The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-15
A DEMOCRATS TRIBUTE.
Representative Miers's Estimate Of
the Great War Governor.


Mr.. Miers. a Democratic member of the
Indiana delegation, said:
MIR. Speaker-As a representative of the
State OF Indiana, j take pleasure I'm add
ing my voice TO those raised i'm reverentisl
oommemoration the man whom my State
has by honoring. honored herself and the
Nation of which she is part. The voice.
less marble now placed i'm Statuary Hall
will honor that sculptured room as did the
living being whose form is thus preserved,
honor the upper house of the national Leg
iSlature
"Oliver Perry Morton was one OF those
men whose conditions and environments
gave strength which makes them great.
and renders time necessary TO bring out
their truly admirable qualities without
the view being marred by personal or
sectional hatred Oliver Perry Morton
was a great man when living. but even a
greater man when viewed by the historian
His was life OF turmoil and conflict:
his mind rose superior to the ravages of
disease and the irritation OF constant and
excruciating pain. Severe lines were drawn
in his face by the pain he suffered. and
men, looking only at the face, thought
him austere. Those who really knew the
man, and not only his outward semblance.
loved him. His heart was as big as his
brain, and few, If any. men have been
blest with grander intellects. His life
was gentle, and the elements so mixed in
him that nature might stand up and say
to all the world This a man.
"Oliver Perry Morton came Of old New
England stock, his ancestors emigrating
to this country with Roger Williams His
father was one of the hardy pioneers who
opened UP the fertile praries of the West.
At the little town of Salisbury, Wayne
county, Indiana, Oliver Perry Morton was
born on the 4th of August, 1S23. AT an
early age he was aprenticed to his brother
to learn the hatter's trade After learning
the trade, he studied law, and was 50
prominent with his legal accumen with his
forensic ability that at the age OF twenty
he r1o ho ofr
bench there and his decisions were marked
with such thorough grasp of law and
such a sense OF exact and clear justice that
he became at once "A prominent figure in
the councils of his State. He elected
lieutenant governor of Indiana In 1860. and
upon the elevation of Gov Henry :. Lane
to the United States Senate, Oliver Perry
Morton, at the age OF thirty-eight years.
became Governor OF the State OF Indiana.
He was elected TO this Office In 1854 and
resigned TO accept the position OF United
States senator in 1861. which position he
filed twelve years. In 1876 he received
the second largest vote a candidate for
the presidential nomination at the hands
of the Republican party IL was as the
War Governor of Indiana that he won the
admiration OF the entire Nation. lie was
essentially an executive:
IAN eye like Mars to threaten and COM
mand:
A station like the herald Mercury
New lighted on a heaven-kisSing hii:
combination and a form, indeed
Where every god did seem 10 set his seal
To give the world assurance OF a man.
ALWAYS TRIED TO BE JUST.
He worked day and night. and kept
peace within the borders OF his State. when
IL seemed impossible that there could be
peace When he was stricken with par
alysis the entire Nation mourned- IL was
supposed that never again could his voice
be heard I'm counsel; but while he could no
longer walk. or even stand. and although
every moment brought intense pain, for all
years the great mind arose superior 10 the
wrecked body. and until the day OF his
death Oliver Perry Morton did prodigious
work I'm the United States Senate ana
throughout the State OF Indiana I'm per-
sonally caring for the interests OF his con-
stituents. He at times seemed merctless
toward the Southern States; the friends OF
Sumner thought him unkind. but Oliver
Perry Morton always Intended 10 be just.
No friend ever went 10 him and found an
ear deaf or heart closed 10 his appeals.
He strong IN his convictions. but when
convinced that he was wreng he always