Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-29

long session which began at the time be-
fore mentioned, and continued without re- |
suits on the bitterly contested military |
bill for more than eight months.
The stormy times which witnessed his
Introduction into public life continued for
very considerable portion OF his public |
career. The year that Mr.. Morrill, entered
public life the war was raging in the Cri-
mea Sabastopol had fallen. Joseph
Hume Charlotte Bronte Courier BelD. |
Lord Raglan and the famous Samuel Rog-
ers died. Those events were not only not
in the gener lt.on of those now In public
life. but they occurred long before the
memory of those who now consider them
selves leading statesmen.
| Senator Morrill, Is of English descent.
His ancestors first settled at Salisbury,
Mass, in the early part OF the last CEN
fury. The family later emigrated to New
Hampshire and In 1i9J his grandfather,
with his five sons and two daughters, went
to Vermont and settled near Strafford.
During the British Invasion from Canadain
the war of 1872, the senator's grandfather,
mastering his four sons, one of them, Col
Nathaniel Morrill,, the senator's father.
marched to join the American forces oper-
ating on Lake Champlain. Owing to the
British vessels having cut OF cop,mun' a
ltions they failed to reach the army on the
other eide until the close of that brilliant
and victorious conflict, but engaged in the
pursuit OF the fleeing English
| When Senator Morrill, came to Wash
ington in 1856, although a New England
President sat in the Executive Mansion,
the leaders south of Mason and Dixou's
line dominated public affairs. Senator
Morrill, at once advanced to the front
rank in the parliamentary contests over
slavery, free soil, abolition and protective
tariff. Party rancor ran high and social
Intercourse was sectional. The BLACK"
republicans and the New England aboii-
tionists were despised by the Southern
leaders and the Northern democrats were
willing to occupy a neutral ground in or
der to share in the loaves and fishes of
executive control. The society Of the
Capitol was then broken into sets, and
at entertainments at tho Executive Man
sion, where all met on common social
plane, there was moro or less restraint on
account of the intense feeling between
parties on the national issues. The re-
publicans had come into power In the exec
utive and legislative branches of the gov
eminent. The Southern senators and rep
rcsentatives and their states had seeded
from the Union and war was Imminent
: The necessity of revenues to meet the
: cxigencies of conflict of arms brought
| Mr.. Morrill, to the front as the protector
Of the Morrill, tariff OF 1861, which was one
; Of the first of the war measures in de-
| fence Of the Union. If Senator Morrill,
had no other title 10 fame. 1t would be
moro than many men can boast to have
hcen the author of the Morrill, tariff. Tn
! der the operations OF that measure. with
7 it's adaptable to the needs OF a growing
country, the annual production Of wealth
of over G0000,OO0 of people In the United
y States had reached to nearly 81 COO 90, go
4 against the sSG, Oc,od0 produced annually
4 by all of the accumulated wealth in III.
experience of centuries and all The IN
dustry OF the people in Great Britain. And
after quarter of a century, when the
: democrats came into power in the House,
u Mr.. Morrill, arose in the Senate to res 81
9 the overthrow of the protective system
u by the same party which left the govern
: ment bankrupt when he and others tool
Z charge of II in 1861. In the speech or
o that memorable occasion, when he aros,
. to resist the democratic attack upon The
u tariff system, which he devised in 1851 Mr.
. Morrill, declared that he found that party
. incapable OF progress or OF learning. an'
u still mouthinR over the ancient theories
y as obsolete as cooked hats and veke
breeches," which brought the country 4
u ruin 80 long ago.
i Mr.. Morrill, remained continuously IL
r Washington throughout the war amid tn
l. warlike din of Training armies as well a
the acclamations Of victory. He was on
~ of the conspicuous figures all through TIL
10 administration Of Lincoln. Johnson. an,
10 Grant. In his earlier days he was one o
~ the brightest speakers in Congress, as h
u is to this day one Of the ablest. and a
~ the dinner table he then had few peers
~ In his experience he has witnessed tn
u. Transition from the society of the begin
~ ming Of the early part of the century Z
u the society of to-day. He was a close oh
server OF the society of Pierce and Bu
~ chanan. and anXiously watched throug
Fr the years OF the war and witnessed tn
10 establishment Of the new regime in poll
70 tics and society upon the return OF peace
= Mr.. Morrill, has always been distinguish
rc for his refined taste. judicial mind an
~ great conservatism He has always bee
y. cmincntly fair and just and n fine repre-
~ sentative OF the old school of New Ems
"a land statesmen. He has been distir guist
.. ed for his uncompromising integrity: hi
~ manners are simple and court eous, "a tn
te traditional manners OF a nobleman OF tn
" old French regime. He has always bee
10 an honor to his State and country. a
u, though not impulsive he Is generous an
al warm hearted, and never seems happi'
.I- than when doing some kind act for a fe
III low man.
Us Mr. Morrill, has long been one Of II
-, most striking figures in tho Senate II
eu great height is scarcely diminished by
10 slight stoop OF his shoulders, bowed /
W the weight OF years. His luxurious, way
d" gray hair and clearly cut features are SUI
gestive of Charles Sumner and alwa'
er attract the attention OF strangers. F.
', nearly fifty years he has taken a leadr
u part in all the important legislation
10 the period. He has paid special attentic
. to the tariff and financial questions. II
u last speech OIL silver Is manual on
nance. There is no other man In publ
life who has a more wonderful memoi
for facts, figures. faces and names this
Senator Morrill,.