Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-10-28
STATUE Of MORTON
UNVEILED TODAY
Nebraska Honors Late States
man by Erecting a Statue,
In His Memory
CLEVELAND Is THE SPEAKER
Former President Delivers the Princi.
pal Address in Which the Character
Of Morton is Eulosized-Many Prom
inent state Officials Present at the
Exercises-other News.

Exercises-other News.
Nebraska City, Oct 2S.-In the pre-
ence of 5000 persons and with elabor-
ate ceremony, the statue OF j. Sterling
Morton, secretary Of agriculture, In the
last Cleveland cabinet and founder OF
Arbor Day. was unveiled at Morton
park this afternoon. Among those
present at THE ceremony were former
President Cleveland, former vice Presi-
dent steveson, Gov. Mickey, Hon. Hill
airy A. Herbert and David r. Francis.
There were six addresses, the principal
of which was that of Cleveland. Mr..
Cleveland said in part:
.'As pioneer among the settlers OF
the great west, he espoused with affec-
tionate zeal every movement or In
terest that promised development and
prosperity; but even this he did with
such strict subordination to the conf
mands Of conscience, and with such
courageous reliance upon the strength
that comes Of clear conviction, that In
his beliefs on economic and
financial topics, he did not hesitate to
attack the opinions and prejudices OF
those with whom he had made his
home There was no bitterness of heart
in all this; hut there was the positive,
rugged earnestness Of a strong, deter
mined man, quite content to trust time
and sober second thought for his vindi-
cation
"Our friend loved nature with con-
stancy and delight and through ma
ture he was led to a reverent love Of
the Maker of the universe. He served
the purposes Of God on earth and
taught his fellow countrymen to real
ize their relationship to nature and the
Father of all created things, when he
established the planting OF trees as q
custom of general observance among
our people. This work was done With
out trunlpeting the praise Of the man
who founded Arbor day, and without
perverting its benefcent design to the
exploitation Of his fame. 1t was done
modestly and quietly, in keeping with
the disposition of it's promoter and his
estimate Of reasonable service. No
beautiful crest or elaborate coat OF
arms would so we'll illustrate his
grand simplicity, or typify the spirit
in which this project had its rise ana
completion, as its symbo olizatfon by a
tree sur,mounting the homefy
legend. "Plant Trees"
Though the erection Of this monu-
ment may have had its beginning in the
loving appreciation Of Arbor Day, we
cannot escape the feeling that 1t would
tell but little of the story of the life
and career Of the founder of that day
Il there were not imperishably inscrib-
ed upon it the words Pioneer, States
man, Scholar" as well as "Tree Plant
er." And even with all that has been
here builded and inscribed, those who
knew him best and loved him most
cannot see in this dull, cold effigy any
Of the tenderness and un-
ceasing affection of the father and
brother, and the cheerfulness and
mirth which in his hours of relaxation
he brought to his home and fireside,
nor the pen-Feartedness and contag-
ous good humor which he gave to In
innate companionship. The monument
hat recalls these features of his heart
and soul is built on the hallowed ground
of memory.
"And yet none of US should go from
his place untouched by the lesson
which this statue teaches. Here we
should learn that character, uncor-
.upted by the contagion Of ignoble
,hings and unweakened by the corro-
sion Of sordidness and money-madness
3 the cornerstone of every truly use
tul life, and Of every genuinely noble
achievement. We shall do violence to
the moral sense which God has vouch-
,afed to humanity If amid the sur
we close our minds TO the
ruth, that character represents the
.eal value Of man according to the
BILE standard of fine gold; and
hat it differs immeasurably from
.eputation which measures mans
worth by the shifting and untrue STAN
lerds of mean ambition or successful
uni sjtv. We have fallen upon days
when our people are more than ever
urnine away from their old faith in
he saving grace of character ana
docking to the worship Of money-mak-
ng idols. Daily and hourly in the light
,f investigation and exposure, charac-
-erless lives are seen in appalling
numbers. without chart or compass,
crowded npon the rocks and shoals OF
and breach of trust. How
II have these wrecked lives exchanged
he safe course and the harbor OF honor
md usefulness which character and
.ectituae point out, for a wild and
,eo 7long rush over unknown seas IN a
search for pelf.
II our people ever return again
% their trust in character as steady
ng force in our restless enterprise and
immense material growth. it will be
when they take to heart the full sig
lifcance Of such a commemoration as
his. We menorialize man who not
,nly earned the lasting honor of his
but whose life, in ali
hings worthy of high endeavor. wa.
successful. AS a pioneer
VINO labored to Improve the new
country OF his home, he lived TO see it
,fossom az the rose: as scholar he