Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-02-24

spect. And they were such, too, as TO in
spire him with an anxious ambition TO
prove the wisdom of his selection and To
stimulate him to his highest and best en-
deavor. Mr.. Morrips personal character
was something entirely apart from his
official manner or method. But it was his
personal character that made his official
character what it was. 1t was Morrill, the
man that made Morrill, the senator possible.
His sincerity, his honesty, his industry, his
fidelity, his purity of heart and his clear
ness of mind-these qualities uniting with
an exalted patriotism these are the things
that made Mr.. Morrill, the highest type of
an American statesman. The tide of our
political life has never touched a higher
point than Mr. Morril's citizenship and
public service Not that he was a genius
he was not. But he was better than a
genius aud safer than a genius. There
never was It'll of March in Mr.. Morrilps
! life, as there was in Webster's. His legis-
lative methods were open as the day. He
had no fine Italian hand. He was not a
whisperer. Craftsmanship with him was
not cunning and chicane. He did not think
| language specially designed to conceal
thought. Nature made him gracious and
sincere, and graciousness and sincerity
made him friends, and friends made help
ers for any measure that he had at heart.
He had no enemies. 1t is often said that
a man who has no enemies has generally
fewer friends. 1t is true that a strong,
virile, masterfu man, forcing his powerful
way over other men and through their
plans, often does it ruthlessly and to the
ruin of all friendship and respect, But
Mr.. Morrill, had his way and kept his
friends.
His Impress on the Times.
eff we should search the annals of our
political history through We could find no
other man who has made so strong an i'm
press upon our time at so little expense of
those finer graces of character which really
make the charm of life, and make it pos
sibe for strong man to number among
his warmest personal friends his bitterest
political enemies. And yet Mr.. Morrill,
was strong and faithful party man. He
had entered public life when politics was
at fever heat. He had borne heavy bur
den of care and responsibility through
many anxious years, relying with confidence
upon the loyal support of strong politi-
cal organization. But | cannot believe
that upon any crucial question the party
mandate could have Numbered loud enough
in Mr.. Morrilns ear to drown the still,
small voice. Some men are always politi-
clans, occasionally some politician grows
into a statesman, often statesman, mad
dened by disappointment, corrupted by
plumber, seduced by ambition, sinks to the
level of a politician. But Mr.. Morrill, was
statesman always, a politician never.
He did not look upon Vermont as a pri-
vate political preserve, a field to exploit
for the satisfaction of his personal amb-
tion or private purposes. He would not
have been a political dictator if he could,
and he could not if he would. Vermont
has always been signally free from that sort
of public servant. 1t would be somewhat
difficult to drive the free and independent
yeomanry of The Green mountains to think
according to order or vote by command.
They think for themselves and they vote
for themselves. And this independence of
character and judgment which Mr.. Morrill,
shared as our common birtlright, and of
which he was so proud in his people and
of which they were so proud in him, was
the very thing that preserved their rela-
tions to each other in mutual respect and
confidence for nearly so years.
Ills Love For Vermont.
vermont was proud of Mr.. Morrill,, but
there was more love than pride in her re-
gard. He was man to command affec-
ton, and Vermont gave it in ample meas
ure. And Mr.. Morrill, loved Vermont,
and as the years went by, and one after
another of his old-time friends and lovers
slipped from sight, and new and unfamiliar
faces came about him, Vermont came to
be almost living personality. l shall
not soon forget the last time | saw him.
xnyoo sV,N I.,a out, -
lative reunion in Montpelier. At a great
banquet, perhaps as thoroughly represent
alive of Vermont men and women as any
public meeting can be, Mr.. Morrill, was
called upon to speak. He said few sim
pie words and closed with Leigh Hunts
exquisite little poem:
Say I'm weary, say I'm sad.
Say that health and wealth have missed me.
say I'm growing old; but add
Jenny kissed me.
'He meant Vermont. She was his mis-
tress and his queen. Burleigh never
served Elizabeth more faithfully than he
had served Vermont-and she had touched
him with her lips She had given him his
mandate of service, and he, returning
gladly to her side, laid all his honors at
her feet
"Justin Morrill's work is done-and yet
not ended, for in him how grandly true it
is the deeds of good men do live after
them. And from the serene height of his
perfected knowledge he shall see the fruit
age of his abors in rich, and richer har-
vests as the years sweep by.
"His fame is secure. For while the
world loves truth and honor, while beauty
has mission and virtue a devotee, while
wisdom has lover and craftsmanship
friend, the name of Justin S. Moraill shall
never fade away.
"'There shall be handful of corn in the
earth upon the top of the mountains; the
fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon "