The Indianapolis journal., 1894-11-05
THE GREAT GOVERNOR
ANNIVERSARY SERVICES in MEMORY
OF OLIVER p. MORTON.
Tribute by Ex-Secretary of State
John w. Foster to the Hon.
ored Indianfan.

Much solemnity pervaded the air
of the meeting. and this alone
prevented the hundreds Of veter-
ans from rewarding the eloquent
and patriotic periods of the several speak
ers with hand applause. The altar was
draped with flags and in front OF the large
pipe organ hung portrait of the late Gov
ernor, bordered in draperies of the national
colors. The church choir rendered patriotic
music in most effective way, the familiar
my Country, 'Tis of Thee and Nearer
My God. to Thee" being sung with eloquent
power. Rev. d. r. Lucas, chairman Of the
memorial committee of the Grand Army
of the Republic, under whose auspices these
services are yearly held, introduced Depart
men Commander Marsh as the presiding
Office The few words spoken by the COM
mander were replete with devotion to the
honored memory OF the soldiers great
friend. and aroused feeling that the veter-
ans expressed with tears and could hardly
prevent themselves from applauding to the
echo. Rev. DR.. Haines led in prayer. The
principal address was made by Hon. John
w. Foster. who had an intimate acquaint-
ance with Morton during the war and
til his death, during which period both
were in public life. The address Of Mr.. Fos-
ter was heard with deep attention. He had
among his auditors the widow Of the war
Governor and her son, who bears his
fathers surname. The Grand Army pests
present were the George III. Thomas, the
Sheridan, the Delaney, the George II. Chap
man and the Ruckle. There were also pres
ent Hon. 1. N. Walker, past senior vice
commander-in-chief, General Foster, w. A.
Ketcham, General Knefier and many other
Grand Army notables. The address was as
follows:
Comrades of the Grand Army and
F,riends-lt is great pleasure to me to be
afforded this public opportunity TO add
word TO the many eloquent addresses which
have been delivered before you the vari-
GUS occasions when you have gathered to
and fellow-ctizen, Oliver p. Morton. No
public man ever gave me more fully his
friendship and his confidence, and there
is none whose character capacity. motives
and ambition / have better understood. If
l should be called upon TO name the char
acteristic of his life which 1 should wish
most indelibly impressed upon your MEM
ory and upon the rising generation Of our
State / would say he was the ideal Indi-
gave to 1T his whole life, the best fruits
of his great intellect, his warm and gener-
Gus heart and his wondrous energy. 1t Is;
annually assemble in the capital to honor
his name, tenderly cherish his memory, and,
in more humble way, seek to follow his
State, In loyal subordination to the Nation
OF which 1t is a worthy member.
AN IDEAL INDIANIAN
"If the political experience and educa-
tion Of the present generation have not
strengthened in US the doctrine of State
rights we can safely and properly accept
and commend the practice OF State pride
1 believe in local attachments. The asso-
Citations which cluster around the home are
the dearest and the best. If we as Indi-
anians, have not in times past been as
conspicuous some of our neighbors for
our State pride 1t was not because we loved
Indiana less, but the Union more. And
now that we have. after terrible struggle,
passed the danger point Of secession, and
according to all human foresight, placed
our national Union beyond all peril, see
reason why should not all proper
occasions and with the vehemence of do
mestic loyalty exalt our State and boast
of it's achievements, its resources. its mer-
its and memories. Among these there are
none which constitute a nobler heritage
or awaken more enthusiastic pride than the
services and record of our public men.
Morton was our ideal Indlanian because
cessfully for its reputation and honor, and
for its permanent good, than any other
man. When he first became Its chief mag
that the reputation of our State was not
high at home or abroad. At that time the
Mexican war was fresh in the memory of
the people and we were smarting under the
damaging but unjust aspersions which were
cast upon our State soldiers in one of the
most heroic battles of that war. The Ma
ton, in a period not then remote, had
passed through financial crisis and sue
ceeding business depression which had
brought disastrous results to Indiana in
paralyzlng its great schemes OF public i'm
provements and in demoralizing it's public
credit, out. of which had come settle.
abroad as a forced and dishonest adjust
ment. The name Of Hoosier was too often
REGARDED as s,sH,tSh synH1nym 1or rustlcity, -
| all else. soon after Morton entered upon
| the duties or Governor, when the great re-
bellion broke upon the country and ne most
needed the hearty support of every citizen
| he found the State honeycombed with dis
| loyalty and reasonable conspiracies
What a change was wrought during his
| term of service as Governor, and how
| proudly and conspicuously he bore his par
| during those momentous years! The promp
succeeding call of President Lincoln fol
| troops, the untiring and amazing energy
| which Morton put forth to hurry them for
| which he looked after their needs in the
| field. the provision which he caused to bt
| made for their families at home, their dar
| ing and heroiSm on almost every battle
| field of the war-all these have been otter
/ detailed and rehearsed in your hearing anC
| are matters of familiar history When a
| last the triumph came and the victoriou!
| soldiers stacked their arms in front of theil
| Governor and returned to peaceful pursuits
/ no one, al nome or dDrOdd, tnOugnI 10 queS
| ton the courage of !ndianians, and ever
the dark shadow of disloyalty which for
| time SO greatly embarrassed the Governo
| was forgotten and blotted out by the bril-
| liant record which soldiers had mad
| of daring and devotion to their country
Besides the unfavorable. financial reputa
| ton to which / have referred, when Nor
ton assumed his office he was embarrasse,
| on finding the State treasury empty and it
| revenues sQuandered. In addition to this
early in his term he was confronted by
| partisan, / am ashamed to say, a disloya
Legislature, which refused to make the nee
| essary appropriations TO carry on the Stat
| government in the midst of the great wa
| threatening the life of the Nation. Thes
were embarrassments which would have dis
| heartened one less resolute and less trust
| full of the people, but they only served L
make more conspicuous the sterling quail
| ties of the man. You all know how sue
cessfully he appealed to the people, to tn
bankers and TO the local authorities Of tn
| State, and how he resorted to his owl
credit in New York TO carry on the Stat
| government, to maintain the soldiers In tn
of the State from further dishonor. Whe
he retired from the gubernatorial chair
marked change had been brought about i
| the State credit. and from that day Indi
| anians have no longer gone about wit
bowed heads, but have been able to poin
honor and unimpeachable credit. In tn
light of these accomplished facts whic
| have brought much pride to every cit
| zen, / not justified In presenting Nor
ton as a type worthy of emulation?
MAN OF THE PEOPLE.
But in still another sense he is typica
Indanian, in that he came from the rank
of the average common people, which com
81 he Nf he ,lo$