The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-10-21
Morton versus Grant.

The Journal on Saturday contained an ar
ticle touching the absence of Mr.. Grant from
the soldiers reunion that occurred here last
week. The inference from the article
touched directly the respect of the president
for the soldiers. The Journal seems to be
in some way infatuated about the soldiers,
thinking, doubtless, that because it was per-
suaded to spend thirty or forty cents in
cheap flags, and wave one of them out at the
window while its claquers below raised a
shout as the regiments passed, that every
body else sighted or insulted them. The
attack upon Mr.. Grant was hardly to be ex
pected, but since the matter of his absence
has been noted by his party friends, it
may not be out of place for the Sem
tinel to make q few comments thereon.
1t may as we'll be stated in the outset, that
Mr.. Morton is not Mr.. Grants choice for
successor, and that is a matter of some
special interest TO the president. Mr.. Nor
ton knows this. He knows that Mr.. Grant
has enough Bourbonism about him to never
forget anything, and though the veto feud
has apparently been healed, it is only be-
cause Mr.. Morton ceased to contend, and
concluded that his presidential aspirations
would not be aided by continued open war
fare with Mr.. Grant. Besides, Mr.. Morton
is not sure yet, nor is the party generally,
that Mr.. Grant will not yet be necessary to
party success in 1876. 1t would not do,
therefore, to continue the strife. But Mr..
Morton can, and does, take every op-
portunity for personal aggrandizsment,
Mr.. Grant from the soldiers reunion.
He was blamed by the Journal for
not coming. At the risk of being told
that we have no business to interfere with
this Republican family matter, we yet VEN
ture to ask the questions: Was Mr.. Grant in
vited here? Was he wanted here? Who
heard of any letter or dispath to him? Mr..
Grant seemed to be lowering around out
West longer than was necessary as ifipviting
an invitation. He could have reached here
at any time on dozen hours notice or less.
But who said to him, come? What commit
tee waited upon him? On the contrary
the Sentinel has information direct from the
chief management of the reunion that Mr..
Grant was not expected and the announce
ment that soon got out, doubtless was in
tended to draw a crowd that was wanted to
accomplish other purposes. Mr.. Grant
would not have been so uncivil as to
not reply invitation from
such gathering of soldiers. But
no reply came. None was read.
Not even a telegram made his excuses or
sent word Of greeting. Mr.. Grants failure
to come or respond was like Jacks, who
would not eat his supper-having none TO
eat. Grant had no invitation. He was not
wanted. He would have been In the way.
Mr.. Morton wanted a clear field. He in
teEded to take advantage of this reunion to
reinaugurate the canvass of malignsncy and
hate of which he is the chief exponent. AS
the hero from Ohio, he wanted no other
laurel-besring hero near him. He did not
want attention directed from himself. And
hence, Mr.. Grant was snubbed, though tar
rying away from his waiting cabinet, as if
ready for a call to come. But Morton re-
membered that Mr.. Grant, at Des MoiDes,
gave another keynote for the coming cam
paign, appealing to religious prejudices. Re-
ligious things do not trouble Mr.. Morton,
and he did not care to have that is
sue in the campaign. Mr.. Morton's
stock in trade does not lie in
that direction, and he did not wish things
mixed. The bloody shirt Mr.. Morton
deemed much more formidable than the
shadow of the pope's toe.
This being the state of the case, it seems
that the blame heaped upon Mr.. Grant was
not only not just or merited by the presi.
part of Mr.. Morton's scheme. While he
reaped the benefit of Grants absence, that
absence is made the ground OF disparage-
ment to the president, and thus Mr.. Morton's
excellence is enhanced by the fading light
of those who would otherwise out-shine
HIM. This is pure Mortonism.