The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-09-14
MOrt0n's Folly.

MOrtOn's Folly.
[Hon. Joseph Pulitzer.l
Mr.. Morton says: GA Democratic
victory in October means triumph of
the Confederate Democracy throughout
of the loyal element of the North to the
rebel element of the South, and the in
stallation at the national capital of the.
very spirit and incarnation of the rebel
ion." 1t is hard to say whether this
statement is more contemplate or more
ridiculous. But | do know that when
Senator Morton first wrote and next
spoke thus he knew himself to be utter
ing a monstrous falsehood. He knows as
well as you do that the only people who
would gladly see another rebellion are
those carpet-bag plunderers in the South
and their office-holding bread-and-butte
brigade of the North. He knows as we'll
as you do that there is no part of our
people more profoundly for peace at all
cost than that of the South. He knows
as well as you do that another rebellion
is as impossible as another revolutionary
war against George III. He knows as
well as you do that everybody in the
South is now glad that the Union has
tIiumphed. He knows as we'll as yousdo
that the results of the war are unaltera-
bly, incorporated in the National Consti-
tuition, and, above all, assaults.
He knows as well as you do that no
such assault is even contemplated, but
that the new order of things is accepted
by the South in perfect good faith. He
Gpn1uo that 80 of+ar oil Suob assault
were possible the patriotic and firm arm
of our standard-bearer would instantly
crush it with the hearty plaudits of mil
lions of Northern Democrats, each one of
whom worked more unselfishly to pre-
serve this Union than Mr.. Morton. He
knows as well as you do that Samuel ].
Tilden is as pure and patriotic as he is
able, and that he was mainly nominated
to preserve and purify this Union, which
Grantism threatened to destroy. He
knows as well as you do the invaluable
services rendered to the first city and
first State of this Union by Samuel j.
Tilden. He knows as well as you do that
Samue. ]. Tilden would purify the ma
tional government, reduce the national
taxation, reform the national abuses,
and drive the nations plunderers into
prison or exile, as he has purged the
government of the great city and State
of New York, as he has reduced the tax
alton, broken up all the rings, and driven
all the corruptionists of the State into
prison orexile. He knows as well as you
do that under our Democratic President
law and order would prevail, the Consti-
tuition would be sacredly observed, all
people, black or white, North or South,
and all property, would be equally pro-
tected, taxation reduced, jobbery stopped,
thieves prosecuted, honesty recognized,
trade revived, harmony among all Sec
pride and traternal feeling re established.
If this means another rebellion, we plead
guilty; for this we mean, aud this we
mean to have
As a Union soldier. who detested slav-
cry, vino voted to ratify the Fifteenth
amendment, and until six years ago acted
with the Republican party, Mr.. Morton
will perhaps pardon me if am bold to
take up his bloodthirsty cry of rebel !"
and " traitor" am sure am not at all
afraid to discuss this feature with him.
To paraphrase Macbeth:
Thou can'st not say did it ; never shake
Those bloody shirts at me
ask you, fellow-citizens, if there are
any traitors and rebels to-day, who are
they? Who is the friend of the govern
ment? He who ross it? Or he who en-
deavors to reform it? The real traitors
to-day are not the people of the South,
who, after fighting like men, behaved
like men, accepted the new order of
things praying for peace, when Mr.. Nor
ton, gave them plunderings, but you Mr..
Morton, and your friends the loyal Bel
knaps and Blaines and Babcocks, the
patriotic Robson, Delanos, Orths,
Schencks, the McDonalds, Joyces. Caseys,
Pomeroys, Packards, Pinchbacks, you are
the traitors of to-day. He who robs his
government, or he who consents toit, or
he whose sworn duty is to prevent it. yet
fails to do so, is the enemy of the govern
ment to-day. He who casts shame and
dishonor upon his country is the "rebel
of to-day. He who eleven years after
the war maliciously fans sectional strife,
thereby fights against that Union for
which l fought during the war-a real,
harmonious Union. Whatever you may
say about the old "rebels," Mr.. Morton,
they at least do not steal.
fought them and stood nearer to them
than you, Mr.. Morton, when they threat
ened the government. But to-day you
and your party threaten it, and all who
love this government now fight you. ]
served for one great and harmonious
Union; you, Mr.. Morton. try to keep up
several sections. l served for equality
and freedom for all, even to the blacks
you, Mr.. Morton, would like to disfran
chise the best and most intelligent of the
Southern people. 1 served to abolish the
slavery of the blacks; you, Mr.. Morton
would politically enslave the white.
served to make this government strong
honored, and feared; you, Mr.. Morton
would let it become weak, dishonored
and despised. All you want is powe
and plunder. All we want is a rea
Union and purer government.
You say, Mr.. Morton, that there ar,
from fifty to sixty members of Congress
who were identified with the Oonfed
eracy. Granted. l will not even ques
tion the accuracy of the number. 1t i
obvious that it would be difficult to fnC
any man of prominent ability in tn
: South who did not serve in some capacit,
or other his erring State and section
And is it not in the interest of the CEN
5 mon country that these men shall go +