The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-11-05
Very Fair Estimates Of Senator
MOFtOn's Character.

Springfield Republlein
Senator Morton was one Of the most
remarkable men who have figured In our
politics during the last twenty-five years.
To almost Websterian power OF state.
meul and force he Joined remarkable
will and energy. With these we're com.
bined lack Of strong moral conyic-
tioBs, great aCnteness in interpreting
popular feeling, and rare skill in shifting
positions to keep in sympathy with itS
charges. To man with these qualities
the eras Of the war and reconstruction Of.
ieFed the opportunity Of his life, and he
Was not slow 10 improve it. His power In
national politics reached lie elimination
in the Grant era, and during the expires
idenIS second term be was the practical
leader Of his party. There Is dramat-
ic fitness In the death Of Senator Morton
at this time. No other event could 40
powerfully emphasize the passing away
Of the old dispensalion in national poll
tics and the inauguration Of new. Had
he lived he would Of course have striyen
hard TO retain his prominence by recog-
mixing, indorsing, and trying 10 voice the
new demands oil The people, but the con-
trnst with his record would have been too
sharp to permit either his personal sue
cess or his effective assistance. Had he
been allowed to choose the time Of his
death he couldhavs hardly chosen hap
pier time than the close OF the stormy
epoch which he symboliEed and the ini-
tiation Of the quieter era which brings
new issues that he could not comprehend
and new duties which he was not fitted 10
perform"
New York san.
"We cannot fsy that Mr.. Morton was a
sISte'msn He was cunning, wary, and
interruptions, n politician Of wonderful
fertility and snCcesJ but those large
views and firmly held principles which
are indispensable TO the higher type Of
public men we're not his. He aimed al
Ways at the advantage Of the moment,
and was just "a ready to gain his ends by
means which \ high conscientiousness
would reject by any others. That a
thing was tricky or immoral did not
make 1t odious in his eyes, provided Il
could be made useful in politics. YET
he was patriot. He loved his country
sincerely. Every fibre in his nature was
American, even when he resorled 10
doubtful measures. The good Of his
country, he really believed, could only be
promoted by the success OF the party to
which lie was devoted, and while he was
carried away BY the intensity Of his
party feeling into regions and into &C.
tions where a man Of nobler nature would
not consent 10 20, there was yet such an
Astounding force In his mind, and such a
frank demagogism in his conduct, that be
commanded u certain kind Of respect,
even from those who condemned him.
We add, also, to his credit in these times,
that he was not avaricious or veual, and
did not get rich through the use Of poIit.
ical power. Personally he was generous,
agreeable in social intercourse, and dem.
ocratic in tastes and manners. A public
spirited citizen and a faithful friend, be
was vel! loved and we'll hated, and few
conspicuous men OF our time have pos,
sessed at once more Of the weakness and
the excellence Of humanity than Oliver
z. Morton"