Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-08-13
Speech OF Senator Morton.


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Speech Of Senator Morton.
The Hon. 0. p. Morton opened the
Republican campaign in Indiana, at
Terre Haute, on the 3lst, by a lengthy
speech on the leading issues of the day,
from which the following is extracted:
The Democratic party is out of power and
is struggling to regain it. 1t Is the Oppo-
sition, and avails itself of every popular dis
content, every local prejudice to injurc the
Republican party. 1t presents no policy for
the administration of the Government and
makes no attempt at consistency. II feels at
liberty to profess In one locality what 1t
denies in another, and to take any position
In one State without regard TO the attitude II
assumes upon the same issue in another State.
1t does not hesitate to use any weapon of as
sault knowing that the minority has no re-
sponsibility similar to that attaching to
party in the majority and In control Of the
Government. In Maine the Democracy is
for free trade; in Pennsylvania for high
tariff and in Indiana for 81 tariff for revenAie
only On the temperance question the po-
sition Of the party is us varied as the circum-
stances surrounding 1t IN the several local
tiles. 1t may be generally said to go rs far
In favor of the unrestrained traffic In intoxi-
eating liquors as 1t can, not to forfeit entirely
the respect and support of the friends Of tenn
perance.
Resolutions against corruption are the
cheap clap-trap Of parties. All parties pro-
TESS to be opposed to corruption, and are
ready to expose and punish 1t in other parties
than their own. The true test Of an honest
party is sclf-eXamnation, and the exposure
and punishment OF corruption in its own
| ranks. Tried by this test the Republican
party is distinguished before any other party
in fhn tstn ~ bp nntin all az
is known of Republican corruption has been
| revealed by its own diligent examination and
fearless self-eXpOsure Nobody believes the
Democratic party is particularly sensitive
| about corruption. When in power it was
noted for the skill and industry with which it
covered up the populations of its members.
The two parties seem to have proceeded upon
opposite theories. The Democratic party
soaght to protect itself against public opinion
by concealing the delinQuencies of its own
members, while the Republican party has be-
eyed the prompt exposure and punishment
of its rogues to be the best guarantee
for its continuance in power. There are good
and bad men in both parties, and in all
parties; and the bad will ultimately corrupt
the whole organization, unless rcpressed and
exposed. The Investigations into frauds OF
all sorts-Credit Mobilier, District OF Colum-
bia ring, the Sanborn contracts, ete.-whilc
they may show, here and there, diseased
mass Of the party. The Republican party is,
by its nature and principles, progressive and
the friend of freedom as against slavery; Of
the people against monopoly; OF labor, free
schools and intellectual and moral progress.
IT is qualified to grapple with every new is
sue that is presented, has its face to the fu-
tire, and holds that the work of reform is its
normal and necessary condition
For years to come the contest will be be-
tween the Republican and Democratic parties,
and between them there is no room for a third
| party, and every one that is organized will be
feeble and ephemeral These parties repre-
sent different ideas, tendencies and modes OF
thought, which are In irreprcssible conflict
In its seventh resolution the Democracy
went upon its knees in its prejudice against
color. The passage Of the Civil Rights bill
by the Senate is made the occasion OF
special attack against Senator Pratt and my
self. They think to make few votes by APP
pealing to the prejudices and fears OF the
white people about mixed schools. In towns
and communities whore the children of each
color are numerous enough to be formed into
separate schools, there will be no trouble on
the subject, and there has not been. But IN
districts sparsely populated, or neighborhoods
i'm which there are few colored children, and
where their proportion Of the school fund
would be wholly insufficient to maintain sep
arate schools, and their parents are not able
10 IHhlllldiU pIlNalt SSliOOis lOI thCHi, a. WY
are not admitted into the public schools they
must grow up in ignorance and without edu-
cation. And what harm would these children
| do in the public schoolg They would inter
| rupt nobody, though in many places they
! would be the victims of insult and oppression.
! The man who would say that, under any CIR.
cumstances, these colored children must grow
up without education, to be poor, Ignorant,
| helpless and perhaps vicious throughout their
| lives simply because it would be offensive to
have them go into the same schooi-housc
with white children, himself needs educa-
tion in the principles of our common human
| ity.
The Democrats arraign Senators Pratt and
Morton for an attempt "to take control OF
the schools, colleges, churches, hotels, rail-
roads, steamboats,, theaters and grayeyafds,
for the purpose Of establishing negro-equal-
ity, and enforcing it by enormous lines ana
penalties" 1 arraign the authors OF this
| resolution for gross ignorance OF the pro-
visions OF the Civil Rights bill. The bill does
nothing of the kind here charged; 1t leaves
the control Of all these things precisely
where 1t is now, but simply declares that
negro shall not be deprived Of an equal share
in them by reason Of his color or race. II
colored children receive an equal benefit OF
the common school system of a State, 1t Is a
compliance with the Civil Rights act and the
control of schools is left with local officers