The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-16


dianapohs, Oliver T. Morton (son of the late
Governor), Mrs John NJ Morton of San Fran
cisco and two children, Mrs. John S Newman,
city; in No. 3, Mrs. Conrad Baker and daughter,
Mrs. A. G. Porter and Miss Porter in No 1,
Mrs. II. II. Shoemaker and Mrs H. j. Miller,
Richmond, and Miss Josephine Gill city, tall
nieces of Mrs Morton), Col. w r. Holloway,
Gov. Burbank, Charles Burbank, Decatur Neb.,
and Edward Holloway, the last two nephews Of
the Senator. Walter $ Morton the second son
of the Senator, now a civil engineer at St Paul,
6linn., was unable to be present on account of
the illness of his partner
REV. DIR. DAYS INVOCATION
The exercises We're opened with prayer by Rev.
Henry Day, D. D., of this city.
Our Father who art in Heaven our God our
| fathers God, and the God of the nations we
bless Thee that in caring for race and in the
fullness of time, Thou didst open this fair land
10 the civilized world; that Thou didst establish
here people gathered from all lands. and give
to 1t institutions of civil and religious liberty;
that Thou hast caused Thy sun to shine, and the
soft rain to fall upon the land. and so hast given
abundant harvests that Thou hast already made
OF us Il nation strong and prosperous and happy.
We thank Thee that when monstrous evils have
taken root and grown up around us appalling
the stOutest hearts and threatening the national
life, Thou hast rooted them out and destroyed
them. When war has risen up against us. in
that have we been confident for even then hast
Thou raised us up defenders-men from the
people and of the people true and strong and
falthful-through whom Thou hast brought de-
lveIance. We thank Thee for the grand ambi-
tons and pure aims of these our military and
moral heroes. We thank Thee, to-day, especially
for the life and labors of him whose services We
are met to commemorate-for words of lofty i'm
port which he spoke, and for the lofty patriotism
which gave those words their power. We thank
Thee for the good wrought through him for our
COmmonwealth-fOr the higher self respect
awakened at home, and the higher regard
commanded abroad. We thank Thee for the
great good wrought through him for the republic
And now and here, gathered to review his
life and recount his laboIs, we crave Thy spe-
clal blessing. We pray for her, the companion
of his life. the sharer of his joys and his sor-
rows. Thou hast already appointed to her
months and years of loneliness, and weariness
and such hast Thou yet in store for her In
them all be Thou her comforter We pray for
the sons who bear his name and revere his mem
ory. May they rpen into the noblest manhood,
and in strength and integrity, and high purpose
be ready for every service. We pray for our
State and our country. Bless the President and
his advisers, the Congress now assembled, the
Governors of the several States, our judges, and
all in authority. May they be God-fearing men,
pure, and WISE and unselish May they guide
the nation with discretion. May they know how
to uproot els still remaining in our midst
Bless the enire lama. Bless every class and con-
dition of our people Lift all and enlighten,
and purify. Let the people praise Tihee Yea,
let all the people praise Thee. Let this, for ages
to come, be Emmanuels land a mountain of
holiness. We ask it all in the name of Christ,
our Lord. Amen"
GOVERNOR PORTER's ADDRESS.
Governor Porter then came forward and spoke
as follows:
Why have we met to-day to unveil statuel
There is something here now that is better to
preserve great mans memory than any statue
grateful, loving human hearts The true
statue for the dead is here; the bronze one across
the way is for the living. that they may seem to
bring back the dead by making his image dwell
among us.
A column more enduring than the statue
which shall be unveiled has already been reared
to Morton in history His deeds built it there.
The four corner stones upon which it is laid are
equal rights to all men. free ballot to all men,
an elementary education without charge for all
men, the indissOlube union of these States.
Upon these four corner stones the column will
firmly rest, erect and mperishable
The breaking out of great civil waI-the
mighty contest that ragged until its close: the re
establishment of the Union upon a sounder basis
of justice and liherty-these furnished Morton a
theater for the display of his great and varied
abilities. On that theater he acted his part sue
cesSfully and glOriously From his point of OBJ
servaton he took in at the outset the full mag
nitude of the contest, and, upon the condition
simply that duty should be done, he foresaw the
end of the struggle from the beginning.
His endowments were great A high and un-
c0nquerable will; an ineXtinguishable thirst for
knowledge; mind of large capacity and an ar
row-like drectneSs, that when important
question was presented seized, as by an over
mastering instinct the strong and sovereign
idea: and a combined sweep and keenness of
vision That, when any great thing was to be done,
made him perceive every instrument, great and
small, 10y which it could be accomplished
To another, in whose endeared and familiar
&c T,J,
anians are fond and proud the grateful task has
been assigned to unfold the life of the deceased
Governor and senator to open all its shining
pages, and to fill up, with faithful and loving
touches, picture whose grand outline is en-
graved upon the memory of all the people
Governor Norton in 1865, while holding the
office Of Governor, went abroad with the hope
sadly the vain hope-of restoring his broken
health. Upon that occasion he dcvolved the
duties of his Office upon the Lieutenant governor
his confidential and bosom friend. Conrad Baker
He returned to find every duty had been per
formed not less well than if performed by him
self. Governor Baker has also been president
from the beginning, of the Morton Monumental
Association. | know that | shall reflect the feel
ing of this great audience when | move that
Governor Baker be appointed TO preside over
TINS meeting.
GOVERNOR BAKERS ADDRESS.
The Governor called for rising vote, the i'm
mense audience standing. with cheers as Gov
ernor Baker assumed the chair and spoke as fol.
lows:
| shall not attempt to address you on this oc-
casion. as the length of the programme forhids.
wish, however to make two remarks and one
suggestion In his lifetime | esteemed Senator
Morton, the ablest, the wisest. the most cour-
ageous, and the most successful statesman that
Indiana has produced Applause The lapse
of time has strengthened this opinion This is
spoken in the monument the people have erected
to his memory. have "A suggestion to make in
reference to that monument This meeting as
nearly reflects and declares the voice of the don
ors of that statue as any which hereafter may be
assembled: think action should be taken here
to-day which will provide that this monument
through the Governor. shall be given TO the
State when the next General Assembly con-
venes: ard that such legislation be had as will
protect i; as the most valuable property of the