Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 May 1878 — GERRYMANDERING. [ARTICLE]

GERRYMANDERING.

A recent member of the Terre Haute ExprcM, one of the foremost advocates of the national party in the United States, gives the following definition of the word gerrymandering: “It is a species of political chi"eane by which honest suffrage is “cheated. It was begun years ago, “when Elbridge Gerry was governor “of Massachusetts. Many improvc“ments have since been made upon "the system, and It is now so perfect “that it can defraud with apparent “hbnesty. It has been the favorite “instrument by which politicians have “been able to overbalance popular “majorities. It is of democratic origin, “and works splendidly in their hands- “ * * * Of all devices ever indented to client honest suffrage, this "is seemingly tlie fairest. * * * "The democrats in Ohio recently per"formed a splendid job of gerrymandering. The congressional delegation now stands twelve republicans “and eight democrats. By the new “job, calculating on the basis of the “election of 1876, ft will stand tliir“teen democrats and seven republicans- This is done by throwing “together counties that have strong “republican majorities, and ueutraliz“lng weak ones by democratic majorities. The highest republican majority in any of the districts is 11,896; "the highest democratic majority is “4,665. The total republican majority “in seven districts is over 31,000, while “the democratic majority in thirteen “districts is only about 25,000. This “shows how things have been rnanipu“lated to defraud voters. Now Indi“ana is to be redistricted by the next "legislature. If the democrats carry “the state, they will gerrymander it “as they did in Ohio.”

The machinations of Henry A. Barkley, who was elected auditor of Jasper ccuity under the false pretense of being an independent, crushed the Hon. George 11. Brown in the Bradford convention of 1876. Mr. Brown was elected to the general assembly of Indiana on the same ticket and platform of principles that Mr. Barkley was elected auditor upon. Mr. Brown is as honest a man as was ever elected” to the legislature. He was as faithful in the discharge of the duties of Ids office, as honorable to his constituents, as true to his principles as any member of that legislature. He may have erred in judgment at times, but he was no demagogue to promise the people one thing in a canvass and then perform another in office. In tins respect his conduct presented a strongly marked contrast to that of Hon. George Major, who was elected to the state senate, and that of Mr. Barkley, who was elected county auditor, on the same ticket. Mr. Brown was stabbed politically in the house of those who should have been his friends for no earthly reason than because he would not consent to betray those who had confided in Idin and surrender them to the democracy—because lie would not vote for the democratic nominee for United States senator. The political assassination of Mr. Brown faithfully reflects the democratic standard of honor and justice; it is\ the Jesuitical doctrine that the end justifies the means, applied to the details of modern American politics. The instrument which was used to destroy Mr. Brown in the Bradford convention is the tool with which Mr. Barkley now works in his efforts to draw the nationals of Jasper county jiito an alliance with the revolutionary democratic parly.

It is to be presumed that the papers which advocate the doctrines of the national party will fairly criticise the disputes between the republican and democratic parties. They claim to have no preference for the one party over the other. They say: Of two evils choose neither. They pretend to judge impartially of the conduct of their antagonists. Standing upon an eminence or clinging up a tree overlooking the battle, they are in a position to see if it is being fought honorably. One of the most conspicuous newspapers of the national faith in Indiana, or. for that matter, in the United States, is the Terre Haute Express. Its editor, Major Smith, took an active part inorganizing the Toledo convention, and the marks of his brain are visible in the platform constructed there. In the Indiana state convention, on the22d instant, he was recognized as a leader. With this preface the attention of all honest men of whatever,political creed is called to an article that is copied into The Union from the Terre Haute Express, entitled ‘ What does democracy intend?’’ ■ > •

Mr. Barkleyi’sadmirersand intimate friends are busily circulating the report that he will not accept a renomlnation for county auditor. Four years ago he played the same tactics and beat Mr. Culp. He probably is very anxious about it—-keen, as the saying ie--but. is a sly fox and would seem to be fo’ced. If he don’t accept, it will be because he fears he cannot be elected. He is a one-term man only from convictions of compulsory circumstances. That’s all the principle there is in it. lisa false pretense. 1

The honesty, parity ant) patriotism of President Hayes’ official nets edit not be called in question. There is scarcely a democratic newsjmper, even, north or south, that has not endorsed his policy and said that it mnif of their own party could not plense them better as an executive officer. They have taunted republicans about this, time after time, and never weary of boasting over it. The president lias tendered them the olive brand! of peace and friendship. Where Grant’s strong and mailed hand wad laid, the gentle touch of a kindly one is’felt. In this President Hayes did well. He has done all that magnanimity or Christian charity could demand. But they reject his proit'erdd kindness—they would brand him with infamy, they would destioy him and the peace of the nation together. Every true-hearted national id Jasper county should be a subscriber to The Union, because it strives with Ihe earnestness of conviction to point out tiie absurdities and chimeras of their Utopian philosphers; because it is the only paper in the county or con; gressioual district that has ever dared to be truly independent; that has dared to attack corruption and political villany wherever found, with the firmness to maintain its unequal warfare and the ability to conquer. Thb national party, as it is called; is? a bundle of isms; some fanciful and harmless, others vicious and dangerous; led by illy-balanced theorist-, by impractical visionaries, and by shrewd unscrupulous demagogues;

Gil. Shanklin, candidate for secretary of state on the democratic ticket, is a soft-handed, aristocratic fop. Ordinarily he is as dressy as a little ninety-pound French tailor. He is as elegant as the superbest doll that ever simpered, lisped ort nibbled ice creani at a toady party. He wears silk hats of the glossiest, broadcloth coats of the finest, Flavender colored pantaloons 3 and the tightest fitting patent leather boots. And, besides, his hair and complexion aretbedivinest tintof auburn that ever captivated love-sick maidens. He won Id be a beautiful |bergamolseented button-hole bouquet for the left lapel of Governor Williams’ skyblue jeans coat. Every democrat in Jasper county should be a subscriber to The Unionbecause it earnestly strives to point out to them the revolutionary, unpsftriotic and dangerous schemes of the unscrupulous demagogues who are attemptingjo mislead them under the' specious and false pretence of honesty and reform. The masses of the people! of this country, under whatever party banner they may rally, are honest and mean to do right; but there are unscrupulous scoundrels who for purposes of revenge, aggrandizement, or other unworthy and selfish considerations, will not hesitate to again plunge the nation into the horrors of civil war.

Gen. A. O. Miller, of Lebanon, far* candidate for the republican nomination for auditor of state. He is an able, worthy gentleman, mad© aw ex cellent record as a soldier, enjoys the confidence of an extensive acquaint, aireeship, was recently endorsed by the republicans of Tippecanoe county who know him well andare not mento do foolish things. A democratic carpet-bagger taught ex-treasurers of Jasper county how to grab back pay. If this is what the democratic auditor meant by his promises when running under the false pretence of being an iudepend--ent, to retrench the expenses of the county, he has been divinely successful. Twelve dollar wood-boxes don’t loom up very prominently in the shade of ?2,000 back grabsThe most recklessly extravagant board of trustees ever elected in the town of Rensselaer consisted of threefifths democrats. The twelve hundred dollar culvertovera six-foot ditch at the base of Front street Is a permanent" monument to their extravagant waste of public money. It is a fact that at the election of October 13th, 1874, there were 416 independent voters in Jasper county; at the election of October 10th, 1876, there were 160; at the November election in 1876 they had dwindled to'Bo. We do not believe there are 50 of them to-day. Every republican in Jasper County should be a subscriber to Th* Union, because it earnestly advocates the principles of the republican party from a conviction of right It is a fact that the only person in this county ever known to put money into the hand of an elector, walk him to the polls and vote him, always was and is a democrat. “—====B . It is a fact that thedemoeratsof thia county are carefully spreading their toils about the handful of nationals to gobble them up on the 22d day of J une. It is a fact that the only person in this county who has yet attempted to usurp an office is, and always ha* been, a democrat. Metaphorically speaking the democratic dog will wag its Jasper county national tail this year of grace 1878.