Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-02-01
COnkllng on Morton.

Mr.. President, in ancient times. those
nearest the dead spoke in their funerals
Fathers celebrated the bravery and achieve
ments of their sons. and the graces and vir-
tues of wives and of daughters were public
ly rected and extolled by those who loved
and mourned them most.
These customs have been banished by mod
erh civilization, or modern manners. Now,
the fondest lips are sealed, and the ashes
and the fame of the departed are no longer
committed tr those who would shield and
treasure them with the tender partiality of
bereaved affection.
1t is difficult to note change so great. in
a matter so deep-rooted in the hear Of man
so hallOwed aud mastered by instinct ard
innate emotion, without wonder that the
sane beings in different generations should
be moved to such different manifestations of
the same sentiment and the same sorrow
Death is natule's supreme adherence.
The dark valley, with its wierd and solemn
shadows, illumlned By the rays of Christ
ianily is still the ground which man shudders
to approach. The grim portals. and the
narrow house, seem IN tire iuI-= vi rvn,ur,o,
to have gained rather than lost in impre Ssiye
aud forboding horror.
1t must have been while musing over this
puzzlDg fact that an iliustrious American
gifted as & poet, and therefore gifted as a
philosopher-wrotc these graceful, memoir
able words
In the temple OF Juno, at Ills, Sleep and his
twin-brother, Death were represented as children
sing in the arms ~ Nj -ht. On variius funeral
monuments OF the anc;ent- the 6,nius of Desth is
sculptured beautiful youth, leaurg on an in
verted torch in the attitude Of r-pose his wings
ttl ian nd Ii fee rqrQs In nTh nj a nd
attractive forms did the INA -inatOu OF ancient
poets and sculptnrs represent death Ana these
were men in whose souls the religion Of Nature VAS
Ike the light Of siars, beautiful, but taiGt and
cold Strange, that in later days, this angel o.
God, which leads US with gentle hand into tee
land OF he great departed. INTO the lent LAND
should have b-en transformed into IL monstr0us and
terrific tLing Sucn II the spectral rider on the
white horse such is the ghastly skeleton with
the and hour-glas' the Reaper, whose name Is
Death.
Whether owing to the tendencies here
suggested, or to other promptiugS. the usage
of paying public tribute to those who have
gone, now admits to its privileges few who
stand in relations 50 close as brother Sena
tors.
When a member of the Senate, weary
with the toll nf wears, worn with labOrs
which observe no hours, long and har~hly
criticised, perhaps, when the truth, If
known, would have changed critics to culO-
gists, crowned with duties well done and
honors well earned-when such an ono,
beckoned by the shadowy hand. retires from
the din of life, aud the gates have closed be-
hind him forever, it is decorous that those
who are 50 soon to follow him should pause
and bear pahlc testimony OF the esteem IN
which they held him, and of the appreciation
which they know he deserved. Their utter
ances may not add euhit or an hour to his
fame, bnt they strengthen and brighten the
links of the chain which should bind men
and Senators together.
1t is not my purpose to repeat the story OF
a career which the nation knows by heart
The Senate has heard in feeling and |
graceful words many incidents O' lille de- |
voted To the public service, and enduringiy |
associated with events, grand, arduous, and |
historic.
| rose only to add my tribute Of respect !
and admiration for the genius and the ser
vice Of a remarkable man, and 10 unite with |
the people of Indiana IN the grief with |
which they mourn the death Of their illus |
trors Senator.
Asa party leader, he was too great for |
any party or any State readily to supply his
place.
As an efficient, vigilant and able repre-
sentative, he had no superior in either |
House of Congress.
Oppressed and crippled by bodily in
firmity, his mind never filtercd or Tagged. |
Despite pain and sickness, 50 long as he |
co1ld be carried to his seat he was never .
absent from the Senate or the committee. |
No labor discouraged him, no contingency |
appalled, him, no disadvantage dlSmaytd |
him, no defeat GiShcartcned HIM.
Those who encountered him in debate or
in affairs, will never forget his ability, his .
zeal, his industry, his energy, his fertility, |
his varied powers, or above all his indumit- !
able heart Living in an era oi extraor-
dinarv activities and forces, he has LETT /
deep and lasting impress on his times. lie 1
vii! 90 down 10 far hereafter, nut'aS one
who rmbclliohed and uerpetua,ed his name
by A studied and scholastic use OF words, /
nor as n herald of rc>oundinS theories, hut
rather as one who dav hy day on the journey /
of lie met actual affairs and realities and
grapplcd them with "A grasp too r"~outc and
uulck to loItcr for the ornament or the ad-
vantage of protracted and tranquil mcdin-
ton.
lie needs no cpitaph hat his name and
though brass may corTode, and marble
mouldcr, men will still remember Oliver
Perry Morton leading and manlul de
fender of the Repuhlic in the Republics
most dire and heroic age.
TuE DAIRynEN's MFETING There IL no
other gathering IN the StAte tnat begins tu
awaken the interest and enthusiasm among
the farmers that il always awakened 10y the
Dairy mems Association. We verify believe
il its meetings were appointed To be held IN
the remutest corner ut the State, with Ma
son aud BlISl to mike aud carry out the
programme, the FARMERS, dairymcn and diI-
rywomcn would fn1 their way To 1t by
" hatever conveyance happened, and have II
profitable meeting. There i no mi,tAkIng
the carncstnc~s aud the enthusiasm whIcn
the Dairymen's Association aruuses
throug hout the State and We believe no
small share oi the honor ot Its success Is due
to the presence and management Of ITS
President and Secretary. The meeting AT
Milton was no exception to the rule
Montpelier Argus.