Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1874 — Indiana Politics. [ARTICLE]

Indiana Politics.

An Indianapolis correspondent, who claims to be a Republican and is vouched for as such, writes to the Chicago Tribune as follows, concerning the political situation in Indiana: The results of the election will be largely determined by issues outside of State politics, specially by the record of Congress and the Administration, although the Temperance and “Grange” questions are .to be considered [n the estimate. It is quite undeniable that the large majority of the people of Indiana favor a modification of tile present finance system, and this demand would be best’ met by a Free Baiiking law—not one with coin redemption—but an act striking the limitation of National Rank circulation entirely off, and allowing new banks to be constituted precisely as present ones are, with the same liabilities and immunities, and both classes to be equally subject to resumption whenever Congress shall determine. This currency question is bound to be a, prominent issue in the campaign; in view ot which the “good Lord, devil” resolutions of the Republican Convention, indorsing Gen. Grant and Senator Morton, in one and the same breath, strikes a thinking man as supremely silly and a very thin piece of political strategy. Party lines rest decidedly easy on the shoulders of both Republicans and Democrats, as a result of the shaking up of tiie elements ot society incidental to the “Grange” movement. What the influence of this will be, none can tell very clearly; but there are over 100,000 members of the Patrons of Husbandry in the State, and, despite all efforts to restrain them, at eveiy meeting of a Grange, at every District Convocation, and at the scores upon scores of picnics held this year, politics and officeholders have been the fruitful themes of discussion. According to my thinking, the Grangers are looking more closely to the officers that impinge upon them in their everyday-life,—tlie county and township officials, the Clerks, and Sheriffs, and Commissioners, whose fees and taxes are perfect ly bewildering and overpowering where closely studied. I predict a strange overturning and breaking tip of “Courtllouse Rings,” no matter whether they be of Republican or Demoiu power lias nominated candidates witfl the smell of the Court House about theii garments, there will the party managers be surprised to find, when the votes are counted out, that their best-laid schemes' have fallen through. This unrest and political frisKiness will have an influence upon Congressional and general tickets. The greatest degree of interest -wHI center in the Congressional and Legislative tickets, the former for the reason that it is the first election under the new apportionment, aud, in a measure, uncertain in several of th© new districts; and the latter by reason of the dependence of a United States Senator, to succeed Senator Pratt, upon the complexion of the General Assembly. If the Republicans carry a majority, Pratt will succeed himself; if the Democracy, a host of candidates will spring up, prominent among them being the Hon. Joseph E. McDonald, of this city. Hendricks is out, for his resignation of the Gubernatorial office would devolve it upon Liet.-Ggv. Sexton, a Republican. Leaving Legislative speculation, it will bo of interest ;to glance over, the Congressional districts, in all of which, with a measurable degree of cer- | tainty, -the' candidates and the ; probabilities can now be determined. The Tenth District'is composed, for the most part, of the counties

of the old Eleventby embraeing all save Fulton and Marshall, which go into the new Eleventh, and Carroll, takejrfrom the Seventh. The counties are : Carroll, Jasper, Laporte, Lake, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, St. Joseph, Starke and White. The Republican majority here is about 1,000, and it will be recognized as the old Colfax District.— In the earlier days ot the canvass, Republicans would have been veiy glad to have secured the candidacy of the ex-Vicc-President. but lie has so repeatedly declined that he is now counted out. Back pay killed Gen. Packard, the present Representative, who has never made an acceptable Congressman. W. 11. Calkins, of Laporte; a candidate of several years’ standing, a young attorney of brilliant complexion and quite brilliant talents, seems to be the favorite for the nomination, though the lion. George C. Merrifield, Dr. Lewis Humphries, and State Senator of. St. Joseph ; Lansing', of Porter; Turner, of Lake; and Hammond, of Jasper, have each been spoken of, and would command respectable if they entered the lists in earnest- — As it is now, Calkins will be the nomined, and a very creditable Congressman he will make, being lull of enthusiasm, vigor, and integrity. As Oppostion candidate, there arc, of Democrats, Thomas J. Merrifield, of Porter, Mortimer Nye of Laporte, and Thomas J. Wood, of Lake. The lion. John B. Niles,-of Laporte, and~the Hop. Anson Wolcott, of White, hot.h Liberal Republicans, are also spoken of. Merrifield, (ire Democrat is. a man of more -Than ordinary capacities, and, if not taken by the Democrats as thoir candidate for Supremo Judge, would be the strongest opponent that could be placed against the Republican nominee. Mr. Niles is an old ex-State Senator, honorably identified with the progress of the State, thoroughly honest, and capable for any trust. Mr. Wolcott was a State Senator for two terms, is a i.irgo farmer of White county, has a commanding presence, and “a financial plan.” Two new school bouses, worth SC,OOO, are to be built in JjOgansport'this season. Tile chinch bug is reported, to \>e ravaging millet and injuring corn in some portions of Lake county.