The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-08-11
Uhs Sssrtimel.
TUESDAY, AUGUST IL.


-
rae sound OF the Tall sycamore.
This mornings Sentinel contains the full
text OF the Hon. ID. w. Voorhees, speech, de-
liversd at Terre Hsuse last night, in answer
To Senator Morton's address at the same
place a week ago.
Considered as a reply to Senator Morton,
the speech may be described as completely
successful; considered as an exposition of
democratic doctrine.it is not very admirable.
Its excelIencies might have been expected
from the peculiar liability of Mr.. Morton 70
attack; its defects, especially On the cur
reney issue, were to be anticipated
from Mr.. Voorhees,, own political vagar' ss.
The course of the leader OF the reput .scan
party of the State has been a tissue of incon-
sistencies, and the public have never been
moro aware of that fact than at the present
time. In addition to that element OF weak
ness in character, Mr.. Morton failed in his
usual intellectual vigor and enthusiasm.
He not only acted weakly, which is bad
enough, but he defended his action weakly,
which is the more fatal fault His last
speech has been pronounced by the press OF
the country as the poorest effort
of the kind that he mas ever made.
The opportunity for entering the sarena
against the republican champion who had
held the lists i'm Indiana so long against all
corners, a fine one, and certainly
it must be acknowledged that Mr.. voorhees,
availed himself OF it with great dash and
spirit. He has fairly endorsed the adminis-
tration leader.
The strongest portion of the speech is that
part of it discussing the financial record of
the State of Indiana in comparison with his
late accusation of double population
brought against the democratic party. The
style the argument is clear and fair, and full
quotations from Mr.. NIorton's own words
are given to establish his Inconsistency
on the question of the payment of the
$50 bonds in greenbacks. The conclusion
from the comparison made is irresistible:
The republican leader is either dishonest
or sn ignorant man. Even his enemies will
scarcely accuse him of the latter fault. Hav-
ing given Mr.. Voorhees, credit for this
mastery exposure of Senator Morton. it
may be added that he deserves little praise
for trying to put his party in the tracks
where his opponent stood five years ago.
ON the civil rights question Mr.. VOORHEES,
i no less unwise in the style of his argu-
ment, considered abstractly, and yet is fully
as triumphanto over Mr.. Morton; for here again
thai gentleman's record is bad one. There
Is rather too much of the prescriptive tone
about his appeals against negro equality.
Before the law all men should stand on
equal terms, and the only digestion to the
civil rights bill is, that it proposes to enter
into the relations of social life with a system
OF pains and penalties to break down legiti-
mate barriers that are set up by wealth,
culture, creed and race. The divisions be-
tween men will exist, whether there is any
civil rights bill passed or not, but they
should be recognized as arising from social
custom rather than any divine right.
ON the temperance theme and the trans
porSation question there is little to
say touching Mr.. Voorhees, teachings.
His advocacy of the license law was
10 be expected, but. after Governor
Hendricks able exposition of that subject,
in his speech before the democratic State
convention, it is useless for any one else to
90 into the subject. The general sentiment, |
even among the strongest temperance men,
seems to be settling to the conviction that a
carefully guarded license law is the best safe
guard against the dangers of incorporates.
1t does not, to be sure, provide for the Sc
curity of the individual against sin-only |
personal virtue can do that-but it provides |
for the security of society against danger.
The close of the speech was devoted-and
great good taste was shown in such an ar
raDgemeut ofmaterisl-to telling exposure ,
OF the pretense of Senator Morton and others |
that the republican party has been busy re-
forming The abuses within its own ranks. !
No more iunpudant claim was ever put for
ward. and it only needs such statement of
specific instances of hesitation to expose
rsscality and failure to punish il as Mr..
voorhees, gives, to call up a smile of indig-
nant contempt for the apologists Of that
race of statesmen who have been plumber
ing the country for the past few years.
Thuufe rhnIfs