The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-08-26
lNDIANA,S SENATOR'S.
MCDONALD VS.. MORTON m OHIO.
Full text of Senator Mcdonald s
Speech in response to Nor
ton in Urbana.
AN ABLE ARGUMENT.

AN ABLE ARG I MEM.
THE TRUE THEORY OF OUR GOVERNMENT
THE RELATION OF PARTIES To EACH OTHER
AND To THE PEOPLE oFTHE NATION-sEN
HroR MOTIONS SHIFTING POSITIONS SHOWN
UP so THAT HE HAD BETTER DEVOTE HIS
TIME AND TALENT TO ANSWERING HIS owN
ARGUMENTS.
FELLOW CITIZESs:-In accepting the invi-
tation extended by the chairman OF your
State Central Committee to address the cti-
zsDs OF this state during this can
vass, was actuated by two mo
lives. Gne was that this is my native state
and in coming back again to Ohio, simply
planted my foot once more upon my native
heath. IApplsuse.J TIE other ths'
i recognizes in this contest
now going on, political contest not
circumscribed by state lines, DuJ one OF
national Importance. You are engaged,
my fellow citizens, in fighting the initial
battle oil the great centennial campaign OF
1876. The contest in Ohio is to that cam
paign what the battles of Lexington and
Concord, and Bunker Hill were
to our revolutionary struggle
and upon your standing firm and securing
a triumph IN this great contest, greatly de-
ponds the regeneration OF this country next
wear. Your adversalies recognize this fact.
The Repu blican leaders feel that OHIO is the
great battle ground uDon which they are 10
make n cir last not successful. They
know full well that il they fail TO carry the
election in October, in this state, that their
party is almost disbauded, and that they
will be compelled to enter the presidential
contest next year beaten host before the
contest begins. Applausel. 1t is tor that
reason that they nave called into your state
their most Distinguished leaders. 1t has
been but short time since citizens here
we're addressed by one of the noted leaders
of the republican party. My colleague In
the senate, Senator Morton, was called here
to rally the hosts of the republican party in
Ohio, and meet and check the democratic
hosts. He was in your city. and opened
the canvass in one OF those sreecnes that
his friends delight in terming
TIE KEYNOTE OF THE CONTEST.
Gov. Morton assumed the position in his
opening speech in the state that
in this country. L accept the position and
also affirm that there are but two great par
ties in this country, the democratic aud the
republican parties, and the political power
of this county is, tor many years to come,
10 be- welded by one or the other OF these
parties. SO far as the country at large u
concerned, the republican party is at
present in power. That party has had con-
troll Of the federal government for the last
fifteen years, aud has bad almost undis-
puted control in most of the states of the
Union. Here and there, it is true. the power
has been wrested from their handS-in par
ticulsr Iocalities-but it may be regarded to-
day as the dominant party and re-
sponsible before the country Tor the
measures that are upon your statute books,
and for the policy by which the country has
been governed and ruled. Gov. Morton in
his address to the citizens here undertook to
define the position of these two parties with
that adEOitness that belongs to him, 1t
was oLcs said by distinguished
lawyer when asked who was
the most distinguished member OF the bar,
said, Le supposed the lawyer who
could state mis- propositions most positively
and maintain them most plsusibly. Mea-
sured by that standard, Gov. Morton has no
peer in his own party In undertaking to
define the position of parties in his
speech here in Urbana, he quotes at length
from Alexander stephens, VINO never was a
democrat, and Is not nov, in order to prove
that democracy and nullifcztion, mean the
same thing. lie then den0unces Senator
Eaton, OF Connecticut, because he insisted in
the senate OF the United states that this was
A GOVERNMENT OF COMPOUND POWERS,
compounded of state and federal powers, and
that each in its proper sphere was but
regarded as sovereign. Then Governor
Morton stated his own position, ard that
may not Aisstato it will give his language
from the speech, carefully prepared before
he came here, and IN print before it was de-
livered TO you. Laughter and applause. !
Here is what be says. (Reads.) Il de-
nOunce il false in fact and logic. This
government was not formed by the states
and is not an organ OF the states, hut by the
people of the United tates in their primary
and aggregate capacity. The stamp of
falsehOod Is placed upon this doctrine by
the preamble OF our constitution which
declares that the people of the United Stateg,
in order 10 form more pertecS union,
establish Justice, insure domestic tranquil
ity, to provide tor the common defense,
promote the general welfare, and secure the
blessings ofliOerty TO ourselves and pos
teIity do ordain and establish this constitu-
ton for the United States of America" He
(Mr. MOrton) then further illustrates his
proposition by reciting the fact that "a
states have been admitted into the
Union since the formation OF the
federal constitution and that, therefore, this
must bs a nation, a consolidated enlp ire, an
Imperial republic and not union of states
under the federal constitution. Now, i
don't intend that Gov. Morton or any other
leader OF the republican party shall under
take to define the position of the
demoerotic party for me. 1t was defined
by Thomas jefferson. Its principles are
embodied 10 the federal constitution and
the very preamble which Gov. Morton re-
ferred 10 in his speech
coSTRADICrs THE POSITION THAT HE ASSUMES
in regard 10 the character OF this govern
ment. Let me call your atten.
ton to the preamble for q
moment, for ] shall not talk al
any great length of time about this PROPOSE
ton. II was given to US by Thomas Jefler.
son in times of trial and political trouble
TReads and comments The people of the
United States, aye, the United States, not
the people of America, but of all the
States in unity, Ito form a more
erfect union, to establish justice
insure domestic tranquility, provide for The
common defense, and promote the general
welfare and secure the blessings of liberty
to ourselves and posterity," do what? cor.