Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-03-27
STATUE OF MORTON.
Contribution by the State of In
diana to the American
Pantheon


Washington, D. c., March 24-Ad-
dresses on the life and character of Oil
yer 2. Morton, the war governor of H.
diana, were delivered in the Senate this
afternoon.
Address &c Senator Fairbanks.
Mr. Fairbanks said in part:
The Senate of the United States pauses
in the consideration of the important ron
tine business Of the country 10 accept Il
tribute from the state OF INDIANA statue
Of Oliver Perry Morton, to stand in yOnder
venerable hall of representatives, now ten
anted by the mute images OF the chiefest
jewels of the republic.
The state of indiana has an ample roll
of distinguished statesmen who have served
her well: Of soldiers who won mperlsh-
able renown upon the battlefelds of their
country; of those who nave attained high
place in the world Of letters, but, without
invidious discrimination, she makes her
hall.
Oliver Perry Morton was one Of the com
handing figures of the United states dur
He impressed himself upon his state and
nation by the force of his commanding
genius and the history of neither state nor
nation would be complete without the story
Of his life and work.
A Great Man in a Great Crisis.
Mr. Fairbanks then drew Il striking
tured his early life, his struggles for an
education. the sacrifices he made to Stake
his passionate thirst for knowledge and
the power as a lawyer and judge which
he early attained by reason of his bril-
liant qualifications. Then he told in Wig
OrouS words the stirring story of dor
toms entrance into political life and OF
his becoming the governor of his native
state lat the threshold of mighty
crisis.
Gov. Morton realized, and in advance Of
most others, the true and tremendous sig
nificance of the incipient secession move
ment. He did not doubt the result of the
issue, but he favored energetic and speedy
cred he was firm. and when others doubt
ed he was certain. The task he undertook
herculean. There were many who
cause BY ceaseless vigilance he antici-
pated every attack which treason about him
planned. When the governor was without
funds to support the affairs OF the state,
through the failure Of a hostile and dis
loyal Legislature to perform its duty. he
money upon on his and zed
of the state. The emergency was great
and it required a man of commanding force
and ability to meet it.
Struggle with Deadly Disease.
Mr.. Fairbanks then succinctly related
the part which Gov. Morton took IN the
Civil war, what he did for his state and
Hcf troops III lUdl cElllCdl pei1ON anu HOW
he won the love of the soldiers and an
imperishab BILE reputation at the same
time. Next he told how the distin-
guished statesman, already III the grip of
a deadly disease, came to Washington as
a senator from Indiana. That he might
do his duty to his state and TO his coun-
try he bid even death defiance. He
worked increasingly that the nation.
which had just emerged from the fierce
baptism OF war. might be put on the
highway of enduring peace. This her
culean work must be done. He had no
time to parley with death There are
colleagues of Mr. Morton in the Senate
yesterday, how the senator was borne
into this chamber in his chair and how
he delivered his great speeches seated
there.
With the Electoral Commission.
Eloquently Mr. Fairbanks told of Mr..
Morton's most conspicuous public service
his labOrS on the electoral commission
following the presidential election of
1876.
Stricken by remorseless disease and rap
idly approaching the end of an iliustriops
career, he yet became 4 member of the
commission, the creation of which he had
antagonized. He had to be lifted into his
seat during the sittings of the commission
there remaining into the long, dreary hours
of the night, tireless among the tired, press
lHS oH where SlfOug men gave way. he pre-
Sents picture that may we'll excite our
wonder and challenge our admiration. anu
for which history furnishes no example
No dishonorable act detracts from his
fame. His hands were clean. his integrity
i'll cOrruptible He was bold but chiyai.
rous political antagonist. for his sense of
honor was acute. His political adyersari es
at the time of his death. paid tribute to his
stainless and exalted purpose. He was re-
garded and ranked an intense partisan
and such he was. He had an abiding faith
in the virtue of his party, and Of its benf-
cence as an instrument in promoting good
government
The American Pantheon.
The state of Indiana commits to The
keeping of the United States the statue OF
Oliver Perry Morton, to he kept and pre-
served SO long as the fabric of our political
institutions shall endure She commits it
with affectionate pride, believing that those
who shall follow us in the stately pro
cesSon of the years TO come will pre-
serve in it perpetual remembrance of the
one who gave his best years. yea, life itself
in unselfsh. pnceasing devotion to the
mighty task Of preserving the unity ana
honor OF mis- country.
| readily believe that were it posi-
Allen, John Stark and Roger Sherman to
utter speech, yea, if George Washington
Daniel Webster, James A. Garfield and the
other occupants of our American Pantheon
of patriots and immortals the creates
could breathe through their marble forms
they would say: Hail. hail, thou brave
and incorruptible patriot, thou loyal vice
regent of the people in the peri!ous hours
of the republic