The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-08-26

from Harper's Weekiy.l

Haute Is Slgnlncant LOT many rea-
sons. In the first place, he is recog-
pized leader in the dominant party,
and a man Of undeniable force and
ability. Then he is believed to rep
resent the opinions Of Western Re-
publicans, and his speech is the first
important address of the autumn cam
paign. Moreover, he is supposed to
be. as Mr.. Disraeli said the other day
of Mr.. Gladstone, a candidate fer the
position of Prime Minister, which in
this country is called the Presidency;
and withal he is called a shrewd poll
titan, who knows how far and how
positively it is polite to &c. The
view OF the situation which Mr. Nor
ton takes may be inferred by those
who are familiar with his mental
habit. The conflict is this year, in
his judgment, as it has been and will
be for many years, between the fami-
liar parties, and this because the
Democratic party is merely the organl-
cation ofthe "outs," without any con-
sistent principle or coherent pollcy,
except burning desire to get in,
while the Republican party is founded
upon principles rather than measures,
and will address ITSELF to new ques-
tions as they arise. This is speclous,
but unsound, of course, for what pos
sible guarantee can there be that q
new question may not rend the party!
Men may act together as the Repub-
lican party to exclude slavery from
the Territories, and it may be safely
inferred that they will also act together
in defense Of equal and civil rights.
But upon what grounds can it be sup
posed that Mr.. Morton and Mr.. Conk-
ling, for instance, will both advocate
initiation because they both advocate
equal suffrage? The reason for OPP
posing the Democratic party is that
our politics deal both with old and
new questions, and upon the old and
still open questions it is fatally wrong,
and upon the new there is no evidence
that it is right.
This, indeed, Mr.. Morton proceeds
to show. He points out that upon the
new question of finance his Democra-
tic opponents in Indiana propose a
double reputation, BY making a new
! greenback to pay-the fve-twenties,
! and repealing the pledge of gold pay
&, ment under which for five years the
bonds have been bought and sold.
! Upon the financial question Mr.: Nor
ton is himself fatally unsound; but he
| certainly shows that the Democratic
il party of his State is very much more
$50. He shows. further, that in the
(, debate upon the civil rights guaran
Iteed by the constitution the Demo
llcrats merely appeal to mischievous
land inhuman prejudice, and by their
! party history and alliances are pledged
Ito hostility to the colored race. The
\ Democratic adallying with the temper
ance question is also keenly exposed
by the Senator, who, in treating the
! TRANSPORTATION question, was very wary
but said they could appoint commis-
sioners to regulate rates for freight and
passengers upon all Interstate rail-
roads, to prevent extortions and impo-
sitions. Here, however, the Senator
was evidently not quite sure Of his
ground, suggesting great moderation
and as little interference as possible.
AS for the tariff, Mr.. Morton is sure
that it will be maintained substantially
as it is during this generation while
in regard to Canadian reciprocity he
Says that so long as Canada chosen to
remain a part of Great Britain, she
should be consistently treated as srdh.
His tariff argument was that which is
always most powerful upon the stump,
the pauper labor of Europe and the
paying tribute to foreign countries,
with the assertion that the arguments
| @ ,~a1.4.Aol ho prhJocf
are theories and "the beauties Of free
trade" He avoids really entering
upon the subject, but expressed him
self strongly in favor of protection.
| Senator Morton's s address is a capi-
tarcampaign speech. and the Demo
Gratis must vince as they reflect that
they. have nobody in the. State to-op-
pose him upon equal terms.
The speech of Governor Hendricks al
their convention was most feeble and
ineffective in comparison with the
sledge hammer blows of Mr.. Morton
And yet clever as the speech is, and
heartily as we sympathize with much
that the Senator says, it does not
meet, and no speech can exactly meet
the real danger that threatens the Re-
publicap party. Itsis easy to show
logically and conclusively that no ac
tual reform or progress, or greater
honesty or wiser administration, is t.
be expected from the Democratic party
than from the Republican. There is
therefore, as between the two, nc
sound reason for not supporting the
Republican But, unhappily, politics
do not always proceed upon sound
reasons. Probably among Senator
Morton's auditors there were some
plain. thoughtful Republican Hoosiers
who listened intently, and, who with
approving nod, as the orator rounded
his sentences, said to themselves
That's SO" and yet who are by nj
means sure either to vote upon elec
ton day or to vote the Republican
ticket.
They are not, indeed, logical. The,
admit the truth of what the Senate
says about the parties They are no
Democrats, and have no wish fo
Democratic ascendency, as such. The.
agree that the Republican party ha
punished its own official offenders ant
corrected its own errors, and that tn
Democrats would probably not hav
done half az we'll. But they say ther
has been a great deal Of corruption
a great many things have happened
which they do not like; they are yer.
sorry, but there is no great issu
pending, and they think that :" a littl
change would be useful" This is tn
spirit in which the danger lies ant
against which speeches, however logi
cal and eloquent and powerful, are a
ineffective as bullets against cotton
Politicians are often very inpatient Q
character, principle, sentiments, i'm
practicable views, etc. But they tel
in the long run. This feeling spring
from the leadership of unsatistactor
men and the adoption of doubtful
measures. 1t is the logic which i