The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-08-18
SPEECH OF SENATOR MORTON.
His Answer to Schurz.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, August

0A' AuGlSi hO'I august A''
Senator Morton, of Indiana, spoke n
the Temple tonight, to one Of tho largesi
audiences ever congregated in St. Louis
Hon. 7. Blow presided, and the plat
form was filed with very large num-
bcr Of the most prominent Republicans
in the city, Quite number OF MdIes were
present. During the day Mr.. Morton was
called ON by Senator SChurz, Gov Brown
and many other distinguished citizens,
Mr. Blow introduced the speaker with u
few remarks in reference 10 the coming
struggle for the Presidency, giving few
of the most prominent characteristics oI
the Republican and Democratic parties,
and laying much stress upon the import.
GnCe Of the coming contest.
Mr, Morton opened by referring TO his
visit to st, Louis in the early parI Of the
war, in behalf Of some Indiana regiments,
and then passed on to the subject Of his
address, by saying | am II Republican,
and hClong to that party because think
itS principles arc the true principles OF this
Government; because 1t is the party that
saved this Government, and believe that
the best and highest interests Of this coun-
try now are dependent upon continuing
this party in power for some years The
Republican party has some difficulties to
encounter. One is that II has accomplished
such great things within the last ten years.
Very great things are consequently cX.
pcCted of II, and some Of its members are
not satisfied without the Republican party
Is entering on some new and great reform
every day, unless 1t has some great victory
to register at the end OF every week or
month, II we shall succeed in RCcOmp.
fishing all that we have undertaken II
we shall secure to this country for all
time the true results and fruits Of the war;
il we shall establish peace in all tho States;
il We shall secure to the people of all the
States equal rights before the law, We
shall have COnsummatcd great work.
more than any other party In this country
or any other country has accomplished.
Our enemies are artt'ully whispering to
us that our mission Inns been performed;
that our duty is done, and that we may
rest upon our victorious arms. The mis-
sion Of tho Republican party will not be
performed, il 1t can be said to have II spe.
Cial mission, until in all parts Of this COun.
try the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and FIT
teGnth AmCndmcnths shall bG accepted,
not only In letter, but in spirit, until 1t
shall bG conceded, not for tho sake of pO-
litical cxpcdiency, but because all parties
agree that they arO right, and to be the
fundamental law Of the land. New QuCs
tiOns will spring up from time to time,
and we should try to dispose OF them us
they come; but We should not have too
many irons in the fire at one time,
The Republican party is tho great Re.
form party OF this country. 1t Inns con.
summatGd more and greater reforms In |
the course of ten years than oil the parties
that have done before; but we have done
one Thing at u time; and when we have
done one great work, we have taken up
the next, and 80 wO shall go on; and II |
there arG rCi0rmGrs who think the Repnb' |
lCan party Is not travelling quite last
enough for them, let me ask them II there
Is any other party they can go to that
promises any reform atall? The spirit of
progress and reform Is the essential spirit
Of RcpublCanism, and we shall enact the
great reforms required for this country |
from time to time as the people arc ready |
for them, and as the condition Of the Coun.
try and as reason shall demonstrate their
necessity. Therefore | say to all reform.
Crs, DO not impatient; you have more to
hope for in the way Of reform from the
party than you have from any
new party that can possibly be formed.
New parties arc not made to order
There Is no man in this country that has
got capacity enough to build up new
party, nor Is there any set Of men that
have that capacity. Great parties spring
from great public events, or they come up
from the Inevitable condition Of the Coun.
try or the state of public opinion. The
party was called into exist
rnCc by the repeal Of the Missouri com.
great breach of faith that
shook this nation TO It's very foundation.
That was In fact the beginning Of the
war, and ! tell You no other party can take
It's place until.it Inns proved false to its
pledges, false TO It's principles, and until
Inc public mind Is satisfied that the re.
Orns of the nation cannot be accomplish.
,d except by the formation Of new par.
". There are but two parties in this
country now, and there will bo but two
parties for some years to como. What
leCade may do-what twenty years may
love cannot tell; but there Is no proba.
Dilty of there being third party formed
with any great national character during
he next two, four and even six years. 1t
g, therefore, simply choice between the
Republican and Democratic parties
Every road that leads out of the RCpub.
iCan party leads into the Democratic par
y. Everything that tends to weaken the
Republican party tends to strengthen the
Democratic party. II makes no differ.
ence whether il Is intended in that way
lr not; that Is the absolute and inevitable
Effect oft Whatever weakGns the Dem.
,cratic party strengthens the Republican
larty.
The Senator then passed to the subject
If amnesty, and said but one disability
row remains upon those engaged in the
rebellion, and that is, that no man who
lad taken nm oath to support the COnsti
luton of the United States, and after.
wards committed perjury by engaging in
rebellion shall he eligible TO hold Office
leif Davis has MS much right to vote In
as any man in the State, or
any man in Missouri. The class Of men
who are covered by the fourtcenthnmend
nent Is not very large, not more than
thirty thousand IN all the United States
As a member of the Senate of the United
States, | have never refused to vote To
relieve the disabilities of any man who
has asked for II over his own signature
in good faith, and am prepared 10 con.
linue to vote in that way with some cx.
ceptiOns. did refuse 10 vote for one
man who applied, but because in addition
10 being a rebel, he had been a very bad
guerrilla. But, my friends, there is a class
5f men who engaged in that rebellion
whom | would never vote to relieve.
Ia nnN rnfnr 10 lhn V,,nreou nj thn,n V,hn |