The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1877-11-08
The PEOPLE and Senator Morton's Death.

Since the assassination of President
Lincoln. the death of no public man IN
this country has produced so profound
an impression as that of Senator hor-
ton. Coming into public lite with the
birth of the Republican party, he had
been more intimately connected with
distinctive Republican measures and
policy than any other of the party
leaders. He had fought so many party
battles and had so often won, that the
voters of the party gave him with
their fealty large measure OF pure
affection. His prominence was the
prominence of a man of principle, and
love for certain well defined princi-
pies made thousands of men not only
his partisans, but his warm friends.
He had that quality of leadership that
made his associates and rivals his per-
sonal friends. To ali the members of
the Republican party, rank and file,
his death comes as heavy blow, car
rying with il the consciousness, almo t,
OF loss of strength.
To the Republicans of the South, for
whom his strong words accomplished
SO much, and who have relied so much
on his guidance, Senator Morton's
death will seem calamitous. To the
colored people and to the white Re-
publicans of the South, the full sig
nificance of his work was most appar-
ent, and to them his death comes as
the fall of an army commander III the
midst of battle.
To the soldiers of the war for the
Union Mr.. Morton seemed like spe
cial guardian. They all knew of the
difficulties he overcame, and of how
well he realized the trials and hard
ships of army life. and of how he an
ticipated the demands that were made
upon HIM. He was near 10 the soldier
because, more than any other State
Executive, he realized what the sol
diers were called upon to bear, and
had keener appreciation OF condi-
lions and circumstances. Among no
class of men will his death create a
profounder feeling than among the
survivors of the war.
The public men who met him in
council in times when good counsel
ors were rare, and In debate when de-
bate involved most vital issues, have
The highest appreciation of his cour-
age. his wisdom aud his power. Those
who were with him realize more
keenly than the people at large the
break his death makes in their ranks;
and to those who were against him,
bearing record of his greatness in
their numerous defeats, realize how
much he did for country while fight
ing so well the battles of his party and
see how lily he could be spared.
To the people at large Mr.. Morton
was not partisan, but a statesman.
They all knew what the man had
planned to accomplish, and what he
had accomplished. He was to Ameri-
cans common property, like Clay and
Webster; like Lincoln and Sumner.
And as they grieved over the death of
Lincoln and Sumner. so they will |
grieve over the death of Morton. AZ |
people were familiar with the incl |
dents of his active career, so have |
they been made familiar with his sick |
room life. They have lowered about |
him in thought for many months, their |
hopes rising with the hopes of his |
family or falling with their despon-
dency and fears. And it is not too |
much to say that the thoughts of the |
whole people are with the stricken
family now. every one realizing how
much the have lost, and sharing with
them their grief aud sorrow.-Inter-
Ocean