Year: 1874

We take the following extracts from
the great speech of Senator Morton, mad,
some ten days ago at Terre Haute, Indi
ana


SPIRIT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.


The Democratic party is out of power
and is struggling to regain it. 1t is the
opposition and attempts to seize upon
every popular discomfort, and to avail
itself of every local passion to iniure the
Republican party. 1t presents no policy
for the administration of the Government
and makes no attempt to preserve con
sistency. 1t feels at liberty to profess in
one locality what it denies in another,
and to take any position in one State to
strike the Republican party blow, with
out regard to the ground which it occu-
pies upon the same question in other
States. 1t does not hesitate to use any
weapon of assault, knowing that there is
little responsibility attached to those who
are struggling to gain power as compared
with those who are in possession of it
and who are responsible for its exercise.


As an illustration of this I may refer
to the fact that in the State of Maine the
Democratic party has just declared for
absolute free trade, and for raising the
revenue by direct taxation. In Pennsyl-
vania it declares in favor of protective
tariff, while in Indiana it affirms its be-
lief in revenue tariff, to be so. adjusted
and framed with such nice discrimina-
ton as to afford no protection for Ameri-
can industry.


On the temperance question the Dem
ocratic position is as varied as the cir
cumstances surrounding it in the differ
ent States and Territories; with this
qualification, however, that there is a
general leaning to the side of intemper-
ance. 1t may be said, generally, to go as
far in favor of the unrestrained traffic in
Intoxicating liquors as it can, not 10
wholly forfeit the respect and friendship
of those who are inclined to the side of
temperance. If the temperance men are
for prohibition, the Democracy are for a
license law, always striking lower and
making bid for the support of those
who traffic in Intoxicating iquoSs. If
the temperance men asked only for a
license law, there the Democracy would
put the license very low, or have no Ii
cense at all, still offering inducements for
the support of that class of men. What
ever measure may be proposed in any
State or Territory whereby to diminish
the evils of intemperance, for some rea-
son it is sure to come short of receiving
Democratic support; and they never fail
to find some excuse for opposing it, al
though they may deal in glittering gem
eralities in favor of temperance reform.
1t is to the general tendency and pro-
clivity of the Democratic party against
the temperance reform 10 which l call
attention.


SPIRIT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY


Resolutions against corruption are the
cheap clap-trap of parties. All parties
profess to be opposed to corruption, and
are ready enough to expose and prose
cute it in other parties. The true test of
an honest party is in its sself-examination,
and the exposure and punishment of
corruption in its own ranks, il its con-
tinued vigilance for self-purifcation in
doctrine and practice. Tried by this test
the Republican party is distinguished
above every other in the history of this
country. Nearly all that is known of
corruption in the Republican party has
been shown by its own dilligent selfex-
animation and the prompt exposure of
every official delinquent who has been
discovered Nobody believes that the
tive about corruption. In fact, when it
w
try and skill with which it covered up
the peculations of its own members.
Committees to investigate the official
conduct of its own members were so
rarely appointed by Democratic majori-
ties in Congress as not to be remembered.
The Democratic and Republican parties
seem to have proceeded upon different
principles for self-defense and preserva-
ton. The Democratic party sought to
protect itself against public opinion by
concealing the delinquencies of its mem
bers; while the Republican party has
proceeded upon the principle that self
examination and the exposure and pun
ishment of its delinquent members was
the best guarantee for its continuance in
power.


There are good and bad men in all
parties and in all human organizations;
and the bad men will ultimately corrupt
and take possession of all organizations
unless they are repressed, exposed and
brought to punishment. The detection
and exposure of the Credit Mobilier,
Sanborn, and District of Columbia trans
actions was the voluntary and earnest
work of the Republican party; and while
it may be shown here and there dis
eased member, yet it clearly reveals the
healthy tone, vigor and condition of the





mass.


The principles and constitution of the
Republican party put it naturally upon
the side of temperance as against intem-
perance, of freedom as against slavery, of
the people as against monopoly, of labor,
free schools, Intellectual and moral pro-
gress. 1t is a progressive party and
whenever it ceases to be so and becomes
conservative, then you may begin to talk
about its mission being performed. 1t is
qualified to grapple with every new issue
that is presented, has its face to the fu-
ture and holds that the work of reform
is its normal and necessary condition


For years to come the contest will be
between the Republican and Democratic
parties, and between them there is no
that is organized will be feeble and
ephemeral These parties represent diff
ferent ideas, tendencies and modes of
thought which are in irrepressible con-
fiict.


CIVIL RIGHTS


In the seventh resolution the Demo
cratic convention went upon its knees to
the prejudice against color and the
hatred of negroes. The bill which pass
ed the senate making provision for the
equal rights of negroes in the public
schools, supported by general taxation,
colleges, churches, hotels, railroads,
steamboats,, theaters and graveyards sup
ported at public expense, was made the
occasion for a special attack upon Sena-
tor Pratt and myself. 1t will be remem-
bered that the same men who passed
this resolution were the apologists of
slavery, and to the very last did every
thing in it's defense, except to fight.
They were opposed to its abolition, re-
z;.4cI A. oiyiI ri iUhtS of the nauro of