The times., 1899-11-24
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER "A. 1899.
The Fight AenIn.t senator Morgan


Nothing in The recent history of Amer
ican political movement has been any
thing like as amazing TO the country al
large as the present effort on the part of
local politicians in Alabama 10 prevent the
reelection OF the Hon. John T. Morgan TO
the United States Senate. People outside
OF his State in a position 10 judge Of such
matters have grown to regard his position
in the confidence Of his people and legis-
lature as impregnable as was that Of Daniel
Webster in relation to the legislature and
people Of Massachusetts. That Alabama
would deliberately retire one who is ac-
knoWledged not only an honor 10 the Com
moDwealth he represents, but who is beyond
oaviI also The greatest Democrat in the
Senate. is something inconceiyabIe.
Senator Morgan is without a peer in the
body OF which he has been a member con
unuously since 1877, as al international
lawyer; and as a constitutional lawyer he is
to say the least without superior. True,
there is nothing OF the time-serving poll
iicisn about him. Ii a naughty world that
reeks with petty politics, corruption. and
demagogy. he stands forth pure in in
tegrity poor in purse, the beau ideal of
s man OF the people and an American
statesman. Religiously true 10 the faith
and practice OF jefferson and the fathers
be has shown himself q patriot before he is
a partisan. but wirhaI a strict and honest
Democrat. Not a word or sct Of his public
life can be cited 10 show that he has ever
deviated from the straight and narrow path
Of feslty 10 his party or its sacred and his
toric principles And it would be difficult
for Alabama or the whole South to produce
another public man from The section who
has so earnestly and successfully lsbored
TO advance its progress and prosperity.
For years Senator Morgan fought almost
unsided and against the combined power
and influence Of the transcontinental rail
ways. in advocacy Of an American 18th
mian canal between the Atlantic and Pa
cifc Oceans. Not only domestic but for
eign interests sowed his path with thorns.
The cause he espoused. which was the
cause Of Southern commercial expansion.
was antagonized by a great European pow
e. as bitterly as ii was by the railway in
fuence. But he kept on fighting and the
battle seems about TO be won. for the
American people are unanimous for the
Nicaragua Canal, the present prospect for
the construction Of which is mostly due to
his wise and untiTing efforts. Yet there is
10 be one more struggle in Congress before
the national project can be deemed safely
out Of the hands OF its enemies j IS IN
the hope that the sword and voice OF the
peoples leader in the contest may be absent
end silenced. that the opponents Of the
Nicaragua Canal are today believed TO be
secretly behind the most serious attack
upon the Alabama Senator among his own
home people.
Again. realizing the urgent need of ter
ritorisl expansion. II the American people
are to be supplied with new markets for
the absorption Of their ever multiplying
productions. and knowing also that the
future prosperity OF the South is bound
up in that policy, from the first Senator
Morgan has been q consistent expansion
ist, just as jefferson. Jackson, and Polk
were before him. To the Democratic doe
triDe OF bimetallism he has been and is
equally true, and is its most intelligent
and Fesourceful champion in Congress at
this time.
Honored by the whole country for his
sterling worth and exalted Craftsmanship.
and respected rather than loved by every
Cabinet IN the Old World, It now remains
for few local politicians in Alabama TO
attempt Senator Morgan's political assassi-
nation at a 5uncture where at once his
State, his section, and the nation need his
leadership and counsel more than at any
preceding time IN his career We sincerely
hope and trust that the unworthy design
viii fail as signsIly as it deserves TO.
Alabama can hll its seats ia the Senate
easily enough. but il viii not readily find
men like John Tyler Morgan for the pur-
pose.