Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1885 — Page 3

REPUBLICANISM

A Oomepondent Gives numerous Examples of the Bott«* nesß > Jobbery, and Thefts * the Republic* Party. [From the il<il * nlk I >oUB Sentfn®!*] The leader 0 * the Republican party •evidently tIA 14 the thing to “assume a virtue ” ifthey have it not. The InA iftri ftpnl {Journal joins in the chorus of the or° r y that President Cleveland has ranched the jails and penitentiaries men to fill the appointive office^ 11 the Government. Every person receives an appointment under is at once assailed as a fj-ruptionist in politics or as a crimjjjX. No correction of the lie ever is p/on a place in their partisan columns. I an investigation of the official coniuct of Republican office-holders proposed, the editors of Republican organs Uy into a rage, as if a Republican could do no wrong. They are too pure to have their official records laid open to the world. These party organs have even been so shameless as to attack Democratic soldiers whose wounds have resulted in almost total disability for drawing a pension. After reading their editorial screeds one would come to the conclusion that a Democrat had no rights in this country worthy of respect. Let the story of the corruption, and fraud, and public robbery of the Republican party be told. The reminder should cause its leaders to blush with shame —if they are capable of such an emotion —and to silence the blatant and loud-mouthed party editors. Nearly seventy-five per ceqt. of the customs revenue is collected at the New York Custom House. As a vast army was employed there, it was a powerful political machine to control elections in that State. That machine has its influence upon the whole country, and was always felt in a Presidential campaign. So scandalous had its management become under Republican administration that an investigating committee was appointed to examine into its conduct. From a statement furnished by General Arthur, then Collector of the Port, and President Cleveland’s immediate predecessor in the White House, it is shown that the cost of collecting the revenues was more than four times as great as in Germany, nearly five times as great as in Great Britain, and more than three times as great as in France, the percentage of cost being in the United States 1.33. The investigation showed, and it was so reported by the committee, that inebriety and bribe-taking by men employed in the custom-house was not uncommon, and Surveyor Sharpe declared that the law against bribery was a “dead letter.” It was also shown that the loss in collection was from $36,000,000 to $70,000,000 annually. Mr. Isaac D. Block, Chief Clerk of the Mint, testified before the Commission that complaints had been made against two clerks, and that instead of having been dismissed and published, they were transferred to another department with increase of pay. Such were the methods adopted for the punishment of bribe-takers in Government •employ. Gen. Sharpe, Surveyor of the Port, testified as follows: “I had a letter within the last two weeks from a gentleman holding a high official position, in regard to an officer whom he knew to have been dropped three times from the service for cause. He had also been to see me for him and admitted that he had been engaged in defrauding the revenue, and yet he writes me requesting his appointment.” A high Republican office-holder indorsing a man for appointment in the Custom House whom he knew to be a thief! Wonderful, is it not? Yet 1 his is the sworn statement of Gen. Sharpe, the Republican Surveyor, and Gen. Grant’s brother-in-law. Any man who would agree to contribute funds for election purposes could easily secure a place in the Republican partisan machine officially called the New York Custom House. In a letter on the violations of law by the acceptance of bribes and complicity in frauds, Naval Officer Cornell ingeniously said: “The clerks are but human, and whenever there is a coincidence of temptation, frailty and opportunity, there can be but one result.” How touchingly the Republican Naval Offioer extenuates the shortcomings of “the boys.” If we recall the whisky ring, the “high official leaders” of which escaped punishment bv the removal of honest attorneys for the Government and putting in their places the supple tools of the corruptionists; the band of public plunderers that fattened in Washington for years upon jobs; the fact that the Postmaster at Galveston was removed to make room for a man who had been expelled from the House of Representatives for fraud; that Boss Shepard, branded as a public swindler, was appointed Commissioner of the District of Columbia; that honest and capable men like Bristow were driven from the Cabinet because they refused to sanction the appointment of men proved to have been corrupt, and we marvel that such papers as the Indianapolis Journal, which indorsed all these things, has the effrontery to shriek so loudly about the moral unfitness of the appointees of the present administration. These things attracted the attention of the old world, and were condemned by the ablest and purest periodicals of Europe. The testimony of a Republican Senator, who also had been a member of a Republican Cabinet, ought to be conclusive, In the impeaohmeht of Gen.

Belknap as Secretary of War Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, said: I have seen five Judges of a high oourt of the United States driven from office by threats of impeachment for corruption and maladministration. I have heard the taunt from friendliest lips that when the United States presented herself in the East to take part with the civilized world in generous competition in the arts of life, the only product in which she surpassed all others beyond question was her corruption. I have seen in the btate in the Union foremost in power and wealth four Judges of her courts impeached for corruption. I have seen the Chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs in the House rise in his place and demand the expulsion of four of his associates for making sale of their official privilege of selecting the youths to be educated at our great military schools. Referring to the Credit Mobilier swindle, in which so many virtuous and honest Republicans were entrapped (?) —poor, innocent souls!—Senator Hoar said: When the greatest railroad of the world, binding together this continent and uniting the two seas which wash our shores, was finished, I have seen our national triumph and exultation turned to bitterness and shame by the unanimous reports of three committees of Congress —two in the House and one here —that every step of that mighty enterprise had been taken in fraud. 1 have heard in the highest places the shameless doctrine avowed by men long in public life, that the true way in which power should be gained in the republic is to bribe the people with the offices created for their service; and that the true end for which it should be U3ed when gained is the promotion of selfish ambition and the gratification of personal revenge. I have heard that suspicion haunts the footsteps of the trusted companions of the President. I have not gone outside the record in presenting the summary of facts herewith. If there be any who can consistently palliate, excuse, or condone the rottenness, the jobbery, the thefts, and the peculations of the Republican party when in the zenith of its power, they surely ought not to be shocked by anything the present administration has done. The corruption and deviltry of Republican rule could not be reproduced, as it never has been equaled. Rayburn. Lafayette, Ind.

VIRGINIA COLORED MEN.

They Withdraw from the G. O. P. f and Praise the New Administration. The following address was adopted at the recent State convention of the colored men of Virginia, held at Lynchburg: Whereas, We, the colored people of Virginia, believing as we do, the time has come for us to call a halt in the unqualified support we have given the Republican party, do here in convention assembled solemnly declare ourselves politically independent in all matters which pertain to ub as citizens and voters of this commonwealth. We have for twenty-five years adhered to our former political associates with unparalleled fidelity, because in those dark days of reconstruction the Republican party proved that it was the only party to which the colored man of the South could consistently ally himself. To that end colored voters nobly responded, and raised to place and power men who grew wealthy while administering the laws of the United States Government in the Southern States. We feel ever grateful for what' has been done, but now the time has come for us to think, act, vote, and speak for ourselves, and especially so since the Republicans have practically abandoned us in former campaigns, and in all matters where the negro ought to have had recognition in proportion to voting strength and intelligence. We know, too, that many of our race have been murdered in the Southern States, but the causes which led to these sad occurrences which have spilled our blood and created the bitter race antagonism which now retards our progress and makes it difficult for us to live in the land of our birth are largely traceable to mismanagement by Federal office-holders in our section. These foregoing reasons lead us to adopt such methods and so conduct ourselves as to make friends of those whose interests are identical in every way with our own. We, therefore, appeal to the colored people of our native State to look well to the altered conditions of affairs, and in the future make such political alliances as will advance our interests educationally, financially and politically, We feel sure that there is throughout the broad limits of the commonwealth a general disposition on the part of the white people to accord us all our rights before the law, and to meet us heartily in every advance we make for the upholding of our people. It behooves us then to so use our ballots that we may draw out all discordant elements in Virginia, whether they be headed by natives or aliens of the State. We also condemn the raising of the race issue by any class of men who essay to 'lead the masses, because it ean do nothing bnt prove detrimental to our cause and our interests. We, therefore, ask the hearty co-operation of our people in Virginia to the success of our movement. We have cause to be thankful for the liberality of the present national administration to our people in the South. We also believe our relations to the State debt are such as to justify us in hoping that Virginia will be relieved from financial embarrassment by aid from the Federal Government, which will enable her to provide for all the material interests of her citizens, and bring about that universal good feeling which ought to exist between the two races.

The New York Mugwumps.

The Democratic papers in New York unite in the assurance that there is nothing surprising in the support by the “Mugwumps” of that State of the Republican nominees for State officers. Whalf is surprising is that such an assurance should be thought necessary. It has been the persistent claim of the “Mugwumps” that their support of Cleveland was not opposition to Republicanism but to Blaine. They have insisted steadfastly that they were as

good Republicans as ever in respect to any and all party issues. It was a moral certainty, therefore, that at the first opportunity they would resume their relations with the Republican party; and with a candidate to whom no Republican oan fairly take exception it would have been very surprising if they had not renewed their allegiance. If they were to do otherwise they would throw a doubt upon the honesty and good faith of the professions they made in cutting loose from Blaine.

The Iowa Republicans.

The Republican platform in lowa is a most remarkable document. The State has a population of 1,750,000, an assessed valuation of $298,000,000, farms valued att $567,000,000, with an annual farm production of $136,000,000; over 7,000 manufacturing establishments, with a capital of $34,000,000 and upward, a product of $71,000,000, and an annual outlay of $10,000,000 for wages; an immense product of bituminous coal, and some lead. Yet with all this variety and magnitude of State interests there is scarcely anything, according to the Republican Convention, that is of any importance but the appointment of “a State Board of Arbitration for the adjustment and settlement of disputes between labor and capital, including the question ol screening coal, and other peculiar mining interests of the State.” Judging by its platform, the issues which the party regards as of burning and overshadowing importance in lowa are those “growing out oi the war for the Union.” They invite people to vote for the Republican candidate because of “the adhesion of the Democratic party to the doctrine of State’s rights, as evidenced by the character of the diplomatic appointments made by Cleveland;” because it is important that there should be “such modification of the pension laws as shall secure equal treatment to all soldiers entitled to pensions;” because “the old-world theory cf classes is abhorrent to the American mind;” because we need “closer commercial intercourse with all nations;” and “the increase of American shipping by all practical means.”

What bearing the election or defeat of a Republican candidate for Governor in lowa can have on these questions or results the platform does not indicate. It would puzzle its framer very much to show that a Republican Governor, if elected, is likely to affect “the character of the diplomatic appointments made by Cleveland;” or that a Republican Legislature will modify the pension laws or abrogate the old-world theory of classes. They are not likely, however, to puzzle themselves with the attempt to make any suoh showing. The platform was not framed with any such idea. It was framed simply and solely"*as it shows in every instance and every line to arouse and inflame the partisan feeling and rekindle, if possible, the sectional animosity and bitterness of the war time. Like the platform of the Ohio Republicans, it is an appeal to passion and not to reason. In every intelligent aspect, such a platform is a mistake. It is so from the purely partisan point of view. The ashes of the rebellion have been dead and cold too long for any hope of revival even in lowa. The attempt to revive them is a lamentable confession of inability to come before the people with any real claim to their confidence and support. With the dying message of Grant still ringing in their ears the people of lowa cannot be excited into a wordy renewal of the conflict so long ago fought out and finished Ten years ago such a platform might have been acceptable to tolerably rabid partisans. To-day it is an anachronism. —Detroit Free Press.

Monopolies Are Foes of the People.

The Democracy has always been the protector, and the only protector of the people against monopolies and all such foes, so constant and insidious. The Republicans, conspicuous for so much that is bad, are marked throughout their career for fostering monopolies of every species—of railroads, bv immense grants of the people’s land and money; of herders, by connivance at immense seizures by them of the people’s land; of manufacturers, by exorbitant tariff for their special benefit; of Government ship-building, by giving all contracts therefor to John Roach, etc. The Democracy has been reinstated in power but a few months, and yet see how rapidly progresses the removal of these intolerable grievances so long heaped-upon the people by the Republicans, while proclaiming devotion to the people’s interests. It took a Democrat to throttle that dangerous monopoly, the United States Bank; it takes a Democrat to throttle these dangerous monopolies fixed on the people by the Republicans. Throttle them all the Democrats must and will. Such resolute bearding of audacious and gigantic monopolists as recently exemplified by our Democratic President would be worthy of Old Hickory himself. It is a splendid exhibition of courageous fidelity to the people, and will live in history side by side with that which made Old Hickory so famous for moral as well as military courage. If the people should derive no other benefit from Democratic administration than this throttling of Republican monopolies, it would be enough; would justify their confidence in restoring Democratic ascendency, and their determination to maintain it. Bu+ this benefit is only the initial of good to be wrought by the Democracy.— Indianapolis Sentinel.

RAILROAD HORROR.

Collision Between Southern and Western Trains Near Jersey City. Six People Instantly Killed and a Large Number Seriously Wounded. [Jersey City (N. J.) dispatch.] When the fast express on the Pennsylvania Railroad, leaving Jersey City at 8:15 to-night, rounded the curve near the Meadow coal bridge, about five miles out, the engineer saw through the thick fog the outlines of a car on the track only a few hnndred feet ahead. The express was running at the rate of forty-five miles an hour. The engineer applied the air-brakes as quickly as he could and whistled the danger signal, but his attempt was in vain. The engine struck the car with terrific force, telescoping it and throwing the fragments in every direction. The panting engine had scarcely stopped when the train bound east, leaving Newark on the Lehigh Valiev Road at 8:11), dashed into the forward end of the immigrant. Engineer Owen Hall, peeping through the fog, saw the wreck. He did everything in his power to stop his train on its deathbearing course, but it was too late. With an awful crash the Newark train rushed upon the overturned car and was thrown down the embankment. Over and over rolled the cars of human freight, and upon the night air rose the horrible shrieks of the dying. Dark outlines of the train lying wrecked in the valley, and the cars rolling one on top of the other, presented a ghastly picture. When the shock had passed the dazed passengers left the trains as best they could and huddled together, too startled to Rpeak. The first to recover was the engineer of the Jersey City train. He gathered the frightened people together and ordered them to render all possible assistance to the injured. All this time the cries of those wholly or partially covered by the wreck made the uninjured turn pale with terror. The engineer and his willing assistants were powerless to aid some of the poor creatures, while their united efforts were sufficient to drag some of the bruised from under the wreck. When the first wounded man was taken from the debris everybody cried for a physician, but in the whole crowd of willing workers not one physician could be found. At 9:30 o’clock a relief train was sent to the wreck from Jersey City, loaded with doctors, reporters, beds, food, etc. As the relief train neared the scene of the disaster crowds of men and women could be seen through the heavy mist returning on foot to the city. When the medical staff reached the wreck the scene was indeed heartrending. Mixed in a hnge mass lay the two trains, while for hundreds of feet around was piled timber of all shapes. Beside the track lay the Jersey City train. The engine was tipped over the right embankment, and in a long, grotesque line behind it lay the derailed cars. To the left of this train, reduced to a mass of splinters, were the remains of what appeared to bo an immigrant caboose. The car was shivered to atoms and underneattx lay some of the mangled bodies of the dead and dying. Stretchers were immediately furnished by the relief train, and the injured and dead were carried into the baggage car. It was a horrible sight. The first body to be removed was the headless trunk of a woman. The feet and limbs, with the clothing torn completely from them, protruded from the splinters of the caboose. Strong hands soon cleared the debris from above the mangled form, and it was taken to the car. The next was the form of a man with his head torn completely from his body. Then followed two or three men who were buried completely out of sight under the dead bodies of their companions. They were bruised and broken, and completely saturated with blood. They were moaning pitifully, but subsequently recovered sufficiently to give their history. During all this time the passengers who had escaped kept up their search for the bodies of their friends. It soon appeared that the only ones injured were from the emigrant caboose, which lay splintered between the engine of the Jersey City train and the last oars of the Lehigh Valley. All attention, therefore, was being bestowed on the emigrants, when low moans wore heard coming from under the engine of, the Lehigh train. The eager rescuers rushed quickly down the embankment, and there lay the insensible form of Owen Hall, the engineer of the wrecked train. His legs were held down by the heavy framework of the massive engine. Willing hands soon relieved the poor fellow, and his injuries were attended to. In a few moments groans were heard from the Lehigh wreck again, and the bleeding face of Fireman Stewart Bowers could be seen through the long meadow grass in which lay the engine truck. His skull was fractured, and the blood trickled down his upturned face. With difficulty he was dragged to the relief car, and it was found thit he had sustained internal injuries. The poor fellow exhibited wonderful energy and plnck. He sat up during the examination, groaning terribly, but thoroughly conscious of his surroundings. The people known to be dead are described as follows: An unknown man about forty years of age. His head was completely torn from his body, and both his arms were broken. Unknown woman about twenty-five years of age. Her bead was severed from her neck, and her body was covered with bruises. Unknown boy abont tw ive years of age. Both bis legs were broken and his skull was fractured. Unknown girl abont eighteen years old. Her sknll was fractured. Ulena Areneas, 86 years of age; on her way to her father at Madison, Wis. Both her legs were broken and her sknll was fractured. She was brought to the depot alive, bnt died five minutes alter reaching St. Francis Hospital. The wounded are: Marinas Klinger, head and body bruised. Christian Wyagbretsen, of Holdstadt. E. V. Urberotb, conductor of the emigrant train, arm broken. Stewart A Bowers, fireman of the Lehigh Valley train. South aston, Pa., scalp wound. Owen Hall, engineer of the Lehigh Valley train, Easton, Pa., 36 years, fracture of the foot and braises. Three men were taken to St. Francis Hospital unconscious. Ralph Curry, 29, internal injuries. Christian O. Bolsted, bound for Minneapolis, Minn. Laura Redesen, intending to join her husband at Norwood, Iowa; will die. It is impossible now to obtain a full list of the wounded.

INDIANA STATE NEWS.

—Quails are numerous in the southern part of the State. —The Floyd County Jail has been repaired at a cost of $2,000. —New Albany’s police made only twentynine arrests in September. —Mail messenger service at Monterey, Pulaski County, has been discontinued. —Stephen Hamilton,well known in Mancie, was sentenced to two years in the penitentiary for criminal assault —ißsac Windle, a farmer living near Shawnee Mound, Tippecannoe County, has received a swarm of bees direct from Italy. —While celebrating the Republican victory in Ohio, near Lafayette, John Boyd was killed by the premature discharge of a cannon. —The street-car line in South Bend is doing a very large business—far exceeding the expectations of even its most sanguine originators. —Mrs. Eva Watson, of Greenburg, wants a divorce from her husband because he sealed her lips with court plaster, in order to stop her talking. —Matilda Kiefer, 24 yeais old, died at New Albany recently. She was one of three sisters boru at the same time. The other two are also dead. —Riley Reid and Charles Ice, sons of respectable citizens of Rochester, were sentenced to the (penitentiary for one year for robbing a freight car recently. —Every dwelling-house in Vevay is occupied, and fifteen more could be rented immediately, the new ohair and crib factories have added to the population. —The tobacco parade in Louisville was taken advantage of by six pair of Kentucky lovers, who slipped across the river and were married at Jeffersonville. —Sterley Caruthers, a hero of the Modoc war, who works at the furniture factory at Shelbyville, had two fingers of his left hand cut off in the jointing machine. —While mixing mortar at Lafayette, George Barkley was stricken with paralysis, and, falling into a bed of hot lime, received such burns as caused death in a short time. —lt is stated in Indianapolis that Judge Gresham has decided to go back to New Albany for permanent residence, preferring that city to either Indianapolis or Chicago. —ln the heart of a slab of limestone, broken at Lafayette, a petrified sea crawfish was found measuring eighteen inches in length. The specimen has been sent to Purdue University. —Frank Delamatar, a wealthy butcher of Logansport, waß sentenced to the penetentiary for one year for cattle stealing. DeIkmatar has made a business of taking up cattle promiscuously and butchering them. —La Porte is moving in the proper way to have her chain of lakes connected by a navigable canal. It is estimated that $25,000 will be needed to accomplish the work, and committees have been appointed to solicit subscriptions. —Abraham Brown, aged 20 years, son of Joseph Brown, living a few miles from Lafayette, was hunting squirrels with a shotgun loaded with No. 2 shot. He had rested the breech of the gun on a block of wood which held the hammer, and discharged the gun, the contents entering his abdomen just above the pelvis, and ranging upward. The wound must necessarily prove fatal. —Mr. Charles Foster, of New Albany, who was recently appointed United States Consul General to Calcutta, intimated to the Department of State that he would prefer to take a consular position in Europe, even at a smaller salary, and was, therefore, transferred to Elberfeld, Germany, and Benjamin F. Bonham, of Oregon, was appointed Consul General to Calcutta in his place. —A tragedy was enacted near South Bend. Thomas Jetton and William Snyder lived on adjoining farms. Some time ago they got into some trouble about some wheat Later a sheep belonging to Jetton got with Snyder’s sheep, and the latter kept it some days, when he brought it to Jetton’s premises, and approached the latter near his house. A controversy began, and one word led to another, until they both became enraged. Snyder called Jetton a liar and at the same time struck at him with a heavy log chain. Jetton instantly pulled a revolver and shot his assailant five times. The wounded man died shortly after the shooting. Jetton then hitched up his horse and drove to South Bend and gave himself up. —President Smart, of Purdue University, has made glad the hearts of the Greek fraternity members by giving the consent of the faculty to the organization of such societies at the college. Some years ago the then President, E. E. White, prohibited students belonging to or attending the meetings of Greek societies. The result was a long and bitter contest in the courts, culminating in the Supreme Court, and a decision by that body that bad to be interpreted afterward by an explanation of what was intended. The import of the decision was that the faculty could not keep out students on the ground that they were Greeks; but at the same time it gave the right to say what rules should* be enforced there. President Smart now gives consent to the formation of the fraternity societies at the college.