistent support of this cause, by the senators and representatives of the democratic party in Congress. We congratulate the country upon the universal patriotic uprising which has swept away the last vestige of sectionalism, and re- vealed us to the world as a united people. We rejoice in the heroic deeds of Dewey, Bagley, Hobson and their brave comrades which have added new luster to the American name. We demand, now as heretofore, the most vigorous prosecution of the war until it shall have ended in vindica- tion of the national honor, and absolute relinquishment by Spain of pos- session or control of any part of the western hemisphere, and the formal acknowledgment by that kingdom of the independence of the Cuban re- public. We favor the prompt recognition by the United States of such independence as a war measure, and as an act of justice to a brave people, struggling for freedom. We urge the immediate increase of the volunteer 1898] INDIANA, 18501900. }()g forces of our army and navy to any extent necessary to assure speedy and decisive results, and the appropriation of all the funds requisite for the adequate equipment and support, and for the comfort, of our gallant sol- diers and sailors in armed conflict against the public enemy. The supreme duty of the hour is to relieve the perishing victims of Spanish cruelty and secure the complete triumph of the national arms. When this shall have been accomplished the justice and wisdom of the American people may be safely trusted to deal with all questions which may grow out of existing complications, in such a way as best promote the objects for which this republic was founded. We favor such a permanent strengthening of the navy of the United States and such improvements of our system of coast defenses as shall assure adequate protection of the country against foreign aggression. The democratic party of Indiana, now, as in the past, advocates liberal pensions as well to the disabled survivors of the Union army in the civil war, and their widows and orphans, as to the victims in the present con- flict, and those Avho may be dependent upon them. We honor alike the valor of those who suffered for the flag in the gigantic contest of 1801-65, and of those who have now gone forth to do battle in the cause of liberty and humanity. We are in favor of the construction and control of the Nicaraguan canal by this government, when its feasibility shall have been determined; but we are opposed to the loan of the national credit to any private corpo- ration for that purpose. We reaffirm and emphasize the platform adopted by the National demo- cratic convention of 1800 at Chicago. We are in favor of the free and unlimited coinage of both gold and silver at the existing ratio of 10 to 1, without the aid or consent of any other nation. We are unalterably opposed to the single gold standard, and we especially protest against the declared purpose of the present republican secretary of the treasury of applying that policy more thoroughly. We believe that the practice of the treasury in paying treasury notes in gold only, in violation of law, and in surrendering the option of the government, reserved by the statute, to pay in gold or silver, is chiefly responsible for the great money depression now, and for so long a period, existing in this country, is destructive of business enterprise, dangerous to the public credit and the prosperity of the people, and a serious menace to the na- tional honor. We insist that the wealth of the country should bear its just share of the public burdens. For that reason we approve the inheritance tax recently adopted through the efforts of the democrats in congress, and we favor the principle and policy of an income tax. The demonetization of silver and the judicial denial of the power to tax incomes have materially impaired our resources for war purposes. We favor the reimposition of the income tax, so that the question of its validity may be reviewed by the supreme court. We earnestly reassert the democratic doctrine that all tariff taxes shall be laid for revenue as their sole object and purpose, and we do at this time especially denounce and condemn the high prohibitory rates of the present republican tariff, commonly called the Dingley Bill, under the operation of which trusts and combinations have multiplied, the cost of the neces- POLITICAL PLATFORM*. [1898 saries of life has been increased and the wages of labor have not been advanced, and which has entailed upon the country a deficit of many mil- lions to be made up only by additional taxation in time of war, thus impos- ing, instead of a benefit, an onerous burden upon the people of the United States. We reaffirm and emphasize our repeated declarations in favor of the election of United States Senators by the people. We congratulate the taxpayers of Indiana on the rapid decrease in the state debt, and beg to remind them that the revenues, with which the pay- ments thereon have been made and are being made, result from ihe enforce- ment of the democratic tax law of 1891, which was enacted by a demo- cratic legislature over republican opposition and protest, which was as- sailed by a republican state convention, denounced by republican orators and the entire republican press, but which was sustained in the highest court of the nation through the efforts of a democratic attorney-general. Every dollar paid on the state debt by republican officials is cumulative evidence of the stupidity or worse, of the republican organizations in its bit- ter opposition to the law which made such payment possible, and which, since coming into power, they have made no effort to repeal. We also recall that a democratic legislature enacted a law creating a sinking fund of 3 cents on the hundred dollars, to be applied exclusively to the extinguishment of^ the state debt, and that under these laws the democratic administration of Governor Matthews, in 1895, and 1896, set the pace by reducing the state debt more than two million dollars. The democratic party feels a just pride in the other great legislative reforms it has accomplished for the people of Indiana and points to their continuing benefits as certain proof of their wisdom. We call attention to the Australian ballot law, enacted against republican opposition and still having a great purifying effect on elections, notwithstanding the re- publican amendments lessening its safeguards; to the board of state char- ities law for the supervision and regulation of our penal and charitable institutions: to the school book law, by which the great school book trust has been driven from the State, the price of books used in public schools has been reduced over one-half and the frequent changes in books, for- merly so burdensome to the people and detrimental to the schools, have been prevented; to the fee and salary law and other great measures of reform which the State of Indiana owes to the democratic party. We call attention to the record of the last two legislatures, each repub- lican in both branches, which made scarcely a law of material benefit to the people. Both of these legislatures were marked by corruption and debauchery so scandalous that even republican organs were driven to de- nounce them. They have to their credit the iniquitous special verdict law made in one and repealed in the other; the present legislative gerry- mander, by which the senate is given fifty-one members, in violation of the constitution; the anti-trust law, inspired by trust attorneys and purposely made so worthless that republican state officials dare not attempt to en- force it; an oppressive garnishee law, which undertook to deprive wage- earners of the state of their constitutional right of exemption; and the outrageous partisan measures to extend the term of the appellate judges, county superintendents and township trustees. 1898] lyDIAXA, 18501000. Ill We are earnestly in favor of legislation for the regulation and reform of primary elections. We recognize the existence of grave defects in the laws governing counties and townships of this state. We favor a complete and systematic Revision of such laws to the end that public business may be enacted with greater efficiency and economy. We favor such an amendment of the truancy law, which now requires a large and unnecessary expenditure of public moneys, so as to transfer the duties of such officials to township trustees, who shall perform the same without further compensation. We sincerely sympathize with organized labor in its efforts to adjust differences between the employer and employe. We denounce the incor- porated trusts which have overcome these efforts by cruel and unjust methods and we favor a system of equal and disinterested arbitration as a means of adjustment of such differences. We take pride in the long list of laws enacted by democratic legisla- tures for the benefit of the workingmen of the State, including the eight- hour labor law, the law prohibiting "pluck-me-stores," the repeal of the infamous republican intimidation laws, the law prohibiting the importa- tion of Pinkertons, the law prohibiting "blacklisting," the miners' law providing for the proper ventilation of mines and the use of honest weights and screens; the law protecting workingmen in the right to organize for mutual defense; the co-employes' liability law; the mechanics' lien law; the law prohibiting the forced collection of fees from employes of railroad corporations to sustain company hospitals, restaurants, etc.; the law guar- anteeing the civil rights of all citizens, and the law prohibiting the im- portation of paupers and aliens under contract into the state who have no purpose of becoming citizens thereof. We demand a more thorough enforcement of the eight-hour and other laws in the interest of labor by the public officials charged with that duty. We are opposed to the contract labor system in prison, but we believe that to maintain convicts in idleness is inhuman and unjustly burdensome to the people. We believe some plan should be devised for the profitable utilization of their labor without bringing it into competition with free labor. The projects for its employment under the public account system, or in the construction of a ship canal connecting Lake Michigan with the Wabash River, or in some other enterprise of great public utility should be carefully considered and that plan which promises the best results and is open to the feAvest objections should be adopted by the next legislature. We approve the child labor and factory inspection law, and favor such amendments to same as shall render it more effective. We adhere firmly to the teachings and practice of the democratic party in favor of the largest measure of personal liberty consistent with public security and social order. We are opposed to all projects of legislative interference with, or regulation of, matters which lie withjn the domain of individual judgment and conscience. We express our undiminished confidence in William Jennings Bryan, our peerless leader in the national campaign of 1896, and we note with much gratification his patriotic course in leading to the defense of his country a regiment of citizen soldiers. I'OJJTICAL PLATFORMS. [1898 We indorse the record of our distinguished Senator, the Hon. David Turpie, who by his able and eloquent championship of democratic prin- ciples and measures, his sturdy devotion to the interests of the people, his uncompromising warfare upon extravagance and jobbery, his advocacy of great reforms such as the popular election of United States senators, and his Avarm espousal of the cause of Cuban independence, has justified the confidence which the Indiana democracy has reposed in him. Whereas, since the meeting of the last state convention we have suf- fered an irreparable loss in the death of the Hon. Daniel W. Yoorhees. late a senator of the United States, one who has faithfully served the peo- ple, the state and the country, for many years in the highest official sta- tion, we deplore, with profound sorrow, his departure from the scene of his great achievements, and shall always cherish his memory with the most sincere regard, reverence and admiration. THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, f898. (The Indianapolis Journal, August 4.) The republicans of Indiana, in state convention assembled, congratu- late the nation at large on its return to republican rule, which furnishes a sure guaranty of stability and prosperity to all our institutions, and a comparison that gives little hope of a return to power of the party of calamity and distress. While we sincerely deplore the necessity of war, we believe the President and Congress acted wisely in demanding the com- plete withdrawal of Spanish sovereignty over the island of Cuba and in proceeding to enforce and demand with the military and naval power of the government. And now r that our army and navy, through their splendid achievements, have blest our Nation with triumphs not excelled in the world's history, rendering many names illustrious and immortal, and add- ing prestige and glory, limited only by civilization, to our great Republic, the occasion is one of supreme gratitude to the great ruler of nations. We extend to the brave men on land and sea who have gone forth to battle for the glory of our flag and the cause of human liberty our deepest sympathy on account of the sacrifices they have made and the hardships they are called upon to endure, and our warmest praise for their unconquerable valor. We honor, congratulate and applaud our country's heroes who have once more proved the match-less intelligence, devotion and courage of American manhood. They have proved to the Avorld that the United States is a nation, bne and indivisible, without sections and without classes, whose purpose is "to deal justly, love mercy and walk humbly before God." We felicitate the country on the fact, when in the exigencies of war it became necessary to issue $200,000,000 of government bonds to meet the extraordinary expenditures, a republican administration had the good sense and wisdom to put the loan within the easy reach of the people, where it has been wholly absorbed, furnishing a splendid security for their 1898] INDIANA, 1850-1MQ. 113 savings, awakening a new interest in the permanency of our government and the soundness of its financial system. We most cordially approve the administration of President McKinley. He has met the unusually grave and difficult questions which have arisen, since his incumbency of the presidential office in a manner so wise and patriotic as to challenge the admiration of all parties at home, and to win the approval of the best people throughout the civilized world. We espe- cially commend his conservative and patriotic course in earnestly hoping and negotiating for peace while yet prudently preparing for war. And we further express our most earnest approval of his vigorous prosecution of the war, and our entire confidence in his ability to secure such terms of peace, now happily near at hand, as will advance human liberty, and com- port with the dignity and honor of the American people. The republicans of Indiana are unreservedly for sound money, and are therefore opposed to the heresy to which the democratic party is wedded, of the free and unlimited coinage of both gold and silver at the ratio of 10 to 1, which Ave regard as absolutely sure to debase our money and de- stroy our private and public credit, and cause general business dis- aster. We recognize the necessity of comprehensive and enlightened monetary legislation, and believe that the declaration in the St. Louis National Republican platform for the maintenance of the gold stand- ard and the parity of all our forms of money should be given the vitality of public law and the money of the American people should be made, like all its institutions, the best in the world. We especially commend the President and Congress for the prompt passage of a wise revenue law r in accordance with the sound republican doctrine of reciprocity and protection to American industries and home labor, and express our unbounded confidence in the beneficial results pre- dicted for this measure by our party leaders, evidences of which are daily accumulating in the way of renewed business prosperity and ample revenue for ordinary governmental expenditures. We, therefore, reaffirm our belief in the doctrine of reciprocity and protection to American labor and home industries, and condemn the democratic doctrine of tariff for revenue only as unsound and unsuited to the best interests of the coun- try, a doctrine whose falsity which has been demonstrated by our experi- ence under the Wilson revenue bill that plunged the Nation into commer- cial and financial distress, from which it is fast recovering since the change from that democratic policy. We hold in undying honor the soldiers and sailors whose valor saved the life of the Nation, and those who were but recently called to arms in vindication of their country's honor and the cause of human liberty. Just and liberal pensions to all deserving soldiers are a sacred debt of the Nation, and the widows and orphans of those who are dead are entitled to the care of a generous and grateful people. Having achieved its manhood, the Republic, under God, is entering upon its greatest period of power, happiness and responsibility. Realizing the mighty future of wealth, prosperity and duty which is even now upon us, we favor the extension of American trade, the reformation of our con- sular system accordingly, the encouragement by all legitimate means of the American merchant marine, the creation of a navy as powerful as our commerce shall be extensive and for the public defense and security, 8 Platforms. POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1898 and the establishment of coaling stations and naval rendezvous wherever necessary. We most heartily approve of the annexation of the Hawaiian islands as a wise measure. We recommend the early construction of the Nica- raguan canal under the immediate direction and exclusive control of the United States government the importance and necessity of the canal hav- ing been emphasized by recent events connected with the present war with Spain. We favor the enactment and enforcement of laws restricting and pre- venting the immigration of such undersirable foreign population as is prejudicial to free American labor. We indorse the record of Senator Fairbanks, who has by his wise and patriotic counsel and courageous ability aided the President and served his country with marked distinction and great honor to our State. We commend and congratulate the republican congressional delegation upon the high standard of ability manifested by them and the conspicu- ous station they have taken in national legislation. We commend the administration of Governor Mount and the republican state officials, under which, with a reduction of 25 per centum in the state tax rate within the last eighteen months, $920,000 of the state debt has been discharged; an army of over seven thousand men has been equipped and placed in the field at an expense of over $200,000; the laws have been enforced and the name of Indiana honored throughout the land. In 1895-97, the first time since 1883, owing to the vicious system of enacting apportionment laws, whereby the minority might still control the majority, the republican party found itself in condition to legislate for the state, and the laws that it wisely enacted and the other measures which it still more wisely refused to pass, constitute an epoch in legisla- tion that is an enduring monument to the faithfulness and intelligence of the party which the Fifty-ninth and Sixtieth General Assemblies repre- sented. Among the many wise and just measures of legislation that stand upon the statute books as the result of the labors of those two General Assemblies, are the acts creating a labor commission; providing means for the settlement of disputes between employers and employes by arbitra- tion; abolishing the prison-contract system; taking convict labor out of competition with free labor; providing for factory inspection and the pro- tection of the lives and health of operatives and prohibiting the employ- ment of child labor; providing safeguards in the auditing of public expendi- tures; complying with the constitutional mandate that the penal code should be founded on principles of reformation and not of vindictive jus- tice; providing for the protection of the people against incompetent and inefficient professional men; making permanent in county and extending to State officials the provision that officers shall be paid according to their services, and not constitute a burden upon the people by reason of exces- sive fees and salaries; the taking of the benevolent institutions out of the purview of partisan politics, whereby the poor and unfortunate wards of the State are assured competent and humane treatment; and, above all, the enactment of an honest, fair and constitutional apportionment law. These acts emphasize and illustrate the intelligence and integrity of the Fifty-ninth and Sixtieth General Assemblies, and we congratulate the re- publican party and the people of the State upon their action. 1900] INDIANA, 1850-1900. Believing that there is need of reform in county and township gov- ernment, and that a vast saving of the public money can be made by bet- ter methods, we favor early and thorough revision of the laws upon this subject, to the end that the people of Indiana may have the best and most economical management of local affairs. We favor, as a supplement to our present election law, the enactment by the next Legislature of such a primary election law as will secure to the people a full and free expression in the selection of their candidates for office. THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, J9(XX (The Indianapolis Sentinel, June 7.) We, the democrats of Indiana, in convention assembled, reaffirm our allegiance to the principles of liberty and justice which the democratic party has advocated from the time of Jefferson. We reaffirm and pledge our allegiance to the principles of the declara- tion of Independence, and acknowledge our debt of gratitude to Thomas Jefferson, the author of that charter of human rights. We reaffirm our allegiance to the principles of the constitution of the United States, and declare our veneration for the wise and far-sighted patriots who instituted its beneficent provisions, not only for themselves, but for the welfare of the people for all time. We reaffirm and pledge our allegiance to the principles of the Chicago platform of 189<>, and commend its distinguished exponent, William Jen- nings Bryan, to the people of the United States as an able statesman, a sincere patriot and an honest man, who can safely be trusted to stand at all times for the people and against their foes at home and abroad. And we instruct the delegates selected by this convention to cast their votes for him at the democratic national convention to be held at Kansas City. It is of vital importance at this time that the people should restore the fundamental principles of their government to their original force. We are already far advanced in the policy of arbitrary rule, which has caused an encroachment on the rights of the people at home and on liberty abroad, and a subversion of popular government. It is the history of the human race that every nation which has sought to extend its power by destroying the liberty of others has, in the end, destroyed the liberty of its own people. No people can exist part free and part slave, part citizen and part subject, part republic and part empire. We submit the corrupting influence of colonial domain has already brought disgrace upon the republic; that usurped and dictatorial power has already readied the danger line. The constitution and the plighted faith of the republic have been violated in Porto Rican legislation, for the purpose of asserting power to rule without regard to law, duty, or right principle. Independence is withheld from the Cubans in defiance. of law and national promises. Slavery is recognized and protected in Sulu, and involuntary servitude in Hawaii in violation of the Constitution. POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1900 We condemn the extravagances of the present administration, the vio- lation of the civil service, the fraudulent army contracts, the payment of double salaries to military officers, the spoliation of the people of Cuba, and the favor and protection shown partisans, speculators and corrupt officials in their dealings with the government. We demand an honest and economical administration of national affairs, the repeal of the stamp tax, and such constitutional amendments as will enable congress to levy a graduated income tax and provide for the election of United States Senators by a direct vote of the people. We are opposed to a large standing army. Military rule should find no place under a republic, and we condemn it, whether used to administer government in Cuba or to crush liberty in the Philippines. Domestic order is best conserved by the civil authorities, and in time of war the safety and honor of the republic can be intrusted to its volunteers. We extend our sympathy to the people of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State in their heroic effort to maintain their liberty and inde- pendence. We demand the strict enforcement of the Monroe Doctrine, and the construction of the Nicaraguan canal, and we denounce the Hay-Paunce- fote treaty as an abject surrender at English dictation of the right of the republic to fortify and in time of war to control the Nicaraguan canal. We call attention to the reform legislation which the democratic party has given the people of this state, the school book law, the tax laws, the Australian ballot, the fee and salary reform, and the many statutes for the protection of labor. The republican party is now hypocritically claiming credit for the re- duction in our state debt, made possible by the democratic tax laAv, the enactment of which it opposed. It has mutilated the Australian ballot law and repealed the statute making the bribery of voters a penal offense. In four years of absolute control of state affairs it has failed to pass any effectual legislation against monopolies or trusts, but has uniformly defeated all effort to enact anti- trust laws. We pledge ourselves to an economical administration of state affairs, the non-partisan management of the state institutions, the continuation of the reform work begun by the democratic party and the enactment and enforcement of state legislation against trusts. We call attention to the extraordinary concentration of wealth and the alarming growth of monopoly during the McKinley administration; the arbitrary regulation of markets; the increased cost of living; the loss of industrial independence; the despotic power of employment and discharge of American labor, now, concentrating in a few hands; the activity of these monopolies in politics; their increasing influence in the enactment and en- forcement of the laws, and the unconcern or real favors with which these things are regarded by the republican leaders. Relief can not be expected so long as the friends of trusts remain in office. The democratic party, free from their influence, and not embarrassed by their favors, pledges its rep- resentatives in office to the positive enactment and enforcement of anti- trust legislation. 1000] INDIANA, 18501900. We are opposed to a protective tariff, and condemn the Dingley law as the culminating- atrocity of the protective policy. It is unjustifiable in principle, and pernicious in practice, and has contributed to the develop- ment and fostering of trusts, which have been maintained under that law at their highest point. The menace of monoply at this time is most pro- nounced, and no sincere effort has been made by the republican party, now in full control of the government, to strike a blow at the trust out- rage. We therefore demand the removal of all tariff from articles made or controlled by a trust and that no tariff be levied for other purpose than revenue. We renew our thanks and grateful acknowledgment to the soldiers and sailors who fought in the war for the union, the Mexican war, the war with Spain and in the Philippines. We protest against the policy of the republican administration, which has, in many instances, needlessly embarrassed the adjustment and denied the consideration of claims for pensions on account of disabilities, wounds and death incurred in the military and naval service, and demand an im- mediate and just adjudication of such claims now so long postponed. And we concur in the criticism of the present administration of the pension department. We, therefore, call on all men who love their country and its institutions, who hold popular government better than absolute rule, who realize that self-government can be preserved only by constant adherence to constitutional safeguards, who oppose special legislation, and believe that all should stand equal before the law, and that the flag should not be a symbol of subjugation and wrong, but of freedom and right, and that this republic should be a guarantee of equality and equity at home, and of honor and justice abroad, to unite with us in the vindication of these principles. Resolved, That the figure or device to be used on the ballot to desig- nate the candidates of this convention and for the democratic candidates in all the elections throughout the state, shall be the "rooster" in the attitude of crowing. n g POLITICAL PLATFORMS. [1900 THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, J900. (The Indianapolis Journal, April 26.) The republicans of Indiana in state convention assembled at the city of Indianapolis adopt and proclaim the following declaration of principles: We emphatically indorse the wise and patriotic administration of Pres- ident McKinley. In the whole history of this country there has been no period so distinctively marked by prosperity and progress as that of this splendid republican administration. It furnishes a most practical illustra- tion of the difference between a party of capacity and one of incapacity. Under its policies the country has passed from extreme depression to un- paralleled prosperity. Party pledges have been scrupulously kept; the dig- nity and honor of the nation maintained everywhere; the dangers and per- plexities of a great foreign war successfully met; the glory of the flag augmented; imperishable fame added to our army and navy; the public credit strengthened until the nation's bonds, bearing a lower rate of inter- est than any like securities in the world, command a premium in the mar- ket; new opportunities to labor created; additional markets opened to our surplus products of every kind, taxing production to its utmost capacity to meet consumption and demand; Spanish cruelty and oppression forever banished from this hemisphere and the Philippine islands; the open door policy in China secured to all the commercial nations of the world through American diplomacy; and a more fraternal feeling inculcated between the North and South. We offer this partial review of magnificent achieve- inents of the administration of William McKinley as a warrant for its continuance in power. And we pledge the hearty support of the repub- lican party in Indiana to his renomination and re-election, as a just and well deserved reward for his splendid services to the nation. . Indiana has been well and faithfully represented in Congress and we point with special pride to and congratulate our senators and republican representatives in Congress upon their distinguished ability and the con- spicuous part they have taken in shaping national legislation, thereby add- ing to the prestige of this great State. 1. We mourn the death of Garrett A. Hobart, Vice-President of the United States, a statesman of exalted character, of upright purpose, and of great usefulness to the country. With reverence we refer to the absence from this convention of that "grand old man," Col. Richard W. Thompson, whom we all loved, and whose memory is firmly enshrined in our hearts. Stilled is that voice, which for more than half a century, gave utterance to republican wisdom and eloquence; at rest is that silvered head, which was as inspiring as were the white plumes of Henry of Navarre. In the death of Major General Henry W. Lawton, Indiana's famous fighter, we recognize the pathetic yet glorious ending of a soldierly career, full of years and honors, leaving to a devoted wife and loving children the richest heritage any man can bestow. He laid down his life where any hero-soldier might well choose to die under the folds of the flag, on the firing line, at the battle's front. 1900] INDIANA, 18501900. 2. The conflict with Spain was begun and carried on from humane and disinterested motives. The possession of the islands which came to our hands as a result of that war was a consequence of it not foreseen, but which could not be avoided with honor and safety. We can not escape- the responsibility resting upon us. Our first duty is to establish the au- thority of the United States against armed resistance; then to replace mili- tary by civil administration. The guiding principle of our conduct in deal- ing with the people of these islands should be to promote their highest welfare, and we pledge the largest possible freedom of control in their affairs, as their ability for self-government shall be developed, and to use all proper means to advance their civilization and enlightenment. 3. We unhesitatingly approve and indorse the policy and course of the administration and the legislation by Congress in respect to our newly acquired possessions and express full confidence in the wisdom, integrity and ability of the administration supported by a republican Congress, to deal wisely and justly with the questions concerning the same, as they may arise. 4. The employment of the people is the contentment of the people. The greatest benefaction to man is the opportunity to labor. Our best hope for the continued employment of labor lies in the domination of the world's markets by American agricultural and mechanical products. Low interest rates are potent factors in the extension of American commerce and industry at home and abroad. The wise financial legislation of the republican party has largely secured these results. We, therefore, con- gratulate the American people in that the republican party has kept its beneficent pledge for the maintenance of the gold standard and the parity of all our forms of money by comprehensive, courageous legislation. The republican party has always stood and now stands for money laws that benefit all our people alike, without preference of one over another, the borrower as well as the lender, and such as equalize and lower the rates of interest throughout the country. And to this end we favor legislation authorizing elasticity in our bank currency for the benefit of our producers, the laborer, the farmer and the manufacturer, and for the general com- merce of our people, under the guidance and control of the secretary of the treasury. 5. Combinations of capital having as their object or effect the con- trol of the production of commodities, or the markets thereof, are hurt- ful and injurious to the best interests of the people. This evil should be overthrown without injury to honest trade. We, therefore, favor such additional legislation, both State and National, as shall establish the com- plete legal control over all trusts and monopolies, with full power to dis- solve the same, and mete proper punishment to all who thus seek to de- stroy honest competition and prevent the widest possible employment to labor. 6. We reaffirm our belief in the doctrine of reciprocity and protection to American labor and home industries and point to the beneficial results which have come from the enactment of the Dingley law. It will be the care of the republican party to maintain the law in harmony with chang- ing conditions from time to time; so that it shall at all times subserve the purpose of protection to the interests of labor and production. 20 POLITICAL PLATFORM*. [1900 7. We recognize a debt of gratitude to the soldiers and sailors of the late Avar with Spain and in the Philippine islands; and we tender to those QOW iii the field our fullest confidence, sympathy and support. Just and liberal pensions to all deserving soldiers and sailors are a debt of the nation; and the widows and orphans of those who are dead are entitled to the care of a generous and grateful people. 8. We again recommend the early construction of the Nicaraguan canal under the immediate direction and exclusive control of the United States government. 9. We favor the enactment and enforcement of laws restricting and preventing the importation of such undesirable foreign population as is prejudicial to free American labor. 10. We indorse the clean and able administration of Governor James A. Mount in the intelligent, honorable and economical management of state affairs. We congratulate the people of Indiana upon the emanci- pation of the penal and benevolent institutions from partisan control and the provision through ample appropriation by the last legislature, for new buildings and appropriate maintenance to accommodate the unfor- tunate wards of the State many of whom have been compelled to be quartered in county almshouses. The penal and reformatory institutions are now conducted on humanitarian lines. The benevolent institutions of the State are an honor to her citizenship. The dependent soldier's and sailor's orphan has a home and is fitted for the practical duties of life; the State Soldiers' Home at Lafayette is the creature of republican legislation and is being so provided for that the Union veteran and his wife, in the days of their need, can find a haven of comfort and care. 11. The State's finances are carefully and economically managed. The state debt is being rapidly canceled. The growing demands of all our penal and benevolent institutions have been met. The State tax levy has been reduced and with a continuance of republican administration we pledge that the State will shortly be free from debt and the people enjoy the blessings resulting from a prudent, economical and conservative gov- ernment of her affairs. Since the republican party took charge of the fiscal affairs in this State not only have increased and necessary accommo- dations for the wards of the State been provided, but, at the same time, the State debt has been decreased in the sum of $2,515,000 and an interest saving of $78,600 per annum has been effected. 12. We congratulate the people upon the fulfillment of the pledge of the republican party for reform in county and township government, whereby in the first year of the operation of the reform laws over $1,000,- 000 will be saved to the tax-payers of the State, and we favor such amendments thereto as experience has taught are necessary to harmonize with other existing legislation in order to increase their efficiency. We also favor such legislation as will insure greater economy and more efficient methods in municipal government. 13. The republican party pledges itself to do all in its power to bring about the adoption of an adequate primary election law. 14. The wisdom of the establishment of a labor commission by the pres- ent state administration has been abundantly verified. Vast good in behalf of the public weal has resulted from the substitution of rational arbitra- 1900] INDIANA, 18601900. tion for acrimonious contention in the settlement of differences between employers and employes, thus infinitely bettering conditions in mines, factory and workshop. Since the Indiana State Labor Commission was instituted in 1897, it has been the direct means of peaceably adjusting one hundred and fifty strikes and lockouts, affecting 25,000 workingmen. In 80 per cent, of the contentions so arbitrated, increased wages and im- proved working conditions have resulted, besides making a saving to capi- tal and labor, by the shortening of strikes, amounting, at a conservative estimate, to more than one million dollars. This has been augmented by the establishment through republican legislation of a bureau of factory inspection insuring better protection to life from fire and accident, im- proved sanitary conditions and the suppression of abuses of child labor. 15. At the beginning of the present State administration thousands of Indiana coal miners were without employment and in a condition of piti- able destitution, owing to the universal business depression directly trace- able to the gross mismanagement of national affairs by a democratic ad- ministration. The Governor promptly appointed a commission of investi- gation. The result of that humane policy proved highly gratifying. He issued an appeal for aid that met with prompt and generous response. The pressing necessities of the miners and their suffering families were speedily relieved, arbitration methods were introduced and the sun of prosperity again shone upon the mining industry. 16. We congratulate the people of Indiana upon the passage by the republican legislature of 1899 of the mortgage exemption law. One hun- dred thousand home owners are now receiving the benefits of this law in the just reduction of their taxes. 17. We refer with pride to the fact that at the outbreak of the Span- ish-American war Indiana was first to report to the President that its quota was full and ready for the orders of the commander-in-chief. It was first to pay its volunteers in full without drawing upon any other source than a carefully husbanded treasury. It was first to report this back to the secretary of war, eliciting from him the response, "Indiana is always good to her soldiers" a thoughtful tribute to the record and memory of our revered and matchless chieftain, the great war Governor, Oliver P. Morton. Indiana may well be proud of the conspicuous part it had in the war with Spain, and we hereby attest our admiration of all the men who so cheer- fully made personal sacrifices to uphold the honor of the nation and pre- serve the sacredness of the flag. 18. To the Indiana soldiers now patriotically serving their country in the Philippines we send words of cheer and assurances of steadfast support. The American flag and the American soldier stand ever and al- ways for liberty and humanity. The insurrection of Aguinaldo is kept alive by the hope of Democratic success based on the false cry of "im- perialism." We condemn this unpatriotic policy as being responsible for the continued war in the Philippines, with its cost of lives, suffering and treasure. NOTE. ABBREVIATIONS : Democrat d. Independent i. People's p. Republican r. Union u. Whig ...w. (122) INDEX. Compiled by Anna G. Hubbard, Reference Librarian, Indiana State Library. ABOLITION KULE, condemn frauds under, d. 29. Agent of state, favor abolition of, r. 43. Aguinaldo, r. 121. Alcohol, a study in the schools, r. 77. American protective association, denounce principles, d. 102. American union, preservation a duty, r. 21. Amnesty, grant to rebels, r. 52. Anarchism, oppose, r. 78. Andrews' election law, d. 86. Antietam, r. 108. Appellate judges, term, d. 110. Appropriation bill, democrats refused to pass, r. 76. Army and navy, frauds in, d. 23 ; favor ap- propriation, d. 109; favor increasing navy, d. 109 ; favor enlarging of navy, r. 113; oppose large standing, d. 116. Arthur, Chester A., indorse administration, r. 66. Assessment; See Taxation. Attorney's fees, collection from defendant, i.46. Australian ballot, indorse, d. 96, 110. BAGLEY, WORTH, d. 108. Baker, Conrad, indorse administration as acting governor, u. 32 ; indorse adminis- tration, r. 40, 44. Baltimore, national convention, d. 41. Bankrupt act, favor repeal, d. 56. Banks, not connected with the government, d.5. Benevolent institutions, republicans oppose appropriations for, d. 14 ; partisan con- trol, d. 68 ; corrupt boards, r. 76 ; non- partisan control, r. 92, 99, 105, 120. Berkshire, John D., d. 89. Bimetallism, believe in, d. 50, 56, 103, 105; See also, Currency; Free coinage; Money. Black republican party, sobriquet, d. 14. "Blacklisting," indorse law against, d. 88, 97, 111. Blaine, James G., indorse nomination, r. 71 ; attitude on McKinley tariff bill, d. 87 ; lament death, r. 100. Blocks-of-five, d. 85, 95. Bonds, taxation of, d. 32; paid in green- backs, r. 34 ; five-twenty bonds payable in greenbacks, d. 36 ; ought to be taxed, d. 37 ; war claim bonds, r. 85 ; See also Government bonds. Bounties, should be regulated, u. 31; pro- portion to service, d. 41; no cost to re- cipient, r. 42 ; liberal, d. 61, r. 72. Bright, Jesse D., indorse senatorial actions of, d. 6, 12 ; present name for president, d. 12 ; condemn, r. 16. Bryan, William Jennings, indorse, d. 111,115. Buchanan, James, indorse administration, d. 15, 18; reference to letter of accept- ance, d. 19; denounce administration, r.54. Buffalo, national convention, d. 21. Building and loan associations, solvency of foreign, r. 93. "Butler bill," legislation of 1846-47, r. 40; ought to be adopted, r. 44. CANAL CLAIMS, fraudulent, r. 44. Capital, labor against, r. 43; the master, i. 45 ; favor legislation to control, r. 119 ; See also, Labor; Money; Monopolies. Car-couplers, r. 99. Charities, state board of, law, d. 88, 110. Charleston, S. C., convention, d. 18. Children, age limit for employment, d. 67, 74, r. 76, 83, d. 111. Chicago, national convention, d. 21, 61, r. 82, d. 107, 115. Chinese bondsmen, import, d. 61. Church and state, no connection, d. 5, 11, r.53. Cincinnati, national convention, w. 8, d. 60,61. Cincinnati liberal republican convention, d.40. Circuit courts of the U. S., jurisdiction con- ferred unwise, d. 57. Citizenship, against prosecuting foreign born, d. 12 ; indorse principle for Ameri- can, d. 13; distinction amongst citizens, d. 18 ; naturalized citizens should be protected, d. 19; duty to protect all, d. 33, r. 35, d. 63, 68; Great Britain's idea opposed, r. 35 ; democrats fail to protect, r.76. Civil service, should be reformed, d. 41, 50, r. 53, d. 63, r. 66, d. 68, r. 78, d. 80, 116; dem- ocrats fail to favor, r. 76; abandoned, d.85. Civil war, cause, d. 21, u. 24; purpose, d. 22; rights acquired to be maintained, d. 40; rights lost must be restored, d. 40; slave- holders' rebellion, r. 42. Clayton amendment, oppose, d. 9. Cleveland, Grover, indorse administration, d. 80, 86, 97, 101, 103. Coffey, Silas D., d. 89. Coinage, See Free coinage; Money. Colfax, Schuyler, indorse for vice-president, r. 35; indorse for renomination, r. 44; lament death, r. 79. Colonies, against colonial domain, d. 115. Commerce, protect, d. 18; indorse, i. 45, r. 113; with Mexico, Central and South American states, r. 91; interstate, d. 97. Compromise measures, sustained, d.5. (123) 124 INDEX. Congress, qualifications, u. 30; rebel soldier should not be admitted to a seat, u. 31; demand repeal conferring rights upon any class, d. 32; indorse, r. 39, 42; as- sembling, d. 102. Constitution of Indiana, oppose repeal of 13th article, d. 29; oppose amendment, d. 64; indorse amendment, r. 65, 79, 84; outgrown, 1851, r. 71. Constitution of the Confederacy, adhere to, d.10. Constitution of U. S., 15th amendment, r. 37; denounce 15th amendment, d. 37; amend- ment, d. 70. Construction, See Strict construction. Coolie systems, Gov. Hendricks' sentiment, d.61. Corporations, railroad, d. 41; advance in- dustries, i. 45; watering stock, d. 68, r. 76, 78; wage-workers, d. 74; legislation for, r. 78; control by legislation, r. 84; em- ployes sustaining hospitals, etc., d. Ill; See also Monopolies; Trusts. County, methods of business, r. 84; reform in government, r. 120. County officers, favor reduction of fees, r. 39; defeat measure, r. 76; term, d. 74. County superintendents, d. 110. Courts, denounce criticism of, r. 93. Credit Mobilier, investigation, r. 47. Criminal law, favor revision, r. 43; See also Law. Crittenden, John J., indorse for vice-presi- dent, w. 7. Crook, George, r. 108. Cuba, favor acquisition, d. 18; sympathize with, d. 106; independence withheld, d. 115; spoliation system, d.116. Currency, should be law prohibiting con- traction, r. 34; bill prohibiting contrac- tion, r. 35; oppose contraction, d. 36; founded on national credit, r. 38; abolish gold standard, i.46; indorse paper issued by government, i. 46; favor increase of, r. 48; specie resumption condemned, d. 50; redemption, r. 53; greenback, r. 54; right to issue, d. 56; paper, d. 60; taxes on treasury notes, d. 60; parity of, d. 96; gold standard, r. 104, 119; indorse 16 to 1, d. 105, 109; against 16 to 1, r. 107, 113; against debasing, r. 107; oppose single gold standard, d. 109; sound money, r. 113; See also Greenbacks; Legal tender, Money. DAKOTA, admission, r. 76. Davis, Jeffersbn , favor trial for treason , u. 31. Day's work, eight hours, d. 29, u. 31, d. 67, 88, 97, 111; reduce, r. 43; democrats fail to reduce, r. 76. Democratic party, arraignment of, r. 20, 58, 76, 83, 90, 94, 98, 105 ; preamble, d. 5, 9, 11, 13, 17, 21, 25, 27, 32, 36, 40, 44, 49, 56, 60, 63, 67, 72, 80, 85, 95, 100, 105, 108, 115. Dewey, George, d. 108. Dingley law, condemn, d. 109, 117; approve, r. 119. District of Columbia, oppose congress as- suming debts of, d. 51. " Dorseyites," d. 63. Douglas, Stephen A., advocating non-inter- vention, d. 9; indorse for president, d.18. Dred Scott decision, indorse, d. 14. Dudley, William Wade, d. 85. Dynamite, restrain use, r. 76. EDUCATION, aid to public, d. 5, r. 54; moral and intellectual, r. 39, 55. Educational institutions, allowances, r. 76; non-partisan control, r. 105. Election laws, demand repeal of, d. 70; in- dorse reform, d. 87, 102; free elections, r. 92. Electoral college, qualifications, u. 30; state determine qualifications, u. 30. Electoral commission, no repeal from de- cision, r. 59. Emancipation, should be complete, u. 31. " Embezzlement bill," vetoed by governor, r.20. Estates, settlement, d. 69. Expenditures, condemn extravagance, w. 8, d.25, 33,116; extravagance of federal ad- ministration, r. 20; economy necessary, u. 31, r. 38, d. 56; demand economy of U. S., r. 34, 39,54, d. 69, 116 ; demand reduc- tion, i. 46, d. 63; increase denounced, i. 46; indorse reduction, d. 60; indorse, d. 73; need of reform in laws, r. 115. FACTORY INSPECTION, law, d. Ill, r. 114. Fairbanks, Charles W., indorse administra- tion, r. 114. Farmers' organization, indorse, d. 87, 97 ; legislation, r. 92. Fees and salaries, demand legislation, r. 49; declare for reduction, d. 56; legislation, r. 62, 76, 79, 84,114; revision of laws, r. 72, d. 110; approve legislation, r.93; arraign democrats for increase, r. 98. "Financial bureau," condemn Governor Morton's establishing, d. 25. Fillmore, Millard, indorse administration, w. 7. Food laws, favor pure, r. 92. Force bill, denounce, d. 86, 95. Foreign relations, non-intervention, d. 5, r. 42; result of intervention, d. 6. Fort Warren, prison of Slidell and Mason, d.23. Fountain county, d. 15. Fraud of 1876-77, d.70, 82. Free coinage, unrestricted, d. 87; Cleveland opposed legislation, r. 91; unlimited, d. 109. Free trade, See Tariff. Freedmen's bureau, indorse bill, d. 27. INDEX. 125 GARFIELD, JAMES A., indorse, r. 65. Garnishee law, d. 110. General assembly, extra session, r. 76 ; con- demn attempt to unseat members, d. 81. Government, local not centralized, d. 36, 40; approve honest, r. 43 ; relation of state and federal, r. 52; condemn administra- tion, d. 57; demand obligations paid as contracted, d. 106. Government bonds, favor payment in green- backs, d. 32; purchased by people, r. 112. Grand army of the republic, r. 100. Grand jury, jurisdiction, i. 46. Grant, Ulysses S., indorse for president, r. 35 ; indorse administration, r. 39, 42, 44, 55; indorse for renomination, r. 44; mon- ument to, r. 79; lament death, r. 79. Gray, Isaac P., indorse for vice-president, d. 82; indorse administration, d. 97; in- dorse for president, d. 97. Great Britain, d. 22. Greeley, Horace, accepts nomination for presidency, d. 40. Greenbacks, congress should supply de- ficiency, r. 34 ; origin of, r. 54 ; favor making legal tender, d. 56 ; condemn ex- empting from taxation, d, 96, 102; can- cellation of, d. 105. HABEAS CORPUS, indorse, d. 22, 25, 40. Hancock, Winfield Scott, reinstating civil law, d. 33; lament death, d. 72. Harper's Ferry, Va., d. 19. Harrison, Benjamin, indorse as senator, r. 66, 79; indorse for president, r. 82; denounce administration, d.85,95; elected by fraud, d. 85; indorse administration, r.90, 104. Hawaiian islands, control of domestic con- cerns, d. 103; denounce hauling down of American flag, d. 105; approve annexa- tion, r. 114; slavery, d. 115. Hay-Pauncefote treaty, denounce, d. 116. Hayes, Kutherford B., democrats deny elec- tion of, r. 59, d. 61; indorse, r. 59; as a soldier, r. 108. Hendricks. Thomas A., indorse administra- tion, d. 29, 51; indorse for president, d. 51, 61; defrauded of office, d. 57; ac- ceptance of 1876, d. 61; lament death, d. 72. Henry of Navarre, r. 118. Hobart, Garrett A., lament death, r. 118. Hobson, Richmond P., d. 108. Homesteads, favor, r. 16, d. 19, r. 20, 35, d. 41, r. 43, 78, 84. Hospital, marine, r. 85. House of representatives, organization, d. 12; appreciation of organization, r. 21; con- demn republicans for seceding from, d. 25; democrats unseat members, r. 58. Hovey, Alvin P., indorse administration, r. 92; lament death, r. 100. Hungarian insurrection, sympathy with, d. 6. IMMIGRATION, welcomed, w. 7, d. 29; protect from unjust exactions, r. 43; denounce pauper negro, d. 61; approve, r. 62; Chinese, d. 67, 74; legislation, d. 74, 102, r. 104, 107,120; rigid enforcement of law, r. 107, 114. Imperialism, democratic cry, r. 121. Industries, favor development, r. 42: en- courage, r. 62; laws for control, d. 73, 80. Institutions, out of domain of party politics, r. 71; See also under kinds of institu- tions. Intemperance, See Temperance. Interest, legal rate, d. 56. Internal improvements, no vast amount, d. 5; rivers and harbors, w. 8. Internal policy, right to regulate, d. 5. Ireland, landed estates and home rule, r. 66, d. 74, r. 79. JEFFERSON, THOMAS, indorsed education, r. 54; indorse doctrines, d. 63, 115. Johnson, Andrew, approve message, d. 27; name presented for vice-president, u. 27; indorse, u. 30; uphold policy, d. 33. Judiciary act of 1789, d. 57. KANSAS, favor admission as free state, p. 13, r. 20. Kansas-Nebraska bill, indorse, d. 9, 11, 17; oppose, p. 10, 13. Kentucky, subjugated condition, d. 26. Kerr, Michael C., indorse administration, d.29. LABOR, emancipated from capital, r. 43; im- prove condition of working classes, r. 43; cause of abuses, i. 45; friendly to work- ing classes, i. 45, d. Ill; how wrongs are inflicted, i. 45; safety of laborers in mines, d. 60; legislation, r. 62, d. 73, 102, 106; favor protection, d.64; protect, r.66, d. 74, r. 83, 91; prison, d. 67,111; against prison contract, r. 71, d. Ill; sanitary conditions, r. 71; conflict, d. 73; foreign contract, tl. 74; freedom of, r. 77; oppose foreign contract, r. 77; organizations, d. 81; personal safety of employes, d. 81; arbitration, d. 88; prison-contract sys- tem abolished, r. 114; See also Capital. Labor commission, created, r. 114; approve, r. 120. Labor organizations, indorse, d. 68, 88, 97, 106,111; right cannot be questioned, r.84; legislation, r. 92. Labor statistics bureaus, favors establish- ment, d. 67, r. 78, 83; democrats failed to establish, r. 76. Lake Michigan, d. 111. Lane, Henry S., death, r. 66. Lane, Joseph, indorse for president, d. 6. Law, enforcement, r. 78; of county and town- ship, d. Ill: See also Criminal law. Lawton, Henry W., lament death, r. 118. 126 INDEX. Lecompton constitution, attempt to impose on Kansas, r. 16. Legal tender, demand reinstatement, d. 50, 56. Legislation, favor promissory notes, r. 62; oppose prohibitory, d. 73. Legislative apportionment, unjustly done, d. 57, r. 76, 83, 99; approve, d. 60, r. 95; de- nounce system, r. 114. Liberty, civil and religious, d. 12. License tax, liquor, d. 73, 81. Lincoln, Abraham, indorse for re-election, u. 27; indorse, u. 30; r. 65; protection policy, r. 107. Liquor law, oppose prohibitory, d. 11. Liquor league, r. 79, 83. Liquor traffic, favor license law, d. 51, r. 79; local option, r. 84, 92. Litigation, excessive, i. 46. Logan, John A., indorse nomination, r. 71. MCCLELLAX, GEORGE B., lament death, d. 72. McDonald, Joseph E., indorse for president, d. 71. McKinley, William, indorse for president, r.108; approve administration, r. 113, 118. McKinley tariff bill, denounce, d. 86, 101. McKinleyisin, condemn, d. 102. Madison, James, indorse education, r. 54. Marion county, d. 15, r. 83. Mason, James M., seizure of by government, d.23. Matthews, Claude, indorse administration, d. 103, 107; indorse for president, d. 107; state debt reduced under, d. 110. Metropolitan police bill, d. 69, r. 72. Mine inspector, laws, r. 66; powers, r. 83. Mines, ventilation, d. 56, r. 71, d. 111. Minneapolis, national convention, r. 98. Missouri compromise, repeal, p. 10: sustain, p. 10, 13. Moiety system, r. 47. Money, U. S. notes equal with coin, d. 73; sound, r. 78; See also Currency, Green- backs. Monopolies, denounce, r. 43; money, trans- portation, manufacturing, public land, commerce, i. 45; wage-workers, d. 74. Monroe doctrine, indorse President Pierce's position, d. 12; demand enforcement, d. 116. Montana, senators' seats stolen, d. 86. Monuments, soldiers and sailors, r. 71, d. 74, r. 79. Morton, Levi P., indorse for vice-president, r. 82; elected by fraud, d. 85. Morton, Oliver P., democrats condemn actions, d. 25; indorse for re-election, u. 27; indorse administration, u. 31, r. 35; praise ability, r. 39, 121; indorse for pres- ident, r. 55; indorse administration, r. , 49,59. Mount, James A., indorse administration, r. 114, 120. NATIONAL BANKS, denounce system, d. 32,36; indorse taxation, d. 36; paper, d. 50; re- tiring circulation, d. 50, 56. National debt, made by rebellion, r. 34; pay as contracted for, d. 36, i. 46; must be borne, r. 38; part payment, r. 39; pay- ments, r. 43; funding amongst the people, d. 56; payments, d.63; denounce issue of interest-bearing bonds, d. 105. National government, state claims against defeated, r. 85. Natural gas, r. 84. Naturalization, laws invite citizenship, d.ll; five years probation, p. 13; favor present laws, r. 21; oppose change, d. 37. Negroes, immigration opposed, d. 29; equal rights, r. 7i>. Nepotism, Harrison charged with, d. 86. Niblack, William E., indorse administra- tion, d. 29. Nicaraguan canal, favor construction by government, d. 109, r. 114: construction, d. 116; recommend construction, r. 120. North and South, fraternal feeling between, r. 118. Northern sectionalism, oppose, d. 22. OHIO, approve campaign, d. 33. Olds, Walter, d. 89. Open door policy, in China, p. 116. Orange Free state, d. 116. Ordinance of 1787, p. 10, r. 54. PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE, republicans at- tempt to depose presiding officer, d. 14; republicans expel senator from Clark, d. 14; republicans meet without quorum and presiding officer, d. 14; republicans refuse to meet in joint convention, d. 14; republicans refuse to vote for senators, d. 15; senators of Rush, Fountain and Marion, illegally elected by republicans, d. 15. Party emblem, " rooster," d. 117. Patents, favor revision of law, r. 48. Penal institutions, law for convict labor, r. 99; non-partisan control, r. 105, 120. Pendleton, George II., commend actions, d. 33. Pensions, soldiers of 1812, r. 21; failed to pay promptly, d. 25; soldiers should be pen- sioned, d. 26, r. 72, 78, 84; no cost to recipient, r. 42; Mexican war soldiers, d. 57, 68, r. 78; soldiers of war of 1812, d.57; liberal, d. 61, 74, 82, 87, r. 91, d. 103, r. 104, 107, d. 109, r. 113; oppose special tax bill, r. 75; change of laws, r. 78; service bill, r. 91. Personal liberty, republicans infringe on, d. 18; suppression and arrest, d. 25; favor, d. 26, 33, 37, 64, 69, 95, 106; indorse protec- tion, r. 42; and equality, r. 43; favor, r. ^48, 62; equal, r. 53; oppose sumptuary 'laws, d. 103; laws for safety, d. Ill; See also Temperance. INDEX. 127 Philadelphia, national convention, d.21. Philippine islands, U. S. authority estab- lished in, r. 119. Philippine war, result feared, d. 115; imperi- alism cry cause of, r. 121. Pierce, Franklin, indorse administration, d. 9; Monroe doctrine views, d. 12. Pinkerton detectives, d. 88, 97, 111. Pittsburgh, national convention, d. 21. "Pluck-me stores," d. 88, 111. Politics, denounce corrupt means, r. 43; con- demn bribery methods, i. 46; campaign money, d. 51, 70, 82; campaign fund con- demned, d. 63; no campaign assessments in civil service offices, d. 63. Porter, Albert G., indorse administration as governor, r. 66, 71. * Porto Rico, legislation, d. 115. Pratt, Daniel D., indorse administration, r. 49. President, ineligible to re-election, d. 41. Press, liberty of, d. 23. Primary election law, favor legislation, d. Ill, r. 115, 120. Property, laws of assessment guarded, d. 41. Protestant church, condemn attack against ministry, p. 10. Public debt, when legitimate, d. 5; See also National debt; State debt. Public lands, property of people, r. 35; oppose donations, r. 38; for settlers and educa- tion, r. 43; condemn grants to railroads, r. 48; for citizens not speculators, d. 68, 73, r. 78, d. 81, 106; non-compliance of cor- porations, d. 68, 81; ownership by aliens, d. 73, 87, 92. Public officers, union soldiers not confed- erates, r.53; fees, r. 66; against system of fees, d. 88; displaced by politicians, r. 72; against successive terms, r. 93; fixed sal- aries, r. 93, d. 97; term, r. 93. Public schools, See Schools Public. Public works, Board, favor, r. 93. RAILROAD PASSES, opposed for public officers, i.46. Railroads, to Pacific ocean, r. 21; laws for employes, d. 73; oppose insurance com- panies, r. 99. Raum, Green B., d. 96. Rebel claims, denounce actions demanding payment, r. 58. Rebel debt, repudiation, d. 28; denounce assumption as treason, u. 31; oppose payment, d. 51, r. 54. Rebellious states, held in abeyance, u. 30. Reciprocity, favor, r. 104, 107, 113, 119. Reciprocity policy, condemn, d. 96. Reconstruction measures, condemn radical, d. 32; indorse President Johnson's ideas on, d. 33; suffrage to negro, r. 34; de- nounce, d. 36; Morton's work, r. 39. Reconstruction period, votes of eleven states rejected, d. 28; congress should deter- mine question, u. 30; plan of necessary, r. 34. Reed, Thomas B., r. 90. Religious freedom, favor, d. 11, 29, r. 53. Republican party, arraignment of, d. 22, 25, 50, 57, 63, 67, 86, 95, 101, 110,116; preamble, w. 7, p. 10, 13, r. 16, 20, u. 24, 26, 30, r. 34, 37, 42, 47, 52, 58, 62, 65, 71, 75, 82, 90, 98, 104, 107, 112, 118. Republican party sobriquets, "Black repub- lican party," d. 14. Republicanism, of Old World, sympathy, w. 7. Resumption act, desire part repealed, r. 53; favor repeal, d. 56. Revenue, increased collection, r. 39. Revenue bill, republicans vote against, d. 14. Rivers and harbors, favor improvement, r.92. Roads, legislation, d.106. Rush county, d. 15. Russia, against outrage committed by, d. 6. ST. Louis, national convention, r. 113. "Salary grab," r. 47. Sandborn contract, r. 47. School debt, funding, d. 88. School revenues, apportionment, d. 88; equitable apportionment, r. 94. Schools Private, denounce law to regulate, d.89. Schools Public, indorse, r. 43, 49, d. 50, r. 55, d. 56, 61, r. 62, d. 64, 68, r. 72, 79, 84, d. 89; license tax for benefit, d. 73; simplifica- tion of laws, d. 87. Schools Sectarian, public school funds not for, d. 56. Scott, Winfield, indorse for president, w. 7. Secession, against, p. 20; republicans reject all propositions for adjustment, d. 22; illegal, d. 27, r. 52. Secret societies, oppose political, d. 10, 11, u.26. Senators of U. S., popular election, d. 87, r. 93, d. 96, 102, 106, 110. Seymour, Horatio, lament death, d. 72. Shenandoah, r. 108. Sheridan, Philip H., r. 108. Sherman silver act of 1890, d. 103, 105. Silver bill, denounce, d. 87. Sinking fund, established, d. 110. 16 to 1, See Currency. Slave trade, not favor reopening, d. 19; pi- racy, r. 20. Slavery, oppose extension, p. 10, 13, r.20; re- sist admission of territories as slave states, p. 13, r. 16; no right to interfere in states in which it exists, r. 16, 20; oppose, r. 16; favor, d. 17, 22; territory to decide, d. 19; domestic, d. 21; should be settled by congress or national conven- tion, d. 22; emancipated slaves, r. 34, d. 51, r. 54. Slidell, John, seizure of, by government, d.23. Soldiers, tribute to Indiana's, d. 23; praise conduct, u. 24; Indiana's thanked, d. 26. 128 INDEX. Soldiers and sailors, gratitude, u. 27, d. 28, u. 31, d. 33, r. 34, 38, d. 41, r. 42, 48, 55, 62, 65, 78, d. 82, 103, r. 112, 113, d. 117, 120. Soldiers' home National, location of branch, r. 85. Soldiers' home State, for soldiers, wives, and widows, r. 100, d. 103, r. 104, 108; at Lafayette, r. 120. Soldiers' orphan home, r. 78,120. Southern secession, heresy, d. 22; See also Secession. Spanish- American war, affirm cause as just, d. 108; praise to soldiers, r. 112; Indi- ana's record, r. 121. Special verdict law, d. 110. Star-route fraud, d. 70. State central committee, how and when chosen, d. 89. State debt, r. 40; democrats increased, r. 77; bonds to the people, d. 88; rapid de- crease, d. 110. State house, indirect subsidy to contractors, d.69. State normal school, rebuilding, r. 84. State officers, popular election, r. 93; See also Public officers. State printer, favor abolition of, r. 43. State rights, no encroachment, d. 5; for, d. 9, 13; adopting constitution, r. 16; slavery, d. 17; oppose federal supervision, d. 41; against, r. 42, 52; indorse, d. 60; favor, d. 63; southern states, r. 75. Strict construction, of constitution, d. 5, 17. Strikes, deplore, d. 56; favor national board of arbitration, d. 102; arbitration, d. 106. Subsidies, oppose grants by federal govern- ernment, d. 57. Suffrage, accompany naturalization, p. 13; for negroes, d. 29; denounce for negroes, d. 33; for negroes result of rebellion, r. 34; not to be denied, d. 40; gerryman- der passed, r. 77. Sulu islands, slavery, d. 115. Supreme court of U. S., accept decisions, d. 19; independence necessary, d. 36; docket, r, 76; perquisites of reporter, r. 76. TARIFF PROTECTIVE, declaration for, w. 8, r. 34; oppose, d. 28, 101, 117; indorse, r. 42, 53, 77, 78, 90, 91, 104, 113; approve reduc- tion, r. 66; demand, r. 107. Tariff-Revenue, only, d. 5, 32, 36, 64, 73, 80, 87, 96, 109, 117; favor, r. 38; See also Revenue. Taxation, laws unjust, d. 28; burdens to be borne by all, u. 31; equal, d. 32: national bank stock, d. 36; demand reduction, r. 38, d. 74; oppose extravagant local, r. 39; real estate, i. 46; favor limiting power of authorities, r. 49; U. S. notes, d. 56; fed- eral, d. 63; unjust system, d.63; demand reduction of federal taxes, d. 67; state taxes, d. 74; uniformity of, r. 78; favor exemption laws, r. 84; equalizing, d. 88; corporations, d. 96; Gov. Hovey's recom- mendation for increase, d. 98; law of 1891, d. 101; income tax, d. 109, 116r inheritance tax, d. 109; state tax rate re- duced, r. 114: stamp tax, d. 116; mortgage exemption law, r. 121. Temperance, legislation limited, d.9,70; un- limited legislation, p. 10, 13; oppose radical, d. 29; indorse, i. 46: favor, r. 48; towns to decide concerning laws, r. 49; license system, d. 73; See also Personal liberty. Temperance party, against, d. 9. Text-book law, for schools, d. 87, r. 94, d. 96, 110. Thompson, Richard W., r. 118. Tilden, Samuel J., defrauded of office, d. 57; lament death, d. 73. Township, reform in government, r. 120. Township libraries, legislation, d. 89. Township trustees, d. 110. Transportation, facilities necessary, i. 45. Transvaal, d. 116. Treason, assumption of rebel debt denounced as, d. 31; democrats plotting, u. 31. Treasury of state, failed to investigate demo crats, r. 77. Truancy law, favor revision, d. 111. Trusts, denounce affecting prices, r. 92; anti- trust law, d. 110. Turpie, David W., indorse administration, d. 82, 89,96,101,106, 112. UNITED STATES, referred to as "States of the Confederacy," d. 13. United States courts, jurisdiction in civil causes, d. 51; See also Circuit courts of U.S. VOLUNTEERS, \irge increase of forces, d. 109. Voorhees, Daniel W., expulsion from House an outrage, d. 29, 82; indorse administra- tion, d. 29, 64, 70, 89, 96, 101, 106; lament death, d. 112. Vote, unit vote for president, d. 6, 12, 18; unit, d. 18, 41,51, 61, 71,107; two-thirds rule, d. 61; registration of voters, r. 76. WABASH AND ERIE CANAL, resist re-transfer from bondholders, r. 16, 21, d. 19; stocks issued under "Butler bill," r.40; "Butler bill" ought to be adopted, r. 44. Wabash river, d. 111. Wall street, d. 86. Wanamaker, John, d. 95. Washington, George, praise, d. 33. Wheeler, William A., denounce election of, d.61. Whitecaps, denounce, r. 92. Whitcomb, James, indorse senatorial ac- tions of, d. 6. "Wild-cat" money, r. 99, 104. Willard, Ashbel P., indorse administration as Governor, d. 15, 18. Wilson revenue bill, r. 113. Woods, William A., d. 85, 95. Working classes, See Labor. Wright, Joseph A., indorse administration, d. 6,12. 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