The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-12-10
.PUr ONLY TRUE MEN ON GUARD

The Springfield Republican says
"Oliver u. Morton was what kept In
diana so long on the Republican side"
IL is the almost unconscious but all the
more notable tribute of persistent
critic aud assailant. The Republican
and other over-nice independents"
and parlor politicians Of its school in
sisted for wears that Morton and such
as he should be dethroned. Yet it
now owns that il was he who held In-
diana TO the faith-in other words,
that il he had been dethroned, Indi-
ana would have been lost, as II has
been since his death.
The assertion is not overdrawn, and
il is full of suggestion. Senator Nor
ton was not the ideal statesman; but
he had high qualities of leadership
/ He had grit aud pluck and will. He
was a master OF men. He went into a
battle with the earnestness. the cour-
/ age and the enthusiasm which inspire
a similar spirit in the whole army
While the apostles Of mush and milk
were criticizing him as not up TO their
refined and exquisite standard Of sweet
/ imbecility, the people could feel the
/ tough gristle and muscle of his politi-
cal fibre. The virile vigor of such a
positive character and such intellectual
/ force is what they admire. IL is what,
with principle behind 1t, vitalizes and
eneTgizes party organization. Pretty
sentimentality is very we'll in its way,
but masculine leadership is worth a
great deal more in a sharp struggle.
We insist as strongly as anybody
| that the Mortons must move with pub
| lie sentiment. We believe that pOliti-
cal leaders and political organizations.
10 maintain enduring success, must re-
spond to the best popular impulses .-
We are not putting political muscular
ity, II we may so call IL, above right
inspirations aud purposes; but we are
insisting that the right purposes, in or
der TO realize practical results, should
be embodied in the leadership which
has the power to enforce them. II is
true that Oliver r. Morton, by his po-
litical genius and intrepidity, kept
Indiana so long on the Republican
side" and the truth is n volume
against striking down such men, aud
has lesson OF local application to our
own State politics as well as TO the
management of our own State and To-
cal politics.
The Republicans Of the nation and
State are fortunate in having for their
leader that sagacious and fearless
statesman, Hon. Zachariah Chandler,
10 preside over their political affairs. -
To him is largely due the grand victo-
ry which has just been achieved in our
own State of Michigan victory sec
ond only in importance TO the great
Republican victory achieved on the 5th
Of November in the Empire State,
thanks TO the labor of such stalwart
Republicans as Roscoe ConkliDg and
the live and spirited addresses aud ed
itorials of the local leaders and press
of our glorious party. Mr.. Chandler
watched the campaign throughout the
State with the same care and verile
energy that he watched the conduct of
the war of the rebellion till il closed
at Appomattox G. III. in 1865. Under
Chandler's leadership a glorious ns-
tional victory awaits the Republican
hosts in 1880, a repetition of the grand
State victory won in Michigan on the
5th day of November. i Allegan Jour.