The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-07

lie edifices.
Morton was master of invective, send
Ing the smart home to the mark with I'M
erring precision. 1t never halted on its pas
sage. was not tempted to linger by the
Wayside or 70 indulge in pleasant excur-
slons. HIS culver was always full and each
arrow. as it was shot was deadier than
the preceding one. To his honor be it said,
however, that he only used these instru-
ments of torture to expose a fraud, con-
denim wrong or punish an iniquity. There
IS no grander figure in our history than
Morton, paralyzed in body, but strong and
vigorous in mind. pleading for justice to
those who yesterday were slaves and de-
demanding the fullest recognition of their
political equality. How tawdry much of the
political speaking of to-day appears in COM
parison with the high seriousness with
which he addressed men, coerced their at
many of the questions in which he was most
deeply interested have been settled, the
majesty of his style still thrills US as does
the lofty verse of Milton and we read what
ne said not so much for information, per-
haps, as for uplift of soul Like Walter
Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and General
Grant, like all men who feel that they have
a message to deliver, q mission TO perform,
Morton'S soul seemed to exist apart from
and independent of his body to rise above
all earthly conditions and limitations and
though racked with pain and suffering, his
mind grew clearer and stronger and his last
utteranceS were marked by an increasing
mental vigor What higher proof of immor
tality could be furnished than this severance
of body and soul so that the spirit scars
THE INCONSISTENCY CHARGE
Morton has been charged with inconsist-
ency, but as Lowell says, only the foolish
and the dead are consistent. The conserva-
tive who knows no shadow of turning often
confuses in his narrowness and bigotry in
consistency with growth He cannot appre-
ciate the point of view of the man whose
ideas are modified and whose ideals change
as his horizon widens until he sees the
landscape from the mountain top instead of
from the plain. The mighty ones who have
lifted the race to higher levels of thought
and action have usually been grandly in
consistent. The lives of Gladstone and
Morton present a striking parallel in this,
that the great English stateman was born
a Tory of the Tories, son of slave owner,
faithful child of the Established Church and
died the most advanced Liberal of his gen.
GRAFTON, unhampered by custom or prece-
dent, champion of the suffering and OPP
pressed in India, or Egypt, or Armenia, or
wheresoever the strong bore down heavily
on the weak and helpless. Morton inherited
when he realized that to remain with his
party was to approve of the establishment
of slavery on the free soil of the territories
he refused to be longer bound by its de-
crees and allied himself with those who said
to the accursed thing, $50 far shalt thou
go and no farther" He was at first opposed
thinking his centuries of servitude required
a probationary period to qualify him for
citizenship, but when convinced that with
out the suffrage he would be at the mercy
of those who had held him in bondage and
who were little inclined to admit that he
had any rights which they We're bound to
ton. DEFINITIONS advance" he said, and
/ advance with - them thence Wnen ever
lie questions he did SO, because, as
he frankly stated, he had been educated
by events. 1t is the petty nature which
c1,Ix nIio 10 a q
out giving a thought to things as they
should be. Morton's Inconsistencies furnish
the true measure of his growing lnre nee.
lures. A giant, when he gets MS bearings
always strides.
PROPHETIC VISION.
Morton had propheuc insight-the large
vision which Eliminates the judgment en-
abling it to see things in their proper pro-
portions and relations. He never believed
that the war could end in ninety days or
that $4,000 men could suppress the rebellion.
He organized regiments in advance of any
call for their services so that they might
be ready for action when additional troops
were needed. He was among the first to
advocate woman suffrage, placing 1t upon
the ground that she had the inherent right
TO vote He anticipated the interstate-coIn-
merce law long before its enactment.
At this time when by the march Oh
events, by the trend or destiny, py the on
ward sweep Of GODS belfedeent and mgnty
purposes we are brought face to race with
wider duties and larger Responsibilities, now
significant are these WORDS OF M9rtoh'
spoken many years ago: MIR. president
The annexation of San Domingo Will come.
I prophecy here tonight 1t Will come. IL
may not come in the time OF General Graht
or in my time but l believe it is destined
to come, and with it, too, the annexation OF
Cuba and Porto Rico. Why, sir, this thing
was foreseen long ago. will refer to a Mas
nf
nearly fifty years ago with regard to the
propriety Of anneXing Cuba. CUBA IS not
before the Senate nor involved IN TINS con-
troversy But. sir San Domingo lies be-
tween Cuba and Porto Rico. San Domingo
is the key to the West Indies 1t contains
the finest harbor in the world
wish to refer to what Mr.. John Quincy
Adams said with reference to the acquisi-
ton of Cuba, to show his foresight and MS
philosophy AS long ago as 1873 ne used t ne ne
senator from Massachusetts: There are
laws of political as well as of physical gray
itation, and if an apole severed from us
native tree cannot choose but fall to the
ground Cuba disjoined from its own UNI
natural connection with Spain and lncapa-
towards the North American Union, which
by the same law of nature cannot cast 1t
from it's BOSOM Morton never doubted
that we had mission to perform among
the nations a beneficent and civilizing mis-
sion, which would bring within the reach
of others the privileges which we ourselves
thing transient and incidental and tenn
porary. He swept these aside as dr1ftWood,
and recognized in our manifest destiny
larger field for usefulness than the fathers
of the Republic had conceived. tie was not
a 'belfry patriot provincial statesman
Were he living to-day, whatever others
might do. he would not question the ability
of the American people to deal justly with
any territory that they might acquire ana
to govern it wisely. He had faith in the
probity and prudence in the persistence and
patriotism of the men who In l1l6 achleVed
our independence, and In their descendants
who counted it great gain TO ole II by SO
doing they might preserve the integrity OF
the Union and redeem race Ihe Tune
came when Morton believed in something
even beyond nationality; when ne grasped
the great truth of the brotherhood or man,
when his sympathieS We're so all-embrac1ng
that they included even the Chinese, and
with characteristic fearlesSnesS he pre-
scented minority report as MEMBER Oh the
Chinese commission, insisting that IN pa
tient industry, fidelity to contracts, general
honesty devotion to their parents venera-
ton of ancestors and love or nome tney eX-
celled most nations. de pfeGlcteu Iu I
when we came in closer touch WIN the
Orient all barriers would be broken down,
and China, feeling the impulse of our West
ern civilization, would enter upon new
life of varied activity ALREADY the
prophecy is being fulfilled, and the emma
which was content to slumber While other
nations progressed by leaps and bounds, is
welcoming new ideas and new loeals, ana
may vet take it's place among me great
world powers. Morton had a passion Tor
liberty, a consuming desire TO CONFER It's
dement's on distant lands and alien peoples.
HIS STERLING HONESTY.
He was an incorruptible man. OF the
vast sums of money which he handled rot
dollar chung to his fingers He returned to
the public treasury secret funds for the ex-