The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-11-06

cess upon the skill of Generals. All
this wss in Grants subsequent loes,
Morton had the common-senss genius VI
! Cromwell and Grant.
REVIEW OF Mr.. MoRToNs CAREER
| a man Of this positive sort, severe III
war, masculine IN pesce, content Win
politics, not often fishing for compliments
not afraid of Enthusiastically more
afraid of ink-snd successful, powerful
and unyielding in time OF great excite
ment and revolution, leaves distict I'M
preston behind him. HIS admirers cay:
1.-THE greatest is gone; it is now the age
of little menu His enemies say: zine
worst is gone; the enemy died too late
But the general reader, una;quslntea
with the passions OF the times, must
needs say: He was a great politician
and leader, in line with what was ac-
complished in his era. HIS own state
was saved from invasion or want OF fortl-
tude, and, animated by his boldnesa,
chose her ground and locked on danger
with organization. The whole society
was distinguished which sided with Nor
ton. The course he opposed would have
overwhelmed Indiana and made another
Missouri or Arkansas of her"
CONTROLLING PRESIDENTS.
Not only this but the influence which
is greatest, next to warlike power, is
control over Presidents Morton was
the most influential man we had over
range of Presidents, comprehendlng the
whole life of the Republican party. HIS
policy was TO keep each President In
with the party and not drive them apart
He was only thirty eight years old when
Lincoln was elected; he was only fifty
four when Hayes came in. Even John
soL he gave up reluctantly. Morton,
therefore, must be enrolled among steady
men who did not quarrel against history.
1t is saving that the minority makes the
history, but that is only in average times.
In great periods there is only majority
and the enemy.
PARTY FIDELITY.
1t is In his favor that in such period
he was a Jealous party man. He worked
his way to the head of only thnt one
party by giving the other no aid nor
comfort. he was four years lighting
the Democracy to make the Republican
win, and and was no, foolish enough to
turn upon his own organization tor its
peccadillos. He had sense enough TO
know that all such organizations are hu-
man, and that changing about Is not re
form. He opposed ali kinds OF political
tlnkering, whether they came in the way
Of Civil Service reform or Electoral
Commission bills, or snObberY or resent
neut. To MIN the party had two ends
the people who voted its ticket and the
President who dispensed its patronsg
Andrew Jacks N he bellevei l.
be the best President until his owr
party came IN, and one of his MESA. es
TO the Legislature included the whole OF
Jacksou's message 10 the nulIitierS.
HIS JEALOUSY.
Mr.. Morton was duly jealous OF his
equals. His equals were Lincoln, Chase,
Douglas, Grant Hendricks, Trumbuli,
Blaine and Conkling. He was an aspir-
mt for the Presidency from 1852 on ward
and when be wanted anything OF that
great measure he lost no opportuni,it,
Since he was loyal to the successful ~
petitors, it was not offensive to aspire.
He would have made sitter President
in the second term than Lincoln, and
given JOhnson's last term some policy.
He was responsible for few OF Grants
mistakes but defended him, right or
wrong; and although he had hand in
the general order business OF New York
Morton COMPLAINED to Colonel Stocking
of the annoyance IL caused him. he
WAS the Western bulwark Of Grants
eight wears Morton believed in some
patronage as due TO him and useful pO-
ht!c4liy, but he could not ask for very
much. as mis- State had only limited
share. His friends were not fswning
like those of the Cameron family. Most
OF them were blunt, youngish, military
chaps, his staff associates and Co!onels
when war Governor.
ASA DEBATER.
Asa debater in the Senate Morton
instincts were often better than his knowl
edge. His reading Was good, not univer-
sal, and he was no match for Carl SChdrz
or Sumner in mere examining. But the
points OF policy be defended, even when
he differed with the President, were
based on sagacious knowledge of the
peoples wishes. He took stand for 8
time against contraction OF the currency.
Right or wrong, be felt that TO be In
dlanas desire Suppose it was judicious
as fiscal proposition, certainly 1t was
defcnsible as party alternative, II that
party was worth preserving. In like
manner be defended the acquisition OF
Ssnto Domingo, as grants idea, thing
of no consequence either way, but made
use OF by disappointed political rats to
air their rhetoric and references. In
short, Mr.. Morton believed that, having
a great party, collected together by labor,
with great traditions of victory, AND
comprising much Intelligence and phil
autrophy, that it was unWlse to disband
it Tor any passing differences. "Stoop y
little to the people who have trusted
you; their necessities are to be consid
cred" This was his policy.
his RADICALISM.
On the Southern question Morton held
that the primal idea of the Republican
party was opposition. to slavery; emsn-
cips,ion was its great achievement; dis
UNION its great antagonist. He held that
to let that combination at
the slave owner and the
disunionist monopoiLe the whole South
again-to do it by revolution if necessary
was fatal to the preservation OF his
party. And it is So. There is now no
party which represents the spirit of the
late coufct The traders and money.
lenders are all Indifferent now, or are
supporting the juvenile performance at
Washington, which itself drifts on to
hopeless insnity. We live in the period
of Richard Cromwell, the son of Oliver
and the next thing will be the Res
,oration. After that the Prince OF
Orangel
PRIVATE LIFE.
In his private lite Senator Morton was
the subject of much attack, the evidence
for which was never forthcoming. Many
other Senators, as Cameron and Csrpen-
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