Evening star., 1900-03-24

BY the mute images of the chiefest jewels
o. he republic.
The stat. of Indiana has an ample roll
of distinguished statesmen who have served
I.r we'll. Of soldiers who won imperishable
rrupwa upon the hattlefields of their coun-
try. "f those who have attained high place
iu The world of letters, but without invidi-
ouS discrimination. she makes her present.
and FIRST. contribution to statuary hall
''Oliver Perry Morton was one. of the
comma ndiug figures of the United states
during the most heroic 9eriod of her his
tory Tie. impressed himself upon his state
auI us,tinu by the force of his commanding
genius and the history of neither state nor
nation wpuI1 he complete without the story
~ his life and work.
Mr.. Frirbnnks then with bold and sweep
iTg. but definite and exact lines drew d
striking word picture of Governor Morton
He pictured his early life. his struggles LOT
an education, the sacrifices he made TO
Slake his passionate thirst for knowledge
and the power as lawyer and judge which
b" early attained by reason OF ms Drlll!ant
e14aIifica fionS. Then he told in vigorous
words the stirring story of Mortons en-
trance into political life. and of his be-
coming th.. governor of his native state
al the threshold Of a mighty crisis
Firm when Others wavered.
Ii. realized said Mr.. Fairbanks. ''and
in advance. of NEST others, the true and
,.,-s-i.n movement. He did not doubt the
rrSn, rr tn. issue but h" favored energetic
and speedy preparation to meet it, When
others wavered he was firm. and when
s,i ucrS doubted. he was certain. The task
H.. undertook was herculean. There We're
many who were not in sympathy with the
t-ui,,u cause. BY CeaSeleSs vigilance ne an
ifrip.tt.d every attack which treason about
him planned. When the governor was with
"tIt f"u%dS to support the affairs OF the
state. through the failure Of hostile and
disioyaI legislature to perform its duty. ne
borrowed money upon his personal respon-
siTility and preserved the faith and credit
uf the state. The emergency was great,
aud it required man OF commanding force
and ability to meet it
Mr. Fairbanks then succintly related the
part which Gov. Morton took in the civil
war what he did for his state and her
troops in that critical period, and how he
won tn. love of the soldiers and an imper-
iShHbl- reputation at the same time Next
h.. ruli how the distinguished statesmen
already in the grip of a deadly djSac..,e.
cam t. Washington as senator Som In
diana. That he might d. h. duty to his
st.ts" and t" his coupUC he bid even death
defiance lie wOrLtd increasingly that the
rditou wh!sh mad Just emerged from the
llgrt O'r'tism of war might be put on the
Dtsywty of enduring peace. This herculean
work must be done. He had no time to
parlry with death
There are colleagues of Mr.. Morton in
tt+ Sf-Il:Iir VINO remember dS lnpuSn II
wrrs. but yesterday how the senator was
bnrns into this chamber in his chair and
Flf,T h delivered his great speeches seated
Here.
The Electoral mmissiOn.
El"Iucntly Mr.. Fairbanks told of Nor
t"n'$ most conspicuous and illustrious pub
lie s-rvire-his labors on the electoral COM
mission following the presidential election
cf I>IG
Stricken by remOrseless disease and rap
idly approaching the end of an illustrious
career, ha vet became a member of the
commission the creation of which he had
ANITA gnnized- He had to be lifted into his
seat during the sittingS of the commission.
there remaining into the long. dreary
hours of the night. tireiess among the tired.
pressing On where strong men gave way,
h. presents picture that may we'll excite
our wonder and challenge our admiration
and for which history furnishes eX-
lrnp..
~" Iishonorable act continued the
Sr'aSrr- "d"trdcts from his fame. His
hands were clean. his integrity inCorrupti-
his- H. was bold hut chivalrOus politi
al s.Htt4 4,ilist. for his sense of honor was
a'Ht.'- His political adversaries at the
ri!ne Of hi- death paid tribute to his STAIN
l---~ ard exalted purpose. He was regarded
anal T.luk~i as an intense partisan. and
sJirh h was. He had an abiding faith in
tn" virtu. of his party and of its benefi-
""ur.' ~ an instrument in promoting good
government
Pride of Indiana.
The StIt,. of Indiana commits to the keep
i:,s uf the nited States the statue of Oliver
f-rrS Morton. to be kept and preserved so
long dS thr fabric Of our political institu-
Hons shall endure. She commits it with
afe''icEate pride. believing that those who
shall follow us in the stately procession
II fE- Years 10 come will preserve in it
perpetual RENE embrance of one who gave
his b--;t years. yea, life itself, in unselfish,
uEe~a~ins devotion to the mighty task of
preserving the unity and honor of his coun-
try-
II can readily believe that were it possi-
hie for the statues of Samuel Adams, Ethan
Ailen, John Stark and Roger Sherman to
uttered speech, yea. if George Washington
Daniel Webster. James \. Garfield and the
other occupants of our American pantheon
"i patriots and immortals the greatest
cpuld breathe through their marble forms
they would say: Hail, hail. thou brave and
neorruptible patriot. thou loyal vice regent
"r IN" people in the perilous hours of the
republic
Mr. AlIisOn's Tribute.
In a strong address Mr.. Allison, following
Mr. Fairbanks. paid a tribute to Mr. Nor
ton. with whom he had served in the Sem
az He said 1t was not only his pleasure
10 serve with Senator Morton, but TO know
much vf him. He said it afforded him spe-
cial pleasure, after many years had
passed and the antagOniSm of a generation
ago had been sOftencd or quite forgotten
to address the Senate briefly on the occa-
sion OF the receipt by the United States
from the state of Indiana of a statue of
This great man