Year: 1871




The Com.ier-JournA reports the speech
of Senator Morton, of Indiana, in Louis
vile. last Friday evening. We copy the
concluding portion of the speech:


The Democratic party has good deal to
saw about the corruption of the Republican
party. / presume there are bad men in all
parties; there always have been and always
will be. | undertake to say we have as
pure an administration as we have had In
fifty wears. There is far less corruption
to-day in the government than there was
during the terms of Buchanan and Pierce,
although the operations of the government
are greatly extended. Whenever any ofh-
Ger of the government is discovered 10 De
corrupt he is promptly removed from ONCE.
When the Democratic party know, when IL
is in power, of great criminalItles IN an OH
cer instead of endeavOring TO PUNISH tHey
screen him. We might refer to the ciTy ny VI
New York, where the corruption OF lam
many Hall and of Democratic officers now
shock the sensibilities of the whole world


might inquire of you whether your own
State Is any exception to that mlsrule. L
an told your own city Is not. 1t does not
lie in the mouth of the Democratic party
to assail the Republican party upon this
subject. This nation is dong lts BEST 10
maintain a pure administration, and Its
great success in collecting the revenue and
in administering the laws, deserves great
credit. Two hundred and twenty-five mil
lions of the public debt have been paid off
since Grant came into power. The annual
interest has been reduced in the neighbOr-
hood of thirteen millions of dollars, and
the work of retrenchment and economy still
goes on. Since Grant came into Office we
have passed a bill repeating eighty-three
millions of taxes Applause.


General Grant has referred the question
of San Domingo to the people. 1t has been
urged by the Democratic party that the cor
ruption of the present administration was
in particular shown in this project OF an
nexation. What did the Democratic Con-
vention of Iowa say!


''Resolced, That the proposed annexation
of Dominican Republic meets with our
earnest opposition, partly on account OF the
character Of its mOngrel population and OF
their unfitness TO become American citizens,
but more especially on account of the cor
rupt modes in which that measure had its
inception and of the reprehensible means
by which it was sought to be consummated."


They did not like the people very well.
They had an objection to the corruptness
by which Grant is seeking to bring it about.
/ refer to these resolutions to show you that
the Democratic party, while abusing Grant
in the most extravagant terms, are them
selves in favor of it, and II we had the
Democratic administration it would be their
first great measure. They are very careful
not to commit themselves against the prin-
ciples of annexation. The Democratic
party in the Eastern States are in favor of
annexation, but in the Western States they
pretend to be against it. In the Eastern
States they are opposed to paper money
that is to say, TO the increase OF, paper
money, and they are in favor of a return to
specie payments, while in the Western
States the Democracy is in favor of new
issue of greenbacks, and opposed to re-
turn to specie payments, declaring that it
is an effort for the benefit of the bond
holder. / refer to this to show You that the
Democratic party is not acting together in
its objections to the Republican party,
either in regard to the tariff, the negro,
San Domingo, or in regard to the banks.
They have no views on those subjects that
we can respect.


They are v,ry much opposed to Grant,
and say a great deal about the appoint
ment of his relatives to office. l should
not think that would be very much of an
objection here, for Kentuckians, believe,
are said to be very fond of their kin. The
complaint is not that these men have not
performed their duties well. but merely
that theytare his relations. The American
people are chiefly interested in having the
duties of Office well performed.


When Grant came to fame and power, if
he had turned his back upon his poor rela
tives, and upon those who had stood by
him in prosperity, when they had nothing
to gain from him, | ask you if most men
and women of good sense would have
thought any more of him for it l think
not. 1t is in the mouth of every Democrat
for something more important to talk
about.


Now, my friends, have the Democratic
party anything to propose. They are seek
ing to turn us out of power, but what do
they propose to dol They don't know.
shall not go into any detail in regard to the
present administration any further than to
say that it is good administration. and
that we never had better. Prosperity
generally prevails.


l wish, feaow-citizens, that time would
have permitted me to have entered upon
the discussion of other subjects of great in
terest at this time, but time will not permit.
/ have already spoken longer than had in
tended. 1t would have pleased me very
much could have met General Harlan here
tonight. / understand that he is in a dis
tant part of the State doing noble work.
i congratulate you upon the evidences of
prosperity that | see around your city.
Kentucky has made more progress since the
war than ever before, and want you to get
clear of the influences of the resolutions of
'9S, and then you have got clear of the
Democratic party, the last of your shackles.


| thank you for your attention. Tire
mendous applause.