Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1880 — INDIANA DEMOCRATS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA DEMOCRATS.

The State Convention—A Harmonious and Enthnwiawtic Body—Hendricks for President, and Landers) for Governor. The Democratic State Convention of Indiana met at Indianapolis June 9. The hall, with a seating capacity of 3,000, was fully occupied. Nearly an hour was consumed in locating the delegates and visitors. The convention was called to order by Col. R. C. Shaw, Chairman of the Central Committee. Hon. Francis D. Hart, of Bartholomew county, was chosen tenqxjrary Chairman, and John W. Kerns, of Howard county, temporary Secretary. The Congrc.ssionel districts were then called, and Committees on Credentials and Permanent Organization were selected. The Committee on Permanent Organization reported for permanent Chairman, ex-Gov. Thomas A. Hendricks, and John W. Kerns for permanent Secretary. The nomination of Gov. Hendricks was received with the uhnost enthusiasm, the members of the convention cheering for several minutes, many delegates rising to their feet and swinging their hats. He spoke as follows : I know that victory will sit upon our banner. They noniinati <1 a candidate at Chicago yesterday. I should say a ticket, for it wouldn’t be right to omit the last'of that ticket. I take it that the ticket represents fairly the average strength of the Republican party. Tn every respect I think it so, and you and I, brother Democrats, don't lean upon the weakness of the ticket nominated yesterday. We lean upon the strength of indomitable Democracy. Some sad things took place at Chicago. I know you think I am referring to the many'truths that they told upon one another—that was it Yesterday the Republican party laid away forever the grini-visaged warrior and the plumed knight together. To-day they lie in the obscurity of defeat. The Republican party have said to the nation of the world—that did Gen. Grant uncommon honor—that he is no longer worthy of sitting at tire head of national affairs, and it was no uncommon tiling when the statement was made-to mankind that Gen. Grant was no longer worthy of support in the National Republican Convention. I have heard Democrats for tire last two or three weeks inquiring who is the weakest man at < Ibicago. I care not. for that. I repeat it, I care not, for that. At the last election, when Tilden and Hendricks were e'ected, there was a majority on the Democratic side of the white voters of the United States of 1,000,1X10 men, ami of whites and blacks together there was a majority of more than 250,01X1. Now, when we meet in Cincinnati to respond to Chicago, we meet with the assurance upon our side that we have this strength, this power, this sentiment of the American people, upon our side. I take it for granted that the great convention on the 22d of this month, representing the Democracy of this nation, will so organize our party that success shall continue with the contest in November. Allusions to the election of Tilden and Hendricks in 1876 called forth the most furious demonstrations. The contest between Landers and Gray, for Governor, was close but >’ eak. On the first ballot Gray had votes, Landers and Downey 12. On the second ballot Henry county deserted Gray for Landers. Break followed break until before the roil was completed both Gray and Downey withdrew their names, and Landers was nominated by acclamation. He made a brief speech, and when calls were made for Gray he came forward. Before he had time to open his mouth a resolution was passed like a whirlwind nominating him for Lieutenant Governor, which he accepted. So the ticket te-Landers and Gray. After the excitement was over, and this incident passed, Judge John T. Scott, of Terre Haute, the present incumbent, was nominated for Supreme Judge of the Third district, and Janies Mitchell, of Goshen, for the Fifth district, to succeed Biddle. 31 anson, Shanklin and Fleming were renominated by acclamation for Auditor, Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. Gabriel Schnuck, A. E. Martin, of Wells, and Thomas W. Woollen were nominated for Clerk of the Supreme Court, Reporter and Attorney General, respectively, and, on the second ballot, A. G. Goodwin, Superintendent of Schools of Clarke county, was nominated for Superintendent of Public Instruction*, defeating J. H. Smart, of Allen, the present incumbent. The convention was very large, very orderly, and transacted its business in the most creditable manner. When Lieutenant Governor Gray said he was completely astonished at being given the second place on the ticket when he was a candidate for the first, Gov. Hendricks interpolated, “I can appreciate your position.” At this sally the whole convention) laughed uproariously. The following platform was adopted unanimously : I. We, the Democracy of Indiana, in de'cgate convention tUMemb'ed, congratulate the Democracy of the country upon the harmony prevailing within its organization and upon its unanimity in its purpose to east behind it every oeca-ion and sentiment and discord and stand as a num for success in 1880; and we give assurance tn the Democrats of the countrythat, accepting the declaration of principles and purposes that may he madd at Cincinnati and the candidates who may there be chosen, we will give them an earnest and individual support. We believe that laws should be enacted, executed and administered only for the public good, and all class legislation and all favoritism in the affairs of government should be defeated and made odious; that taxes shou'd be levied justly, and the most rigid economy should control public expenditures; that the elections must be free from the control of army and party officials, so that they shall be fair and honest as they onto were; that the rightful jurisdiction of the State courts must be restored in all cases where it has lai n usurped by the Federal authority, so that justice may be administered cheaply and speedily. 3. The coin and paper nionev of the country should be of uniform value and ix-ndi y convertible, and should have, as great purchasing power as the money < f other first-class commercial countries of the world, and the paper money, like the coin, should be furnished by tin; United States, and should not be. in excess of such quantity as will always remain at par witli coin. Inasmuch an the outstanding treasury notes are no longer necessary hi the Government in the use of its cndil, and are useful only as money, they should be mad® subject to taxation the same as other money. As tax-payers, we declare our gratification at the action of the Democratic members of Congress in reducing public expenditures and in cutting off the allowance, and payment of questionable and fraudulent claims, resulting in a saving to the treasury of more than $100,01X1,000. 5. We. will stand w ill ail our might against the aggression of the Republican leaders upon the rights of States, made for the purpose of building up a strong central power, dangerous to the liberty of the people. We will in all fidelity maintain the constitutional rights and powers of the United States, and as faithfully we will maintain and vindicate the rights of State- 1 as reserved by them in the constitution. 6. The Legislature of 187!) is entitled to honorable mention for having redeemed the pledges of the Democratic C invention of 1876, to provide by law for the comfort and safety of laborers in the mines, and securing their wages to the persons employed by corporations, and we are in favor of such legislation in the premises as may be necessary and proper. Wo congratulate the people of the State that by the action of the Democrats of the last Legislature, basing representation on population and contiguity of territory only, the shame and taint of fraud have been removed from the apportionment of representation, and that now the people will be equally and fairly represented. 7. The pcop'c of Indiana are justly proud of their system of free schoo s, and will maintain their full force and usefulness, and, to that end, wo must see to it that the management thereof docs not become wasteful or extravagant, and that no part of the munificent fund which they have provided sha 1 be used for sectarian or any other purpose whatever than the support of common schools. 8. We are gratified that (lie Democrats in Congress have acted in respect to bounties and pensions for soldiers and their families in the spirit of justice and liberality. 9. We hold up to public detestation the conduct of the Republican party in placing Hayes and Wheeler, bj criminal practices shocking to every honest sentiment and damaging to our institutions, in the offices to which they were not elected. It was an outrage upon free government and a crime against the elective franchise that cannot be forgiven and must not be repeated, and for which the guilty party must be driven from power and consigned to infamy; and we hold up to the public detestation the conduct of the President in rewarding the guilty parties by conferring upon them high and lucrative offices. Toreward crime is itself crimina’. 10. During the past few years our country has been blessed in a high degree with favorable seasons, and the production of our valuable staples has been enormously in excess of our own consumption. We have sold to foreign countries many hundred millions more than we have purchased from them. Gold and silver have coaie to us; business confidence has been restored, and we have the hope and promise of good times again. In all this we recognize the blessings of God upon our country ; and we denounce it as false and blasphemous when partisan leaders claim lhat this is the work of their hands, and that the people shall be thankful to them, and not grateful to Heaven for our returning prosperity. 11. We approve the sentiment expressed by Gov. Hendricks in his letter of acceptance in 1876, that the iniquitous coolie system, which, through the agency of wealthy companies, imports Chinese bondsmen, establishing a species of slavery and interference with the just reward of labor on our Pacific coast, should be utterly abolished. 12. Our State administration is entitled to the respect and support of the peop’e. The Government of Indiana is efficiently administered, and more cheaply than that of any other State. 13. That we recognize the rights of colored citizens as well as whites, who immigrate into Indiana; but we condemn and denounce the action of the Republican party in importing into this State pauper negroes for the sole purpose of using them as voters. 14. We hereby instruct our delegates in the National Convention at Cincinnati to present to that body the name of Thomas A. Hendricks as a candidate for President of the United States—one who has at all times faithfully maintained tfie cause of Democratic truth and justice

acceptably to the Democracy of the whole Union, thus assuring the election of a Democratic Legislature and a United States Senator in 1881, and a just, pure and constitutional administration of the General Government 15. We favor the continuance of the two-third rule in the National Convention, and the delegates this day chosen are hereby instructed to vote for the Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks as our candidate for the Presidency, and to vote as a unit on all questions in said convention.