New-York tribune., 1896-01-24
THE MORTON BOOM ~ OHIO.

didacy. to make Il bold ana vigorous dash at
the very centre Of the enemy For one thing, 1t
distracted attention from the operations OF
Messrs Sims and Anderson Of the colorcd troops
on the wings. Then. too. it was a demonstration
of confidence which could not fail to have con-
siderable effect. The Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette" to which Mr. Platt addressed his com
municaron setting forth with mulch eloqtience
the claims Of \cwYork to be heard in the Ma
tiona Convention. might naturally be supposed
to favor the Ohio candidate from local consid-
eratjons But il was so evidently impressed
with the force of Mr. Platt's arguments that II
did not hesitate TO say in the same issle IN
which his communication appeared that Levi
"P. Morton is indeed one Of the countrys great
"cst men," The fact that he is supported by
Mr. Platt who is "tho acknowledged leader OF
1.-The Republican party of his State and seldom
writes for publication" appears also TO have
had great weight For IT adds concerning Mr..
Platt: NO breath Of suspicion was ever drawn
against his party work. Hc has never had any
financial interest In party success. and the
tongue Of scandal has never wagscd against
"bim." AT first blush this does not seem to ac-
cord with the facts. But upon turning to the
communication signed by r. c. Plat in another
column. an explanation is offered which acquits
THE Commercial Gazette" of any purpose or
deliberate misrepresentation. For the picture
with which the communication is illustrated Is
not that of Mr. Thomas c. Plat. OF New-York,
but Of Senator Orve H. Platt. of Connecticut.
a somewhat different person. The editorial
comment undoubtedly refers to the picture. and
in that view is entirely true. II was no less
stroke of genius on the part OF Thomas e. l1att
to send with his communication the portrait Of
Senator Platt Of Connecticut. That also di-
yertcd attention.
Another thing which seems to have given ad-
ditional force to the Morton boom in ONO Is
a communcaton-w without por'rai-ot MI
William Barnes, Jr.. of Albany, who answers
with logical dirccincss and Il warmth that np-
proachcs enthusiasm the intlmations which nave
appeared in various quarters that Governor Nor
ton Is disqualified by his advanced age from
being candidate for President. Mr. Barnes,
as The Commercial Gazette very truly re-
marks, is "a grandson OF Thurlow Weed. who
"was one OF the greatest editors and most dis
"tinguished politicians of his day" 1t might
have added that Mr. Weed was the most con
spicuo,is advocatc Of the nomination Of another
great Ncw-York statesman To wit. William II.
ferring TO that circumstance. it goes on TO say
that Mr. Barnes gives promise Of all of the
great abilities of his grandfather" This is no
doubt true Indeed. it is safe 10 say that the
things Mr.. Barnes does not give promise Of
are hardly worth having. He has n brother no
less prodigal and perhaps a little more profuSe.
On the age question 10 which Mr.. Barnes bears
testimony The Commercial Gazette" says he
is most competent witness. and that his "opin-
ion is pointed and decisive for the reason that
he Is friend Of the Governor and since the
latter has occupied the Executive Mansion at
Albany has been thrown with him 81 much as
ITO he most capable of determining whether
cage should interfere with his nomination.
This statement. too, has the merit Of being ac-
curltc and precise Probably no man in the
State has been more constantly and continuous
IL thrown with the Governor than Mr. Will
lam Barnes jr His willingness Ia bc Thrown
with" him has furnished abundant evidence Of
his devotion not only to the Governor. but 20
the powerful acrobat who threw him. II may
be said. Of course. that after Mr. Dcpcw has
taken great pains OF many occasions and at
considerable length to dspcl the Illusion con
ccrnlng Governor MorionS great age, it was
hardly necessary for Mr. William Barnes IT,
10 come forward with corroboraiive testimony
II was not necessary. perhaps. here In New
York But il seems TO have been very useful
in Ohio
The Morton boom in Ohio seems to br making
satisfactory progress. though II il too early
to predict the absolute withdrawal of Mr. Nc
Kinlcv Of that State on account Of il. Mean
time we notice with pain a disposition on the
81 l..
Ncw-York sun which Is on terms Of conf
dental intimacy with Mr. Plat. to treat the
Morton boom with something like POPULARITY.
In an article which we reproduce from It's even
ing edition in another column that journal
speaks of the cncourag ging reports of the Morton
boom from the South though they were not
absolutely genuine. but grew out Of the fact
that many Southern Republicans confused our
own GovcrnAr Morton with the late Governor
Oliver l.. Morton. Of Indiana. This is carrying
playfulncss 10 the verge of irony and we can
not but regret that our contemporary should
give WAY to such indulgence There may he
reasons why Mr. Thomas &. Platt should aIorn
the PRONUNCIATION Of his views in Il distant State
with portrait of Senator Orvllc H. Platt, of
Connecticut. but II would be absurd 10 suppose
that he had sent those energetic campaigncrs
Mcssrs Sims and Anderson. through the South
to get votes for Governor Levi l.. Morton. Of
Ncw-York. Oh the strength Of the name AMI
fame Of Governor Oliver =. Morton. of Indiana
who has been dead several years. Our conicm-
porarys relations with Mr.. Plat ought TO deter
It from indulgng in frivolitics at his expense
This diversion. however is trivial The encour
aging circumstance is that Mr.. Plat and Mr.
William Barnes. jr. have together launched the
Morton boom successfully in Ohio right nm
der The face and eyes Of Mckinley and his
friends.
OFFICIAL RECORDS
There is something amazing in the llghtncss