The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-04-17


bows at its shrine.
The St. Louis Globe. Democrat of
last Friday contained the following
from Washington in reverence to
Vermont's venerable Senator:
Bismarck has just celebrated his
81st birthday. Gladstone is five
months past Sc. Both have retired.
The American Nestor of statesmen
still holds his place as Chairman of
one of the most important committees
of the Senate and will on the 18th
of this month give dinner to empha-
size the fact that at Sc he is still in
active life.
In 1913, Justin S. Morrill, had
made his fortune, according to the
modest Vermont estimate, in the
mercantile business and proposed to
retire to farm and spend his re-
naming years in ease and comfort.
For seven years he carried out this
idea. He was A years old when his
neighbors came to him and said that
If he ever wanted to 60 to Congress
then was the opportunity. Up to that
time Mr.. Morrill, had held no polit-
ical office. BY the uncomfortable
close margin of 100 votes plurality
he entered upon what is today the
longest individual congressional ca
reer in the history of this Congress.
He was Representative twelve
years and has been Senator twenty
nine years. After he had been in
Congress six years he proposed to his
district to choose somebody else
He said he was tired and wanted to
get back to the farm. The district
declined and Mr.. Morrill, yielded.
Six years later he entered the Senate.
Once President tried to tempt him
with tender of the mission to
Greece. When President. elect Hayes
was making up his Cabinet he sent
for Senator Morrill, and offered him
his choice of any place except the
Secretaryship of State and the Treas
ury, which had been filed.
"Tbere is no Office to which | could
be appointed that | would accept in
preference to seat in the United
States Senate" said Mr.. Morrill,, not
long ago. i consider that the high
est honor that could be bestowed
upon me, and the highest function
that could perform
The Senator is not garrulous in
speaking of his wonderful career.
He has written no book. There is nc
extended biography of him in exis-
tence. 1t takes only six lines in the
Congressional Directory to give al
that he cares to tell about himself
A question about the secret of hi:
aold on the people of his district ant
State prompted this reply from him
at is very gratifying, very pleasing
look back and feel that / Lave neve
lsked my State for reelection. WheI
he time has come for the remaining 0
Representative or Senator, | hav,
eft the people free to choose, and it i
fact that never have I written a lin
ask voter or Legislator for hi
uffrage. 1t is fact also that l hav
ever spent money to bring about m
lection. | can say that with exac
nth"
x 4 4 X x x
What a history of tariff legislatio
lis venerable man could write if
ould. He had hand in the maxim
the tariff bill of 81. He was Chair
man of the subcommittee Of Ways an
Means which framed the war tariff. II
was SO conspicuous in this branch
= legislation that the act is to this da
known as "the Morrill, tariff" Eiths
as the head of Finance Committee (
the head of the minority when tt
Democrats were in control, Senate
Morrill, has played an important pa
in every tariff revision for forty year
Next year there will be new Co
gress. The people of Yer mont hay
come to feel great pride in their vene
able Senator. The next Legislatul
will re-elect him, and if there is an
thing in physical promise, he will Ii,
to bring into the Senate, as Chairma
of the committee, one more tariff bill.