New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-25
IN MEMORY OF o. p. MORTON.
SENATORS FAIRBANKS, ALLISON AND
BEVERIDGE EULOGIZE INDIANA'S
GREAT WAR GOVERNOR

Washington March 24-In the Senate to-day Mr..
Fairbanks presented resolution accepting statue
of Oliver p. Morton from the State of Indiana. He
spoke in part follows
The Senate of the United States pauses in the
consideration Of the important routine business of
the country to accept troIe r from dr ne STATE OF
statue is TO sand in yonder venerable Hal of Rep
the chiefest jewels of the Republic The state of
Who has an seTed e G we'll eli m Won
mperlshable renown upon the battlefieids OF their
the World of letters but without invidous dis
~ She makes her present and first con-
Oliver Perry Morton was one Of the commanding
period of her history. He impressed himself upon
his State and Nation by the force Of his command
Nation would be Complete without the story of his
life and work
Mr.. Fairbanks then spoke of Governor Morton's
early life; his struggles for education the sacrt-
fees he made to Stake his passionate thirst for
knowledge, the power as lawyer and judge which
he early attained by reason OF his brilliant quaiiti-
cations. Then he told of Morton's entrance into
political life and of his becoming the Governor OF
his native State at the threshold of mighty
crisis. He continued:
He realized and In advance Of most others, the
true and tremendous significance Of the incipient
Of the issue, but he favored energetic and speedy
ma r and % wRen others he Was
The task he undertook was herculean There were
cause. BY ceaseless vigilance he anticipated
attack which about 9r6 aim 70
the affairs of the state through the failure of "a
2 he and ap h is
and the faith rea and a Grsot
required a man of commanding force and ability
to meet ii.
Mr. Fairbanks then related the part which Gov
ecnor Morton took in the Civil War. what he did
for his and troops in that critical period,
and how he won the love of the soldiers and an
imperishable reputation at the same time Next
he told how the distinguished statesman, already
in the grip of deadly disease, came to Washing
ton as Il Senator from Indiana. That he might do
his duty his State and to his country 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
to enduring peace. He had no time 10 parley with
death. "There colleagues of Morton in the
Senate who remember though 1t were but yes
teTday how the Senator was borne into this cham
Der in his chair and how he delivered his great
speeches seated there"
Mr. Fairbanks spoke of MOrton's labOrs the
Electoral Commission following the Presidential
election of 1876. Stricken by remorseless disease
and rapidly approaching the end of illustrous
career, he yet became a member of the Commits
sion the creation of which he had antagonized.
He had to be lifted into his seat during the sit
tings of the Commission, there remaining into the
long dreary hours OF the night; treless among the
tired pressing on where strong men gave way, he
presents a picture that may well excite
history furnishes example" Mr.. Fairbanks
closed as follows:
No dshonorable act detracts from his fame His
hands were clean his integrity incorruptible He
RES ~ the lime Of his death maid ri6ute to
his stainless and exalted purpose He was regarded
and ranked as an intense Pnrtisan and such he
party. and of its benehcence as an instrument in
The State of Indiana commits to the keeping of
the United States the statue of oliver Perry Nor
Of f to eG 81 as She
mts il with affectionate pride, believing that those
years to come viii preserve res IN It perpetual RE
m or hs 6esS 50 h
mighty task of preserving the unity and honor of
readily believe that were it possible for
the statues of Samuel Adams, Ethan Allen. John
George Washington, Danie Webster James Al
Pantheon Of patriots and immortals. the greatest"
could breathe through their marble forms they
ruptible pariot, thou loyal vceregent of the peo-
pie In the perilous hours of the Republic!"
Mr.. Allison, following Mr.. Fairbanks. paid a
tribute Mr. Morton. with whom he had served
in the Senate. He said It not only his pleas
ure to serve with Senator Morton, but to know
much of him, and 1t afforded him special pleasure
after so many years had passed and the antago-
4sms Of generation ago had been s9ftened
occasion of the receipt by the United States from
man. "'i'e OF in''ar' OF statue OF this great
Mr., Allison paid particular attention to Mr.. Nor,
tons career In the Senate. He was, he SAID, of
the few men in the country's history who irnmedi-
atey upon entering the Senate had become the
leader of his party in that chamber. Referring to
Mr. Mortons advocacy of the reconstruction pol
Icy Mr. Allison said: That policy has been
severely criticised, but it is not possible
say what would have happened had the States
which had been in rebellion been readmitted to the
Union without limitation"
In the course of his remarks Mr. Allison referred
70 the work done by Mr.. Morton on the financial
legislation Of his time particularly the impress the
Indiana statesman made on the resumption act
character of Mr.. Morton. the Senate adopted the
resolution offered by Mr. Fairbanks. and adjourned
In the House Mr.. Steele. of Indiana renewed
his request that Saturday afternoon, April "A be
set aside for the reception of the statue of Gov
ernor Morton. Mr.. Fitzgerald Of Massachusetts
who objected to this request yesterday explained
the country 70 the fact that through bigotry ana
prejudice there had been reception up to this
time of the statue of Father Marquette given bv
wisconsin 10 the Nation. He did not press his OBJ
Jectlon, and the order for receiving the Morton
statue made.