The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-27
senator Morrill, of Vermont.
To the Editor Of the Press:

Senator Morrill, of Vermont.
To the Editor of the Press:
One of the first mon ! became 40
quainted with in Wash ington at the
opening Of the first session of the 4th
Congress in December 1866. was Jutin
s. Morrill, of Vermont, who like mNeif
was new member. We were both Bm-
hers of the committee on territories in
the S4th and Both Congresses, and gore
genial companiona BILE gentleman n,ver
knew.
Mr.. Morrill, is native of Strathrd,
Vermont and was born April 10, 1870 He
received a common &C hool eduuatio1 TO
which was added few terms at an pad
envy. His original purpose was to ater
into mercantile pursuits as business
and he info rmed me that he was about
two years clerk in large drypoas
house in this city (Portland) when quite
a young man. He su bsequently in l84S,
abando ned trade and ever since has ieen
engaged in agricultural pursuits. Few
men in this country have had the suo-
pOoSlu1 DO1ltlChl CdEo6E VI 0cu6OUE
In 1854 his friends without any bar
ticular agency ON his part solicited him
to become candidate for Congress. He
had formerly been Wing but was ore of
the first in that grand old state to Join
and help organize the Republican party.
He was elected by a very respectable
majority, for old Vermont was always
famous for turning up big majorities on
the right side.
And now comes the singular fact That
Mr.. Morrill, was reelected to the 35tn.
36th, 37th, S8th and 39th Congresses.
Twelve years continuous service in the
House. when no was elected 80 the
United States Senate and took his seat
in that body March 4, 1867 as tho suc-
oessor of Luke P. Poland. lie was re-
elected in 1872, III 1878, in 1884, in 1890
and has just besn Reelected for sixth
term i'll the Senate in 1886. He has al
ready had (when it COMBS the 4th of next
Aiarch) thirty successive years service
in the United States Sennte, which
added to his terms in tia House makes
| a continuous service OF forty-bwo years
in Congress. We believe this breaks any
Congressional record since we became a
government.
Tom Benton of Missouri, served thirty
| consecutive years in ne Senate and
wrote two large volumes commence
rative Of his service, known as "Thirty
Years in the Senate" buthe only served
two years in the House, Henry Clay
| served fifteen years in the House and
| was many years member uf the Senate.
but his service in both ofthese branches
| was broken up by many intervals when
he WAS out of COnQrssg
John Sherman Of OliJ, has had 86
| years service In the HouR and Senate.
but was ous Of Congress bur years when
Secretary OF the Treasury under Prest-
dent Hayes. VIM. r. King Of Alabama,
served 80 years in the Senate but was out
OF Congress two years in the mean time.
| l could recall other cases of PROLONGED
Congressional sers ice, bu, none that will
| successfully compete with the record of
/ Senator Morrill,
Mr.. Morrill's present term expires
March 4, 1897, when he will want but
single month to be 81 years OF age and il
| he lives to the end of the term to which
hs has just been reelected he will be
| ninety three years old.
The question here suggests itself, what
has kept Mr. Morrill, In Congress these
fortytwo successive years-a term of
time Tor one man without precedentP
And to this should be added another
| statement, that he has uniformly had no
effective opposition to his retaining his
place and his reelection only few DAYS
since was unanimous.
In answer to the question just suggest
ed, Will answer, no one thing has done
1t. Mr.. Morrill, is an effective. arru-
mentative speaker but no orator, in the
common acceptation Of that term. But
his speeches are good specimens OF sound.
practical common sense, fortified by
facts logically arranged and clearly Illus
trated. Although not deeply learned in
the schools, Senator Morrill, has been all
his. life q thorough, painstaking student
and In all financial matters is an ency-
clopedia OF knowledge. He has ALWAYS
been a warm proteotionist sand unon
questions of tariff and revenue laws. he
has no superior, If an equal in the SEN
ate.
Mr.. Morrill, has a remarkably well hal.
anced mind compact with sound coma
mon sense, retentive memory and az
cellent judgment One Of the elemsnts
of his great popularity with his constitn.
ents is his high moral standing. unon
which there has never boon q stain. his
unsullied honesty. both as man and
legislator, his patriotic love of countrr
and his careful and effective attentionn
to all the wants Of his people, II anta.
bellum days and through the terrible
struggles OF the OWL Wa1, Senator Nor
rill was firm as q rock in sustaining tha
government and tewer of strength -,
sustaining presidents Lincoln and his
administration.
In social life, Senator Morrill, Ia ono -
the most genial, kind hearted man am T.; i,
the world. Easily approached. With
kind wort for all, he has the djenitx a e
statesman and the warm heart Of a
friend.
Thus sits in the highest leoIsla.;v.
body in the world, the grand old man,
Justin Smith Morrill,, United Ststas
Senator from Vermont o''
JOHN ]. EPRRY
nNTD1Nvr