Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-11-10
SENATOR MORTON.

Another of the statesmen of America
has been called to his long home, and bis
death is loss to the nation be served so
we'll. After many weeks of sickness
from the first, Oliver 7. Morton, a Sena-
tor from Indiana has met with the COM
mon lot Of man and now rests within the
narrow walls Of the tomb. Thus one by
one the great actors who took conspicu-
Gus parts in the great American drama Of
the rebellion, are summoned away and
live only in the memory Of their country
men. OF the eight eminent men who
were before the people in 1860 in connec-
ton with tine officers OF President and
Vice President but two-Johnson and
Hamlin- are left alive, and Of the many
others whom that election and the events
which succeeded it brought prominently
before the public gaze, the unsparing hand
of Death has claimed its full share.
Senator Morton was 50 years of age at
the time of his death, an age at which
many of those who have been OF our fa-
nous men were at the hight of their lives
of public usefulness. He was in all re-
spects leader of the Republican party,
whose principles of freedom he was one
OF the first to espouse. AS early as 1856,
twenty-on years ago, he was the candi-
date Of the Republican party for Govern
or of Indiana, but the party was then in
its infancy and he was defeated. -Four
years later he was chosen Lieutenant
Governor Of that State, and the election Of
| Lane TO the United States Senate elevated
him TO the position of Governor. 1t was
then that the executive abilities which
made his name a household word were
brought into play. He succeeded to the
Office Of Governor at the darkest period
of our country's history. The position Of
the people of Indiana was peculiar one.
Although Indiana was Free State, yet
large proportion Of her population were
in passive sympathy with the rebellion.
Indiana, like Illinois was settled in
great measure by the descendants ofthose
who had emigrated hither from Virginia,
Kentucky ard other slave holding com
munities. This was especially true fthe
Southern and central portion Of those
States. Secret organizations, in full
sympathy with the seeding States in their
attempted withdrawal from the Union
existed throughout the State and these
organizations .scrupled at nothing which
would hinder and delay the efforts of the
friends Of the Union. The finances of
the State were in bad condition and she
was lacking in the ''sinews of war; to or
ganize her soldiery to march to the de-
fence Of the Union. Morton showed him
self equal to the emergency. lie went to
New York and raised money to equip the
Indiana soldiers and throughout the war
he showed such degree ofability that he
earned the title OF the Great War Gov
ernor." To him and to John A. An
drew, Of Massachusetts, the nation of to-
day owes n debt Of gratitude. The great
physical exertions which Governor Nor
ton was compelled to pat forth laid the
foundations Of the disease to which he f.
naly yielded. He was re elected Gov
ernor in 1861, and was chosen one of the
United States Senators from Indiana in
1867, and again in 1873, the term OF office
for which he was chosen the last time ex-
,,iv IN a
before the people as n Presidential cand-
date last year, and but for his physical
condition might have had much strong
er following. He wNs emphatically
working officer, and cared little for honors
Of themselves, as was evidenced by his
pre!erring to retain his seat MS an Indiana
Senator rather than accept the Mission to
St. james.
Morton visited the Pacific Coast last
year as one of the Senatorial Committee
to investigate the Chinese problem. 1t
was on his return from this trip that he
was stricken down with the disease that
has carried him to the grave. In Oliver
2. Morton the Republican party and the
nation has sustained an irreparable loss
Whatever diherer ce Of opinion men may
have held with him, none could question
the honesty Of his convictions, or the pu-
rity OF his motives. In his death Indiana
has lost her ablest statesman, none within
her borders can compare with him in
those qualities Of mind and heart which
he possessed to such an eminent degree.