New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-18
GOSSIP AT THE CAPITAL.
CELEBRATING SENATOR MORRILLS
BIRTHDAY AND HIS WORK
A long RECORD IN coNGREss-sENAroR vooR
HEEss DENrH-THE PRESIDENT AND
THE SOLDIERS HOME.

LONG RECORD IN coNGREss-sENAToR vooR-
HEEss DE,rH-THE PRESIDENT AND
THE SOLDIERS HOME.
Washington. April Ex-senator Morrill's birthday
on Wednesday. as usual marked by reception 10
which all OF his friends were hidden. was without
doubt. the event OF the week about which the most
interest centred Forty-two OF his eighty-seven
years have been lived at the Capital and. although
he has never especially tried for popularity. and In
his whole official career has never once played to
the galleries" he is universally known revered and
loved by his friends and regarded with great es-
TEEN and deep respect by every one.
At his own home there could scarcely have been
more enthusiasm than shown in Washington
when news was received OF his unanimous selection
by his party in the Vermont Legislature for his
sixth term United States Senator, and OF his
election; and the congratulatory letters and tele-
grams sent to him from the Capital would make
a fat volume. But then few men have done more
for the city than Senator Morrill,. and 1t owes him
debt Of gratitude which II recognizes.
In a speech delivered somewhere in the West last
summer Mr.. Depew said Of Senator Morrill,:
There is a grand figure in the United States
Senate to-day bearing his eighty-seven years; That
he sees now. what was necessary. and he kept on
the statute book for twenty years the Morrill, Tariff
enabled us to meet an annual taxation twice as
large as that we cannot meet now And thirty
our business. He is greater than Gladstone and
ek a se esp Of ana was by
him. and that he may live forever His policy has
world.
This Is. OF course much to be said OF any man.
but much more be said of Vermont's senior
Senator. and adequate idea of his character
could be given without mention OF his manner.
which is simple and direct and honest as that OF
q Quaker. Early in his the friends of Mr..
Morrill,. who knew how kind and warm his heart
was prone to critcise his directness in man.
and speech and to regret that In his intercourse
with people he little more suave and
diplomatic; that he said yea. yea, and nay. nay so
unequivocally, and mean: them 20 emphaticaly.
But he has lived long enough prove that his
simple and honest ways were best and whatever
he says, to whomever he says II. is accepted with
absolute faith.
The most notable feature Of Mr. Morrill's record
Is that, unlike the majority Of men who have seen
great length of service In Congress. he was mid
dle-aged man before he entered public life. When
he elected to the XXXIVth Congress he was a
successful merchant and farmer with more than
usual interest In politics. Who then could have
foreseen that he would serve In Congress longer
than any other man in the history. past or pres
ent. of the Government, and that when he was
twenty years older than Washington the time
he wished TO retire to Mount Vernon. Ito spend the
remainder of my days. which cannot expect TO be
long. in and tranquility" he would he asked to
continue in the service of the State?
The two men who have nearly approached ..tr
Morrill, In length Of service in Congress are Sena-
tors Sherman and Nathaniel Macon. OF North Caro-
lima Senator Shermans period OF service ette nded
thirty years, but 1t interrupted
Senator Macon occupied seat In either House or
Senate from 1871 Ia 1898 continuously and ranks
TO Senator NORTH; but his record falls five
years short OF the time Mr.. Morrill, has already
served, and II the latter completes his present term
thirtysix years In the Senate. The fourth of last
March marked for Vermonts distinguished Senator
thirty years OF continuous service in the upper
house in five months he Will reach the record now
held by Thomas H Benton, OF Missouri .o who
March 8, 1851. 1t is Mr.. Morrrs ambition to be
named in history as the man who served longest in
cation that this ambition viii be gratned:
whether senator Morrill, would allow himself to be
reelected. there being no precedent for man In
as senator OF course. If he permitted his name to
be presented. it was foregone CONCLUSION that he
would be elected for no one In Vermont would
have the tsmey to s t to the - old old
among them. 1t was only a few weeks before the
hs saying am mT shall so surely
attend TO that" referring to some matter under
In nominating him in the Vermont Legislature
last fall. Mr.. Gleason. OF Thertford. who proposed
character. in youth. in manhood or in old age. he
is still left to us a living monument OF virtue.
ship And indeed it is not too much to say Of
Senator Morrill, that he Is the ideal American
statesman, and that he stands for all that is best
In American manhood.
The story Of his election has already been told.
story that does credit to the State OF Vermont and
honor to her venerable son. "a man distilled out Of
her virtues" but there were many incidents
connected with II that will never be told many
things said many words were written that
must forever be locked In the hearts of those
est concerned. for Senator Morrill, Is singulary
loved by his constituency.
Nothing better illustrates Mr. Morril's character
and his point OF view than the following extract
from his speech accepting the nomination:
The reelection to the United States Senate for a
sixth term on top Of twelve years Of prior service
come historic. and ] regret that have not more
to my credit for It's justification: bur must he
a beloved State of my record In Congress for many
years many measures during eras which are
already historic and Will forever so remain. 1t
cannot be construed as the verdict OF posterity
unless further service should be terminated.
al the record would not be finished nor beyond the
reach of change OF Disagreement.
Frankly permit me TO say that / do not at this
moment Representatives, II may seem proper for
TO do hereafter-to offer any practical proof In
holders seldom die and never resign. But my time.
for the present and such ability as | may possess
will be faithfully devoted to the high and respon-
sible duties to which you have assigned me.
Some imaginative outsider may say that nobody
else In Vermont appears to care for the office.
That possibly, might be a SANDER and yet believe
there are less chronic ofce-hunters proportonatey
I'm Vermont than in any other State In the Union.
But whether there are any worthy parties who
an apology may seem to be due from me to several
eminent gentlemen with undoubted Senatorial
thing too much OF Official longevity and that "su-
perfuous lags the veteran on the stage"
They WILL however, soon have the advantage. for
whatever it may be worth. Of the precedent now