Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1886 — The Question in Indiana. [ARTICLE]

The Question in Indiana.

Indianapolis Journal. Is there a naan in Indiana who believes that the liquor traffic should be compelled to pay the extra expense it puts on the people, the Democratic gtrrymunder proposed to put a plaster over Vis mouth, so he might not hope to make his wishes known in the State Legislature, Is there a man in Indiana wh goes further, and believes the traffic should be prohibited, bis mouth was to ■ be closed by the gerrymander. that he Dwight not make his wishes known in the body that is to make the laws of the State. Is there a man in Indiana who would like to man tain the measure of protection afforded by the tariff, he should have nothing to say about national legislation oh that question in the United States Senate, for the Democratic gerrymander proposed that no man not a Democrat should be allowed a voice in the election of a Senator, —Li there u.m an in Indiana- who wouldlike to know the truth about the condition of the State treasury, his mouth was to be sealed by the gerrymander devised by the Legislature that refused to let the people see into the treasury when it was slated, officially, that there was a probability of a large shortage. Is there a man in Indiana who would like to have the insane properly treated and ted on wholesome food and to know, just how things are conducted in the hospital for the insane, his mouth was to be stopped by the gerrymander so that it might be useless for him to vote for investigation. Is there a qwan in Indiana who believes that the election should be conducted on honorable principles and that one vote should count as much as another, the gerrymander was to tpll him to shut np, or to vote the Democratic ticket. Is there a man in Indiana who still believes in the principles of the National party, he must be made to realize that he is voting in the air in the, election to be held next month, for the j gerrymander wan to kill th* effect of his vote as effectually as though he ’ were not allowed to cast one. zz I Is there a laboring man who would like to see some of his own comrades elected, and some of the principles he believes in incorporated In legislation, he too must keep still in the presence of the gerrymander that was to nullify in advance ‘the effect of his vole'. 1

Isl there a man In Indiana who believes that the majority should rule in this as in other States; he is confronted by the fact that a viciAis and corrupt Democratic minority, so arranged the legislative districts that an honest expression of the majority might be out pf the question. ‘ The gerrymander was to do for the free and intelligent people of Indiana what the shot-gun did' for the States in the South; what the tissue ballot did for South Carolina, and fraud did tor Cincinnati and Onio. In the year 1886 it was to be made impossible that the majority in Indiana could get their rights at the election. It is a shameless anomaly without parallel, and if allowed to go unrebuked will work ines- j timable harm to the State and her vast interests of every description. This.is the leading question of the present campaign, in that it underlies all others. Without a lt>-e and honest election, without- each ballot being given au equal representation and equal eflect in determining the policy of the State, it is folly to talk about popular government in Indiana. Will the honest and independent voters of the State fail to do their duty in this most serious matter? Every man owes it as a duty to his country to go the polls next Tuesday and cast his vote in the Avay which he honestly believes is the best for the general good. Disfranchising a man because he is a Republican is just what the last Democratic Legislature did. Not satisfied with the outrage, they boast over it and flippantly remark that if the Republicans carry the state by 25,000 the Democrats will still have a majority on joint ballot and elect a United States Senator. How is I that for decency and honesty ? Maggoty meat, butterine, vicious and cruel attendants, are what an honorable committee report they I find at the Insane Hospital in i Indianapolis. The answer by the ' responsible parties in the Demo-1 cratic party is, “What are you going to do about it?” Let the thous- j ands of voters who are so unfortunate as to have friends at this instution answer with the ballot next Tuesday.' Senator Vorhees advocates the proposition that special taxation shall hereafter accompany pensioii legislation. Under that proposition all nension legislation will be defeated by disagreements on the accompanying taxation. Senator Voorhees was a violent and bitter opponent of the war income tax, denouncing it from every stump, and evading the payment of hi« share of it. - :