The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-11-11
CHARACTER OF SENATOR MORTON,

The recent death of the Leader, of the
Radical party has called forth from papers
of all shades of politics articles of almost
every description. From among these we
select the following as being, in our opin-
ion, fair and just estimate of the charac-
ter of the deceased Senator from Iadiar a ::
Mr. Morton looked more like q prize
hghter than q Senator. He was of the me-
dunn height, broad shouldered and power
fully built. He was dark.compIe1ioDsd.
with black ha'r and chin whisker, a heavy
Jaw, grim mouth, glowing eyes sad a peca-
liar snuh nose that gave still more pnR
naclons expression TO his formidable face
His method of speaking WAS plain, straight
forward and aggressive. He had none of
the rhetoric which captivates o crowd, hat
much OF the skill in argument aud state
ment which convinces 1t. When he talk ed
It WAS because he bad something to say and
an intense desire to say it and his air of
certainty aud determination gave weight
to his words. In the SeUate be spok e
leaning upon sort of iron frame which
vas fixed in trout of his chair; add dressinR
pubic meetings he was generally obliged
to sit in an arm chair. Bat, like Chatham,
who turned his crutch iuto a source of
power, he contrived to make his physical
weakness impressive, and as he swung
himself 6ercely from side to side in q re-
| volving seat and pictured tue sufferings of
the Southern fTeemen to q fascinated audi
epce, the very fact that be had dragged
himself to The platform ID speak on sach a
| theme seemed to challenge attention to bic
WoTds. AS a political opponent Mr.. Nor
ton was in public INSCRIPTIONS, unchaIi
table and uncompromisng; but in private
life he was kind and courteous to Demo.
cratic frieuds, often granting to Democratic
rivals easy access and favorable considera-
tion. This was not a matter of policy OF
the result of desire to concIiate, but a
concession springing from spirit of rude
generosity. To his friends and subordIn
ates in his own party he was a faithful
leader and firm ruler but he allowed no
Republican rival near his throne, and
crushed all such in Indiana who eeemed al
all likely to eupplant him in the popular
favor In a word, be was in this respect
like Woisey
Lofty and sour to them that loved him not:
But TO those men that sought him, sweet summer
His master passion was thirst for pow.
er, and his most remark able trait of char.
acter was his ttreless industry He wac
ambitious, and like all ambitious men he
would spare nothing, not even himself, TO
compass political Influence. No leader
ever worked harder for his position or eu-
deavOred more honestly to qualify himself
| for its esponsibliites. His labors as Gov
| ernoT OF Indiana during the war were Der.
culean, aud while broken invalid he was
constant in his attendance in the Senate,
unremitting IN his study of public Ques
tions, punctual in his committee work and
occupied during almost every recess in
wearisome Investigations in the South or
on the Pacific Coast. In addition to the
performance of far more than his share of
| the business of the Senate, be kept tho
affairs of the State of Indiana under his con
stant supervision, and knew them as thor.
oaghly as good housewife kuows the con-
Germs of her household. He held the Repu b.
| lcau party in the State in tue hollow OF his
hand, as iG were. Neither honor nor emo
fumeut could come to any member of ik save
through him, and there has seldom been a
| man in the country who welded 80 much
direct power with euch conscious satisfac.
tion. Recently there was q revolt againat