The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-11-01
MORTON DYING.

The great leader OF ultra radioallsm
ia sinking slowly into tho tomb. His
spirit takes It's departure together with
the spirit which has animated radical,
ism for u quarter Of century, aud
which has been 30 inyincible IN shaping
the policy Of the government and IN
controlling our deslinies, No man has
exercised larger influence in the re-
publican party than Senator Morton,
As the war governor of Indiana, he was
ono Of the most active and efficient men
OF those eventlul years When hsstatc
legislature had not provided funds to
sustain the state troops, Governor Nor.
ton did not hesitate TO sacrifice his own
private fortune, and that Of any OF h is
friends whom he could influence, TO
equip the troops, Indeed, so far M
mere money is concerned, the great
ultra chief Is without blemish, Like
Robespierre hereveled in the blood of
his foes, and left to meanor minds the
sordid considerations of gain
Governor Morton was true TO his
friends, but his enemies always found
him an active implacable foe, and one
that would scruplo at no plan, however
heartlessly cruel, if il won for his party
the coveted success. There was no
hesitation or compromise about him,
and when white ROBBED peace spread
her wings over the states lately at war,
Morton was miserable. The shouts of
the victor and the groans Of the vans
pushed were the sweetest music in his
ear When Mr.. Lincoln died Morton
more than any other, moulded the cruel
policy Of reconstruction, and military
rule in the conquered states. The dies
Ieated and disNrmed rebels were, to
him, still the active foes of his section,
and all his cry was no quarter and no
recognition. SO long rs the real
situation at the south could be
kept from the northern masses
Just solong did Senator Morton remain
the idolzed leader Of the ultra cohorts.
The physical man was half dead; not so
the cruel purpose to crush out the man.
hood OF the south, and 50 long as he
was able to mount the stump, or crawl
to his seat in the senate, 80 long did
his wing of the republican party retain
its vitality.
Senator Morton constitutes one of
those central figures in history round
which play an innumerable host of
lesser planets, receiving light and inns
pulse from him. He was strong enough
to tincture them in all things, save in
his purity of life and contempt for
money. When the great voting centers
of the middle states gave their voice for
y change of policy, liberation and
southern recognition, the great spirit
of Morton could not brook the
humiliation of reproof from those of
his own household of political faith,
and he gathered his mantle about his
head and sat down to mourn over the
returning reason Of his countrymen.
lie has lived out his days to all hu>
man perception, let us forget and forgive.
Let us rejoice not in the death of
Governor Morton, but in the sure decay
of those principles of which he was the
acknowledged exemplar. Let us re,
joice that the day has come when the
people of the two sections of our coun.
try own and acknowledge common
heritage, common allegiance and u
common responsibility in maintaining
the republic bequeathed to us by the
revolutionary fathers. Let the south
join the north in smoothing the down.
ward path to the tomb, of this most
bitter enemy and one of the most
remarkable men OF our day and country.