Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1880 — The Amendments. [ARTICLE]

The Amendments.

The Democrsts- four years ago originated amendments to the oon stitutiou of the state. The necessity for these amendments had long been felt. They were calculated, in their nature, to 6ccnre honesty in elections, to conform the const!lotion of the stale to that of the United States, to save ihe expense of an October election and to secure an economical administration of the affairs of our cities and towns The Democrats iu the legislature, baaed their support of these amendments upon the message of Gover-

nor Hendricks. It whs supposed by them that they would not meet with Ijivor fiom the Republicans, and-it was the Democratic policy t Hi giving these measures tbeir support, to call out the opposition c f the Republican member of the legislature, supposing that this would be the resnlt as the amendments were of Democratic origion. But in this they were mistaken. They reasoned without their host. They toond that Republicans were not disposed to take such narrow views. Republicans were quick lo aee that great advantages to the people arise from their adoption. They were not slow to see in the adoption of these amendments the death of Democratic fraud in our state elections, and Democratic duplicity and prodigality in the administration of mnnioipul affairs. They saw in them them the cessation of the practice of impoTriog voters from Kentucky and of repeaters from poll to poll, snd fjrom one conuty to another. With these considerations in view they received the united support of Republicans in the leg islatnre. The Democrats saw the same resalts likely to arise from their adoption and consequently a majority of their number voted against them.

The amenements were pissed through two legislatures and sub milted to the people, by whose votes they were adopted with majorities ranging from to 50,000. The denunciation of the amendments by the Democratic press and the fierce opposition which they met from the iffipdgr*pafty, unanimous approval by ihe Republicans throughout the state was conclusive that though originally Democratic in their conception, tho amend mentswere Republican by advocasy, and adoption. The Cincinuatti convention appo.e, Indiin.i was conceded to be the v battfe-field; in the presidentiaf*€ontcst. Inland Democracy had a favorite son to saenfioe on the alter of presidential ambition. It was seen that one of the amendments stood in the way of Democratic success in ladiana, thus endangering the changes for the nominations of their favorite son at cftiofnnati. A case was made up, ihe decision ot three of the supreme judges secured in ad vance, and aftor a few hours ot hasty deliberation on the v.olumin. ous and exhaustive Arguments of the counsel in tho case, judicial de •oision wnis publically rendered and the ncwshistily “telegraphed to the boys” a: Cincinnati. Thus was the Will and expressed verdict of the people through their ballots defeat' ed by the partisan decision of a corrupt supreme court. Thus at one fell stroke is taken from the pockets of the people of Indiana, SIOO,OOO or more for the purpose of holding a needless election in October; thousands of dollars that would have been saved in the reduction of exhorbilant salaries of conuty officers and otbr thousands that must be paid out in taxes to keep np interest on muuioipai debts that by one of the amendments were brought within certain safe restrictions. Tbe constitution as it pow i»leaves the way open for the importation of fraudulent *voters, the practice of repeating from poll to poll; it pats our constitution in nonconformity with Uiat of the United States; it allows officers 'in some counties greater salaries for one

day’s work than many farmers make in one month by the utmost exertion and oare, and gives the officers of aud least unlimited authority in the contraction ot bnrdeusome debts and? tbe expenditure of the people’s- money. This then is an important issue in the present state eamoaigu. Will tbe people without atudioua investigation, without due and careful deliberation go Mindly to the polls and ratify with their ballots tbe nefarious plotting of unprin. cipled part'zani aud the unjast ac-

must be maintained, must oe raaiu>aiii*-u.