The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-11
BIOGRAPHY OF MORTON
MIR. FoULKE1s BOOK ONE THAT AN-
swERs EVERY REQUIREMENT.
An Abstract That Gives Some idea OF
pOrtant Period of History.

Copious extracts from advance sheets OF
William Dudley Foulkes Life Of Oliver p.
Morton have already appeared in the Jour
nal, but such detached portions. Of interest
though they are, hardly serve to give an
idea of the scope and character of the work.
The two handsome volumes now issued cons
plete from the Bowen-Merrill press afford
the opportunity TO estimate it as a whole,
and it is not too much to say that a care
full reading compels the opinion that the
work must take rank among great biogra-
plies, not only because of the distinguished
parsonage who is it's theme and the infiu-
ence of his life upon the history of his
time, but for the style in which the matter
is presented. The story is not a mere dry
chronicle of the events of Mortons life. The
author has his material so we'll In hand
and his literary skill and judgment are
Of such sort that he has been able to
produce a narrative which flows along In
limpid smoothness and with an ease that
would make the reading pleasure even f
the incidents related were less dramatic and
unusual than they are. He has the instinct
that comprehends literary values, and the
directness and simplicity of expression that
conceal art and effort and belong only to
intellectual qualities and grasp of the
intricacies of Indiana politics Mr.. Foulke
was admirably equipped for the work he
undertook. There has been need of life
Of the war Governor and it is fortunate
that so great a subject fell into the hands
of one so well fitted to deal with 1t. No
history or biography is, of course, free from
the individuality of the writer, since no two
men can view the same events from the
same point Of view, but this biographer
has exercised such restraint that he does
not consciously express himself but simply
tells the tale as it appears 10 him. 1t is Nor
ton who is in evidence throughout. At the
same time reading between the lines dis
closes the fact that the writer has a warm
admiration, and even an enthusiasm for the
subject Of his annals. This was hardly to be
expected owing to the fact that Mr.. Foulke's
own political theories and methods are. for
the most part, Numerically opposed to
those through which Morton gained his ends
One so free from personal bias, and at the
same time so we'll informed concerning hia
theme, could hardly have been found. how
ever. Mr.. Foulke was not identified with
any Of the factions which made political
life in Indiana so exciting between 1855 and
1875, and he has the advantage OF
having heard all sides of the story,
and of being an observer of at
least part of the events narrated
without being an active participator in
them Many men yet alive who were
in the political field with Morton, and so
bitter were the animosties OF that time that
1t Is more than probable that certain chap
tiers will be criticised by these old-time op-
ponents and the biographer called to ac-
count This is an inevitable result where
the narrative concerns man of such force
full nature and is rather to be encouraged
since it brings out all the truth.
HIS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
TTNI.s- - sr1
umes of some five hundred paseg EACH
titled, respectively, Morton the Governor
and Morton the Senator" There is no
preface-the table of contents and the in
dex are both comprehensive. The book
| opens with description of Wayne county
| and of Salisbury, its county seat, a little
| town which rose and disappeared during the
| first part of the present century. The au-
| thor describes the pioneer population and
| primitive life in this community ut the time
when Oliver Hazard Perry Throck Morton
| (for thus the name stands in the family reg
| ister) was born. A sketch of The family
| genealogy follows, and an account of Nor
| toms early life; of the death CT his mother;
| of his childhood at Springdale, o.; his edu-
| cation at Hoshours Wayne County Sem
| mary in Centerville; of his experience as an
| apothecarys clerk and as a cub halter"
| while apprenticed to his brother to learn
| the trade; of his two years ut Miami Uni
versity in oxford, o.; of his marriage 10
Lucinda NJ Burbank and Of his study and
| practice of the law at Centerville.
| In 1852 he was elected judge of the Circuit
! Court, remaining on the bench, however,
| only a few months until the new ConStitu-
| ton of Indiana went into effect. Now oc-
| CURED a remarkable episode in his history.
| He felt his shortcomings il the lack of a
| thorough legal training His only profess
| sional educat ton, before he commenced to
| practice, had been few months study in
| the law office of Mr.. Newman. This was
not enough He was about thirty years of
| 10 haH ma riadf moi
| years. He had been engaged in active prac-
| tice for a considerable time, and had served
| as circuit judge, yet he determined to go to
| the Cincinnati law school before resuming
| his practice at the bar 1t required some
courage to do this yet. he knew that he
needed the training. and that was enough.
| He remained at Cincinnati during the win
| ter term of six months. While in that city
| he shared an apartment in a boarding house
with AIurat Halstead. afterwards editor OF
| the Cincinnati Commercial.
| The general methods of law practice IN
| Centerville are next described, as we'll as
| Norton own habits and characteristics as
| a lawyer and an account of many of the
suits in which he took part.
The next chapter is devoted to Mortons
| early political life. It thus begins: I'm 1874.
| on the day of the presidential election, a
| head. dark eyes and straight hair. rather
! overgrown In appearance and with clothes
| that fitted him none too well, rode into
! Centerville upon a gray horse despatched
with mud. 1t was OBJ Morton, then a STU
dent at Miami University, who had come
away. to cast his first ballot. He dis
mounted went to the polls and voted for
James K. Polk, the candidate of the Demo-
| cratic party"
Morton's political principles had been in-
herited; his father had been a Democrat,
| and for a long time he was conservative
| member Of that party. He was a friend or
} territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT. strong be-
lever in our manifest destiny" an advo-
| cate Of the annexation OF Texas. He had
| not yet become aroused to u sense OF tbs
| wickedness of slavery.
LEFT HIS PARTY.
The fourth chapter of the book relates
the circumstances under which Morton left
the Democratic party in 1854 at the tina
Of the passage Of the Kansas-Nebraska bill.
Morton hoped that his party in Indiana
might be kept from an explicit endorsements
of the Kansas-Nebraska bin. but he made
| up his mind that he would oppose that
| measure, even if he had to leave the or
ganization. He was much troubled over
the matter. He went to Indianapolis and
| demonstrated with Jesse D. Bright and with
] JOS r. Mcdonald but he could do nothing
| to stay the movement in favor Of the bill
| in the state convention
The organization of the so-called ''Peo-
/ pies party in Indiana followed; an or
| ganization which was called by the Demo-
Gratis. in derison "the Abolition, Free-soil,