The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-10-31
Allen y3i6 Morton.

. C!UaI6 LOT dONeTHOr, the haulcal state
Committee, anticipating an aggressive
canvass on his part, determined to
avail itself of the campaign services
of Oliver p Morton, of Indiana, IN
+ order as was supposed, to place the
result of the contest beyond all doubt.
4 Morton is regarded as the ablest Rad
ical ,iebater in the Senate of the Uni
/ ted States, and hence his presence in
Ohio was thought to be the certain
/ harbmger of a decisive Radical tri-
umph. The Indiana oracle was there
/ fore invited to come TO Ohio and open
the campaign, which he did. When
we consider that William Allen had
been a Senator from his State for
twelve years, and occupied a front
rank in deliberative body that was
dignitied and hOnOred by such men as
Webster, Clay, Calhoun, Buchanan
and Cass-that his character, both
personal and official, was pure and be-
yond reproach, and that he was high
toned gentleman-it was expected
that, however energetic Morton's at
tacks might be against his lifelong
political views and convictions, he
would at least treat him with that
personal courtesy to which his high
! character entitled him. But this was
not the Radical programme, and Nor
! ton, from the very commencement of
the fight, acted the part of the politi-
cal demagogue and rowdy. He seem
ed to think that Allen, who in person.
al character is far his superior, could
be driven from the hustings by low
ridicule and personal abuse, and to
these two modes Of attack he brought
all his energy and power But Nor
ton made a grievous mistake, for of
all the leaders Of the Radical party he
is perhaps the most vulnerable. All
his speeches to the people abounded
III the eOarseSt and most undignified
attacks on Allen. Neither his age
nor his spotless reputation protected
him. He was a Democrat, pure and
simple, and that alone was enough to
bring down upon his devoted head a
torrent of abuse from the foul tongue
of the palsied Morton.
The following elegant( Oextract from
one Of his addresses will serve as an
index to the whole of them:
''You have two candidates for Governor;
one of them has been hibernated for about
twenty -four years. lLaughter.) They say
he has been rejecting profoundly, and
Studying the child's first book Of history on
representative government. He has pro-
! posed All amendment to our Constitution,
which | have described to you. You know
I his position during the war. In proposing
/ to become Governor of Ohio he has never
said word about the State. In his speech
lie does not even mention the fact that he
is candidate, and 'ao one can tell from his
/ speech 1cheth6r or not he is q candidate for
/ Gorernor Of Ohio or King Of the Cannibag
! Islands, and he has as much cHancs for one
/ as he has for the otter." daughter aud
cheers.)
By continually indulging in this
kind Of personal taunt and bravado,
! is it any wonder that Allen cast aside
his dignity and placed this Billings
I gate Senator before the people of Ohio
in his true and unenviabletlight In
one of his speeches he felt himself con-
strained to speak of his persistent ira
ducer in the following strong but we'll
merited terms:
''This very mau Morton, when he was
brought before the people, had not the
power to stand on his feet. Laughter
The committee helped him up tironical
cheers, and when they got him up they
had to set him IN an arm chair, and he had
to tumble and hunt up an old manuscript
/ that he had concocted in the deep dark
ness of some midnight, and read it there,
I and call 1t speech. (Laughter.) Do
look like man? Loud applause, drown
4 ing the speakers voice completely Am
paralyzed from my hips down ? There
/ are two kinds of Influences which wear
away human life. One is the silent, con-
slant wear and tear Of time, that takes the
man beyond ''that bourne from whence no
traveller returns" which disOrganizes all
organized things, and resolves matter back
other kind of influence that brings on age
and decrepitude. There is a vicious early
; lie There is personal debauchery.
There is moral and physical decrepitude
which is brought on i'll individuals, and
paralyzes them from the hips down. And
yet this man comes and talks about my
want of manly vigor."
The contest is over and all the vul
gar assaults of Morton fell harmless
at William Aliens feet Who would
not now be Allen, honored with the
support and confidence of the people
of Ohio, rather than Oliver p. Morton
, whom they have spewed out of their
mouth. William Allen can well af
ford to look down upon his vulgar as
sailant with the most supreme scor1
and pOntemnt