The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1877-11-07
Cone.

where the grim monster death has levied
his claim, knows we'll the dreaded sound
he is gone, aud as with the home circle, SC
with nation when one Of its brightss,
lights ceases to burn, and silence and
gloom prevail in its stead.
Prominence, renown, wealth and all thai
goes to make up worldly comfort make
death no easier when the final struggle
comes, nor does the end of the life of one
individual Of itself, merit more considera-
ton than that Of another. Bat some men
are missed more than others, and when
men have made themselves great; great in
the achievements and acq uirements thai
are only attained through culture, labor
and devotion to principle; great in deeds
that SAVIOR Of and arc based upon the broad
foundation that humanity can alone stand
and thrive upon; great in the public arena
where the brain and the word-wisc, un.
sheath the weapons of an educated power
to WELD them in the battle for national
principle, and a nations maintenance and
honor; great through merit, self effort
ar d skill, and not through circumstances
that often elevate feeble minds to positions
of prominence. When such men answer
the final call and yielding to the inevitible
fall from the sphere marked by their bril-.
liancy, the wife. the son, the daughter are
not alone in the sorrow; the millions of
the land who have learned to listen, to
read and to feel his words, join in the grief
and mourn him as Que Of the peoples
household, gone.
Not only is this feeble tribute, but more
,hun our weak pen can indite, due to
tae memory of Senator Oliver P.
Morton. 1t almost seems like
treading upon forbidden ground to at
tempt anything beyond the usual obituary
notice, for though no man worshipper, we
have felt the power of this man in the clear
COuNAuCIuS, oAN oAouo"SAAO'S soy y'AS',
that have become part OF, and imDeldcd
in the law Of tile land. We all of Us in our
first formation of party affiliations receive
our impressions from the Ideas advanced
by the intelligent press, and by mn OF
whose educati III and fitness ave
placed them in position Of statesmen and
leaders; none Of Us like to own that we
are led by any one; 1t is human nature I"
want to be considered independent, and
Ihe trainers of our own theories, but such
Is not the tact as to Questions Of state and
national p"lity. Arrogance and foolish
self conceit keeps the egolist from telling
where he obtained MS ideas, if asked, he
replies from reason. TAe 1alsity Of tili,
Is too patent to lead to argument by the
frank aud sensible. Some men were DJrl
to lead, and others to follow. The deceas.
ed Senator became leader from tue first
political battle he fou ht. True to his
convictions, though not always successful,
his tirmness ~ the principles he believed
to b. the true ones, gradually raised him
from the confidence of his own county and
State pe ,pIc to be the nowledged lead
er OF the Republican party with which he
identified himself in its infancy. Nci-
ther WAS his peculiar power and in.
tluence confined to the party that
claimed him as their cham
pion; the evil doers of other organi,
cations feared him, and his positive unin-
timidated nature made him deadly enc
mics among those, whose unholy ambition
and false, delusive theories, he checked
and exposed. Villitication, slander and
abuse of every nature in their power was
bestowed upon him, but he was as imm w
able as the rock bound coast that sends
back the maddened waves torn by thei!
own molten.
Yes! the Webster of his day, the orato,
of the Senate, one Of the brightest lights
Of the nineteenth century, the self-made
star of intellect aud power has gone
at the beck Of the King of Terrors. and
great nation mourns his loss. His biog
raphy. is sketched in The Inter Oce (which
says in brief THAT he was born in
Wayne county Indiana, Aug. 4th, 1898,
entered at 10 years OF age Miami Universi
~, at Oxford, Ohio, where he graduated
at the age of 20, and commenced the study
of law with John 5. Newman, at Center
vile, Ind. was admitted TO the bar in l8 10
In 1852 was elected Circuit Judge, but re-
signed at the end Of year and resumed
practice; up to 1854 he had been demo
crat bu, entering political life in 1856 anc
rn the repeal of the Missouri compromise
he became Republican; at the Pittsburs
convention in 1856 he was one ofthe three
delegates from Indiana This convention
was the forerunGcr Of the Philadelphia
convention that nominated John q. Ere
mont for President The same year the
first Republican convention was held III
Indiana, that nominated Mr.. Morton foI
Governor, he was defeated but the brilliant
campaign lie then made, placed him a.
The leader In 1859 he run for Lieut.. Gov
ernor on the same ticket with Henr, s
Lane for Governor; both We're elected by
about 10000 majority. Lane Was upon
the assembling Of the Legislature elected
Senator, and Mr.. Morton became Governor
and as such Gov. Was the first to protfsr
troops 10 the amount of l0,00o to President
Lincoln. He was re-sleoted Governor in
1864. In 1856 after returning from Europe
he canvassed Indiana upon the Senatorial
issue, and his first speech was circulated
to the number Of 3,0oO,00O copies. IN the