St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-01-25
miscellany.
MIR MORRILL, OF VERMONT.
r,e Patriarch of the United States
Senate.

mia patriarch of the United States
Senate.
Mr.. Morril's recent speech on the
q 6nancial policy of the administration
tns brought him letters OF praise and
concentration from all over the
A conntry. The strongest in approval,
and the most gratifying naturally,
have come from the very centers of
Jemocracv. 1t was from every point
" view a remarkable speech, and
EQUALS. if not excels, any of his pre-
lions efforts on similar subjects.
When one remembers that Senator
"A Morrill, has already passed his eighty
A iourth birthday, and last summer
suffered a long and tedious illness,
4 This fact is worthy Of note. His in
u tellectual performances at so adj
yanced an age are equalled by
4 only one otherliving man, Gladstone,
and his career has been almost as re-
markable in its way as that OF the
great English statesman. Mr.. Nor
II RI tells a story of meeting one of his
constituents in his travels about the
n country.
"Be We Justin Morrill, asked the
granger, surprised.
Yes" answered the senator, Il
am Justin Morrill,"
"Waal, yer amt nigh onto as big a
man as | thought yer was"
The student of history will expert
ence no such disappointment. Mr..
Morrill's career is unique in many
WAYS. For thirty-nine consecutive
Years he has represented the people
n of Vermont in Senate and House. A
longer term of continuous service
81 than any one man has known in the
history of our government, with the
execution of Samuel Smith of Mary
land, who served from 1898 to 1888.
y Since his hrstfew terms in the House,
and after the birth of the Morrill, tar
if, his political position at home has
been an invulnerable one Hehas been
returned term after term without eff
fort on his part. Only recently in con.
v~ersation with one othis constituents,
a Senator Morrill, remarked that his
politicallif f would soon be at an end,
and there would be room for some
one else.
no" said the listener. "As long
as YOU live you must represent Yer
mont in the Senate. The other fell
lows can wait"
This is the feeling all overthe state,
and the other fellows realize that
they must wait. The loyalty of the
people to him, his hold upon their al
i%ections and their belief in the integ-
a rity of his purposes is a matter for
wonder in our tickle times. The rea-
son Tor this is not apparent from a
superficial knowledge OF the man, for
he possesses in no degree the personal
magnetism which made Mr.. Blaine's
following.
Happily Senator Morrill, is in unus.
ual health and spirits this winter,
No n of his colleagues is as regular
in attendance at the Senate. During
4 the Indictment and bitter weather OF
q last week even he was in his seat
every day. The only change he has
made in the habits of years is that he
leaves the Capitol atrihe earlier than
formerly. In appearance Senator
Morrill, has altered very little in the
last twenty years. His hair, which
falls in curls over a broad and prom.
inent forehead, is, perhaps, grayer,
and the lines in his face are deeper.
His slender, loosely built figure has
the same slight stoop between the
shoulders, his face the same kindly
expression which is so familiar to all
those who frequent the senate CALLER
les. His whole personality suggests
strength, %ruggedness, stability. In
this Mr.. Morrill, is a true exponent OF
Green Mountain civilization, and
there is a question if there is any bet
ter civilization, more honest, sim
pier, nobler or freer from trickery
and guile. The god of the people in
this section is accomplishment.
Everything is made to do duty for
this end. The men and women who
show tangible proof that they have
not been idle are the heroes and hero.
mes, This may in a measure explain
Senator Morrill's popularity. His
life has been singularly rich in accom-
Pishment. He possesses the indom-
liable perseverance which recognizes
no obstacles-for him they do not
exist, andisimpossible of attainment.
Again, Senator Morrill, is never idle.
Every moment of his life is occupied,
and this habit of methodical and sys-
tematic work he acquiredin early life.
In this hurrying end of the century he
never seems to be in a hurry, and yet
MS work is alwaysdone. There are no
cIamors from angry constituents OF
unanswered letters. He never speaks
unless he has something to say, and
mat something is always of value,
Ills English is classic in its directness,
simplicity and force, and what he
says has been thought out with a
conscientious de~liberation that is