The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-12

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himself under serious obligations to others
While he was in the Senate some OF his
4 friends raised a large sum Of money, with
which they proposed to purchase for him a
handsome residence. Morton thanked them
for their good will, but refused the gift,
saying to Hit: i can only be strong when
] am free"
tunities for money-making he died possessed
Of very modest competence
HIS INDUSTRY.
His industry was unhagging. THE secret
of success" said he to his son, lis hard
work" While he was Governor he had
three secretaries. When he was away they
had time to spare, but he was not home an
hour before they were so crowded with
work that they had to sit far into the night
TO accomplish. His personal habits were
shaped by the needs of his public
work. Sleep, rest and appetite had
to wait upon his convenience. He would
often leave his books and papers at the side
Of his he'd that he might take up work in
the morning AT break of day he generally
called for the newspapers, which were
brought to him before he rose or break
tasted In the presence of public business,
no physical weakness, no requirements or
comfort or health could keep him from the
present demand for thought and action.
physician was neglected. 4 have no time
10 be sitting here he would say, and then
he would plunge into work again. In the
Senate he was seldom absent from his
post. He attended, with great regularity
the meetings of the committees to which
he belonged. He was present at every ses-
sion Of the Electoral Commission, although
then close TO the verge of the grave. he
accomplished more work that any man in
the Senate. He accommodated himself with
"a kind Of cynical Indifference to MS
crippled body, and dragged II about with
him as a snail does its shell.
Morton was a voracious reader both or
books and newspapers. When he was at
indianapolis during the recess of Congress
scores of books were sent TO him by the
city librarian. Many of these he would
skim. He had the power of getting at the
heart of a book almost at glance.
He made no Pretension TO scholarship: He
never hesitated to ask for information from
the fear of appearing ignorant. He was
much interested in current scientific
thought, in the works of Spencer, Huxley,
Darwin and Tyndali. His literary tastes
were primitive and healthy. Millions Par
adise Lost" which ne read and reread, was
q great favorite with him. He admired the
vastness of the characters and scenes and
the stately diction, which so well fitted the
grandeur of the subject. And he shared
Milton's own estimate OF Paradise Re
gained" In considering it equal to the ear
lier epic.
Morton was free from personal vanity,
and in his intercourse with others ne was
entirely approachable and unaffected. he
sought out no one and repealed no one
Within the limits of physical possibility
none who asked 10 see MIN was luTueu
away. Many of his political antagonists
have friendliest recollections of his COM
panionable nature. In general society ne
was genial, sometimes merry always cour-
teous and careful of the feelings of others
Though his speeches were destitute OF w.t.
he was full of it among his friends HIS
laughter was infectious and he delighted in
anecdote and repartee He was OCCASION
ally absent minded. Sometimes at the Ia
be he did not know what he was eating, so
absorbed was he in conversation or IN
HIS RELIGION.
Morton belonged to no church. He seldom
spoke Of religion. He had no definite creed
His belief had been shaken in his college
days by the Evidences of Christianity"
which he was required to study. He said to
Sulgrove that what faith he had was the
effect of association rather than conviction.
He saw objections to the arguments in IA
vor of revelation and did not wish to be
forced to the alternative of perfecting his
faith by study or giving it up altogether.
He did not accept the orthodox view of the
divinity Of Christ He was rather, says
Alexander, a Charming Unitarian.
Yet, although he cared little for theology,
he was by no means without religious feel
ing. He had great reverence for the name
of God, and seldom used it lightly. Thomas
M. Browne tells OF a conversation IN which
Morton, reading from Lamartine'S "Girond-
ists," cOntrasted the dying words of Mira
beau, Environ me with music sprinkle me
with incense and crown me with flowers,
that / may pass into eternal Sleep" with
the last discourse of Verginaud in the Con-
ciergerie, in which the leader of the Girond-
lists said: Death is but the greatest act of
life, since it gives birth to a higher state
of existence. =" In this conversation
Morton expressed his faith in immortality
and his belief in a religion of love that dis
carded the dry husks of creeds" and plant
ed itself upon the broadcast philanthropy and
tolerance.
Whatever the precise form of Morton
faith it seemed sufficient for his final hour,
for, in his last moments, when asked If ne
were afraid to die he shook his head in an
ewer that he was not, just before he closed
his eyes in death.