The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-04-22
Morton and Grant.

Two weeks ago to night a most notable
political farce was played in the city of
Washington. The locus in quo was the bal
cony Of the National Hotel, ard the leading
performers were Oliver P. Morton, RIdi-
cal u s. Senator from Indiana, U. S Grant,
of San Domingo fame, Schuyler Colfax, Jao.
w. FJIney, and Juha G. p. Shanka. Rad
ical member of Congress. who is said to have
been the original owner Of "Shank's mare"
The ostensible Object in view was a serenade
to Morton under the auspices Of the Indi
ana clerks employed in the different depart
ments at the seat Of government. The real
purpose. however, and which was well un
derstOod by the actors, was to enable Nor
ton, in the speech he was 20 deliver, to re-
nominate Grant for the Presidency. After
a brass band had played an enlivening air
the redoubta5le John G. P. Shanks, in
spread eagle address, introduced Morton to
the crowd. all Of whom found ample room
to stand on the avenue Immediately in front
of the hotel. Although Morton is a man Of
more than ordinary ability, his career in the
Senate has shown him to be as unscrupu-
lous and Thoroughbred a demngogue as
ever sat in that body. In that respect
Chandler from Michigan, of blood letting"
infamy, is a fool when compared to him. and
even Jim Nye. of Nevada. first cousin of
the immortal Bill Nye, who "went for that
heather Chnee,'' pales bis Intellectual fires
before the admitted pre-eminence Of Morton.
He is Grants leader in the Ssnate and does
all the dirty work assigned to him with
promptitnde and boldness. In his speech
on the occasion referred to, after showering
on Grant and bis administration vast deal
of praise, as fusome as ii was false, he form
ally nominated him as the Radical candidate
for President in 1872, Grant at the time sit
ting by the side of his Senatorial henChman.
It was indeed humilisting spectacle. but at
the same time perfectly in harmony with
the ways that are dark and the tricks that
are vain" Of the present incumbent of the
White House. What former President, by
a pre- arranged plan. has ever stopped 50 low
to conquer ? Not one. They would have
scorned to do il. Their own sense of pros
priety, as well as a decent respect for the
dignity of thsir high tfice, would have in>
stinctivey prevented them from thus dishon-
oring and trailing it in the dirt. Morton
in his speech. not content with pronouncing
high sounding eulogium on Grant, inter>
spersed with mis- usual unblushing falsehoods
ha ncp,pCrafiC baI ka hra
zen impudence to lay down a platform fer
tho Democratic candidate TO stand upon
during the next Presidential campaign. He
asserted that if that party elected it's candi-
date 1t would repudate the public debt,
refuse to pay their pensions to tho widows
and soldiers Of the late civil war. and last,
though not least, would take the right of
suffrage away from the negroes. Where
did this arrogant demagogue get his author
ity for making these sweeping and unfound-
ed accusations He well knew they were
basely false when his slanderous tongue gave
them utterance. Morton expects to succesd
Mr.. FISH as Secretary OF State, as soon as the
President gives the S ecretary to understand
thaC hl5 reHGnatlOn WOuid O0 aCceptaOie,
aud Therefore Morton, in order to make his
calling and election sure, feels bound to con-
ciliate Grant by lying abuse upon the
Democratic party. 1t is thus that he hopes
that "thrift may follow fawnng." When
Democratic President, on the 4th Of March,
1878, relieves Grant from any further oc-
cupaucy Of the White House, none of the
dreadful things predicted by this false
prophet from Indiana vii! come to pass, or
even attempted to be brought about.
At the very commencement Of reconstruct
ing the Southern States this same man,
Morton who was then Governor of Indi-
ana. WAS as bitter and outspoken an oppo-
nent Of negro suffrage as any Mississippi or
South Carolina planter. He opposed and
denounced it both in his message to the
Legislature of bis own State as we'll as on
tho stump. Any vulgar ISLANDERS, therefore,
which this rcurvy politician may see fit now
or hereafter, to utter against the future
action of the Democratic party will fall per-
fec Il Y harmlsss-they will be roz et preferred
HihI.
South Carolina.