The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-12-29

30 several other friends. The senator
never recovered from the unconscious
state into which he lapsed early in the
day, and his death was calm and peace
full.
The immediate cause of death was
pneumonia, which developed from an
attack of grip contracted about a week
ago. The venerable senator was con-
fined to his home for seven days. De.
spite his advanced age he attended his
senatorial duties faithfully and regu-
larly went to the capitol. About ten
days ago the weather here was cold,
raw rnd foggy, and his physician thinks
that exposure to its rigors brought on
the attack of grip. the day before con-
gress adjourned for the Christmas holt
days the senator was unable to leave his
residence. lie & ew no better as the
days went on, his iow vitality, due to
advanced age, being unable to resist the
disease. On Christmas night it de-
veloped into pneumonia, and from that
time until the end he sank steadily.
In the death of Hon. Justin Smith
Morrill, the seuate lost its senior men,
Der in point of service and its oldest in
age. He had served continuously in
the senate for more than 81 years, and
he was S8 years old April Ia last. With
the single exception of Hon. Galusha
A. Grow Of the house of representatives
he was the only man in congress- whose
congressional career began prior to the
beginning of the civil war, and he had
the honor over Mr.. Grow in that his
congressional service had been contlnu-
ous, covering in the senate and house
combined almost "A years.
Mr.. Morrill, was native Of Vernon t.
n Nf
house from that state as member of
the Thlrty-fourth congress, taking his
seat at the first assembling of that body
after March 4, 1855. He was re. elected
to the Thirty-fifth, Thirty. sixth, Thir-
ty.seventh, Thirty-eighth and Thirty
ninth congresses, and was la 1857
elected to the senate to succeed Hon.
Luke L. Poland. He held his seat in
the senate since that date without inter-
ruption, having been elected six terms
successfully. He was again elected to
serve until 1903.
Previous tn entering congress-, Mr..
Morrill, had been engaged in mercantile
and agricultural pursuits. He had re-
ceived in his youth an academic educa-
ton, and was from his early days a
close reader and careful analyst of
public affairs
He ewas the author of the Morrill, tariff
act of 1851, which was the basis Of all
the tariff legislation Of war times.
In 1864 he became the chairman Of
the committee on ways and means, the
principal committee of the house, and
at that critical time OF especial import
ance.
After entering the senate Mr.. Morrill,
continued to give his attention largely
to financial and commercial questions,
and during the greater part of his term
OF service he was identified as q men,
Der OF the committee on finance, which
committee deals especially with these
subjects. He first became chairman Of
this committee in 1877, succeeding SEN
ator Sherman when the latter entered
the cabinet of President Hayes, and he
held this position continuously after
that date except during the Forty sixth
and Fifty-third congress-, when the
Democrtlc party controlled the senate,
and during those intervals he continued
at the head of the Republican repre-
sentation on the committee In recent
years he delegated the greater share of
the details OF the committee work to
the younger members of the committee.
He was the real father of the scheme
for the construction Of building for the
congressional library, and to him and
Senator Voorhees,, who early Joined
him in pressing this question upon con-
gress, is the splendid library building
monument.
His last appearance in the senate was
on the 18th inst, when he made a
speech of half an hours duration in ad-
vocacy of the supreme court building
bill. He at the same time prevailed
upon the senate to pass the bin in the
face OF some opposition.
He was the author of the original bill
giving aid TO state agricultural colleges
from the proceeds of the sales of the
public lands, and he had never refused
them the encouragement Of his assist
ance. He opposed the annexation of
Hawaiian Islands to the last, and ne
was understood to be averse to the ex-
ercise of any sort of American SOW
ereignty over the Philippines.
Mr.. Morrill, was an indefatigable
worker, and while not an orator he
spoke gracefully and forcibly. and was
always listened to attentively. His
great age and high position caused him
to be universally esteemed by the other
members of the senate.