Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-01-05

reaching and the most enduring of his
public acts. | mean the Incorporation and
endowment of the land grant colleges. 1t
seems strange to us now looking back
that 1t was not given to some one Of the
many men of light and leading in Congress
or elsewhere, some one who had drunk
deeply of the worlds lore in the univer-
stiles of our own and other countries TO
conceive of this plan of national provis-
ion for the less favored Of his countrymcn
that this noble project was reserved for
one who had wrought it out of his own
sense of deprivation and need. But even
so II Ia we'll 1t Is well that in all our
broad land, in Oklahoma and New Mex
leo as well as IN New York and Ohio,
every young man who aspres to that
higher knowledge whereby his calling Is
made moro fruitful and his life enriched,
should see the kindly hand of his nation S
government stretched out to aid him, be-
cause Il Nermonter, remembering how
hard 1t was to struggle alone in the quest
of knowledge had pleaded with that gov
eminent to make this quest easier for
every young man who should come after
him. Mr.. Morrill, rendered many services
to his country for which his name will
long he held in remembrance, but his most
lasting fame and the most endearinE re-
membrance of him will connect themselves
with those most significant and weighty
words in which the Act of 1867 makes pro-
]
cation of the industrial classes in the va
rious pursuits and profes sons in life"
! OF Mr.. Morrill, as a statesman and of
his services to the nation In the field of
politics, this is not the fitting time to
speak at large. On other occasions and
by more competent speakers, ample jus
tice will no doubt be done him in these
relations. But ] shall fear no contradc-
ton in saying that in all the most signi-
ficant and most fruitful work of the ma
tional Legislature for more than a gen.
Grafton past Mr.. Morrill, has had IL con-
spicuous and effective and most honor
able share, and that If his contribution to
good legislation had not been made, or
let me say If Vermont had been repre-
scented in Congress by man less wise
and less influential, the general course of
/ legislation would have suffered distinct
loss Of soundness and wisdom The mat
ter Is put in this way because, / believe,
subject to advsement that Mr.. Morrill's
craftsmanship did not assert itself in
/ tours de force, in persistent and agrees
s!ve action but in diffusing all through
the legislative atmosphere, so to speak,
the mild and calm wisdom of which his
face and his whole personality was 80
beautiful an expression. Not that he lack
ed the power of initiative or of resistance.
His finance measures, his college bill, his
projects for the improvement of the Cap
tudc on currency questions, on Hawaii and
or the power of the House In treaties,
showed the other. But speaking general
ly, and especially of his later years, it
may be said that it was Mr.. Morrilrs rec
ognized wisdom, the weight of his opin on,
respect for his character, which made him
the impressive and commanding person
ality he was in the Senate
And this brings me to say, what is al
ways the last and best thing to say of any
man when we can say II truthfully,
and what all our hearts have
been saying all these years IN
which we have known Mr.. Nor
rill, that ne is greatest and best and dear
est to US as a man. This Is. | suspect. at
the bottom of what we mean when We say
of him that he was a genuine Nermonter.
We love to think that the virtues we see
in him are our own virtues in their finest
form, and We admire and love their aggre-
cation and incarnation in him His sim
plicity. his gentleness, his fondness for the
society Of plain people, his love of home
and neighbors and friends, his homely
speech, his mother wit, the utter absence
of affectation or Ostentation, his plain liv-
ing amid the pageantry of the capital mis-
thorough goodness and kindness of heart
that he was not like many public men
lofty and sour to one and sweet as sum
mer to another but genial, gracious, nat
ural, frank with all-that with these amia-
BILE virtues ne combined a Roman forth
tude, a prophets love of righteousness a
Puritan integrity of conscience, and Chris
tian's self sacrifice-these qualities make
up the man who was loved and is to-day
wept for by many who are thought to be
incapable of love or tears: this Is the man
who perhaps more than any other man of
his generation in Vermont will be missed
and mourned in private homes. both high
and lowy, all over the State; who will be
remembered in family prayers and in the
haps in some poor print will long be kept
on the wall of the living room in humble
pulpits on Sunday; whose kindly face per-
homes; who will be held up as an example
to young men of honorable ambition and
of probity in the public service well re-
warded by the people; whose name and
virtues Will be cherished in the affection
ate memory of the people of Vermont as
long as they continue in the pious belief
that Gods greatest gift to the people Of
his care is a wise and good man.
We bring to-day also our respectful tri-
butte to the memory of her whose body lies
by the side of the senator's, in death not
long divided from him. Mrs. Morrilrs life
was not passed much in public view, and
therefore does not properly lend itself to
public remark. But such life may have
"A publo-vaue of the highest order by en-
hancing the effectiveness Of the public life
TO which ii ministers. Those who have
best known her testify that the compan-
lonshp of Mrs. Morrill, impaired in large
her husband that suavty, serenity and
refinement which added a powerful charm
to his virtue and strength. We all owe her
more than we can ever know; let us min
gle gratitude with our tender farewell
Noicing, as ! have tried TO do the senti-
ments OF the people OF Vermont toward
our illustrious dead / may not apologize
for what may seem to others a too provin
cialand domestic view Of Mr.. Morrins per-
son and career. Our people claim for this day
at least the luxury of sorrow over a per-
sonal bereavement Mr. Morrill, belongs
to the nation, and hereafter in senatorial
and other eulogy. he will be claimed by
and for the entire nation. But to-day he
| is brought back to rest with us-to be
gathered to his fathers-to sleep by the
side of his kindred and of the neighbors he
loved. His good deeds are part Of the ma
tional heritage; his birthplace, his resting
place, his honored dust, his personal ex-
ample, his good name, his memory are
Vermont's own.
The sermon was followed by a prayer
by Rev. Mr.. Leavitt. very beautiful and
tender In the sentiments expressed. The
choir sang "Unveil Thy Bosom Faithful
] Tomb" set to music from The Dead
March In Saul, In very impressive man
ner.
At the close of the service Mr.. Phin-
ney cleared the corridors and Mr.. Fifeld
conducted the relatives of Mr.. Morrill,
from the chamber. Mayor Senter con-
Quoted the congressional party to thG.r
carriages; Mr.. Brown, the governor and
his party And President Buckham; Mr.