Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1874 — TO THE DEMOCRACT. [ARTICLE]

TO THE DEMOCRACT.

A movement Ison foot fora meeting of the third party men at Indianapolis for the purpose of laying plana and the foundation for the continuation of the movement through the next Presidential campaign. As we understand it, these men do not ask for anything which the Democracy 1 have not been fighting for for years. ' Their chief principles are opposition 1 to monopolies, opposition to protective tariffs and opposition to third Presidential terms, with, perhaps, a demand forexpansion of the currency. All this, with, perhaps, the single exception of the latter proposition, is straight Democracy, and 1 ifnow looks I as though the Independents could I carry out their ideas very easily by simply joining heartily with the Democrats. The doors are ojien and they will be weleonie.-Laporte Argus. "Will you walk into my parlor,” said a spider to a fly. Twenty thousand Independent voters of Indiana will no doubt feel highly flattered by the invitation thus kindly extended, and they will even consider that it is prompted by the most unselfish and patriotic motives, it you please. But, as the Argus sensibly remarked in another article, the Democratic party “is simply on trial, and if it proves itself worthy, a large element of conservative Republicans who have been acting with the extreme Radicals. will [may —Ed. Union.] here-1 after give it their support, and; unless they do it cannot confidently ; count on future successes.” There are many things which the Democracy have promised to do that the people demand they shall perform. Among these things are: A reduction of the salaries of public officers in Indiana to bear a juster relation to the wages paid by individuals for work of similar i character done in their private bu- I sin ess. .. _—_4 The reduction of the rate of taxation ibr State purposes. The election of a United States Senator who will advocate the interests of Western laboring classes. ' The passage of an equitable | license law to regulate the traffic ' in spirituous liquors. Provide forthe election of County Examiners by the people, and better define his duties. Redistrict the State for Congressional and Legislative purposes in a ; fair manner, so that the people may have the fullest possible expression of their sentiments through their j representatives. There should be a law to regulate ; railroad tariffs and prevent the extortions of these companies. And this, too, is perhaps one of the most important, and at the same time one of the most delicate and difficult problems propounded to the party; but there must be no evasion, no weakness, no cowardice here, it the Democracy of Indiana would make friends of the larger portion of the Independent element. That the Legislature may interfere with and regulate private business, every publisher of a newspaper in the State knows personally; and that it ought to interfere in this business if in any every shipper and every traveler is, or ought to be, convinced.

These things are a portion of the labors belonging to the State that our Democratic friends have contracted to do. There are also important National contracts to fill. Among them may be mentioned the restoration of tranquility and order in the South, so far as it is in the influence of their advice to do so; the sincere advocacy of a financial system that shall restore confidence in business circles and lift the inctibns of hard times that has *n fifteen months reduced to a condition of absolute beggary thousands of laboring people all over the land; while they hare ; power to prerent it, there should never be a subsidy granted to a private speculation—no more to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company and other similar monopolies; if it is not effected before they should try to secure the repeal of the newspaper gag law, and prevent any similar attempt to curtail the freedom of speech in the United States and a free and full discussion and investi* gation of the official acts, qualifies tions, and moral character of all publie officers, whether they have been elected by the people or were appointed by proper authority/ Meantime it is just as well for]

the Independent voiers to occupy and strengthen the advantageous position they find themselves in possession of. As wc stand now nobody can hold us responsible for bad legislation, and both of the two big parties will make their best efforts to serve the people faithfully in order to secure our votes. For the present it is better for the Independents to hold themselves aloof from entangling alliances, and watch the course of events. It will be time enough to join the Democratic party when it shows that it has made industrious use of adversity for self-purification, and to rid its councils of thieves and traitors. When it has shown itself capable of rising above its absurd prejudice against the black man, and will treat him justly before the law; w’hen it accepts in . good faith as final the arbitrations of the civil war; after it has forgotten its narrow, hide-bound traditions, and ceases to mourn over the irretrievable and undesirable past; when it shows itself competent to grasp living issues and handle them in a statesman-like manner—then, and not until then, may the Democracy hope to make proselytes among, or secure permanent advantages from, the Independent voters. The party is on probation now, let wisdom direct its actions.