The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-08-16
Morton at the Academy.

of Music last night is too misceilsn eous to
be called key note. 1t was a sort OF Oh
lapodride OF political odds and ends in
tended to be an attack upon the Demo-
cratic party and our presidential standard
bearers. He attempts in his opening re-
marks defense of the civil service, aud
presents an array OF figures and tables
with which by his skillful manipulation,
he attempts to show that the exLsns of
the government during the year 1875,
were only about s75 .OOO, 900, when the
true figures, as shown by the records OF
the government and appropriations,
is Sl46,0000G or nearly twice the
expense OF the government during
the administration of 1860. But we re
serve for future comment any notice OF
these incorrect statements, and follow the
senator, in brief, through his winding
speech. He hears the mutterings of the
people over commercial distress and high
taxes, aud a t,r denying that the govern
ment Is more expensive than formerly, in
quires, who is responsible for all this OPP
preston? and lays it al sc the door of the
Democracy. He ignores entir ly the fact
that the robbery and wholesale pillaging
of the Republican party made the debt
twice as large as ait should be, and that
enough revenue has been collected from
the people to pay the national debt since
his party came into over, If it had been
wisely and economically managed. Mr..
Morton labored restlessly through this por-
ton of his speech, evidently conscious
That his representations were invalid. He
therefore rushes at the lower House of
Congress and st acks that body for try ing
to reduce the expenses of the government.
10 all that he has to say ON that subj ct IL
Is sufficient to answer Ia regard to
Gripping the service, that tn appropris-
twenty millions more than what Morton
says was the net ordinary expens IS OF the
government for 1875.
But still the senator is not in his ele.
ment on that subject, and DIVORCES into
an attack on the confederate House."
Then follows an attack upon the Demo-
cratic platform and the members OF the ST.
Louis convention. Ga the former the
senator was not fscile or happy. He
lsbored and houndered. Its sterling re-
form ring was too much for him, aud
becoming exceedingly mad he launches
out venom on the convention itself. Then
as IL suddenly remembering that Hen
bricks was nominated at st. Louis for vice
president, and that he was defeated at Cio-
einnati, he makes low and scurrilous at
tack upon Mr.. Hendricks political record,
the most indecent and ungenteel that even
Morton ever uttered against a political
opponent. Then Mr.. Tilden comes In for
vituperstion and venom, and If that dis
tinguished ref0rmer had spent twenty
years of his life at Sing Sing, his char scter
could not be painted blscker. These ma
lignsnt attacks OF Morton carry their own
retaliation on their face. Such an imam
ously false portray al of character condemns
the man who uttered them as an upscru-
pul0us libeler aud fslsifisr.
Merton lodges the financial question,
as ne has done during this entire session
OF Congress, and spends @ column In abuse
OF Tine democracy Tor tnefr enorts TO bring
relief 10 the people.
But having lsDored on these incidental
and to him side issues, with ind ffersni
success, he at last lights upon his fsvorite
theme-the outrage brsiness-to which he
devotes the balance OF his speech. He i.
at home there. 1t was the old story re.
peated sgsin aud again in every campaign
since the war closed. There seemed TO be
paroxysm OF pure delight when ne
clutched the bloody shirt and waved It N
the air. Tfere was nothing new
the same cd stale stuf, tui
worked mp. with little more
venom and illustrated with more un-
scrupulous and Infamous fsIsehoods. But
it 10 scarcely worth while to comment on