The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-11-02
Only Ex-President Speaks Al
Unwilling Of Statue at
Nebraska City.
GREED IS Spelling Us
Desire Fer Gold 10 Leading American
Into Wrong Channels and He
Says They Should Emulate
J. Sterling Morton.

t'AAN ~
unwilling OF the Ct the late
J. Sterling Morton. former secretary OF
agriculture. here last Saturday. n
large thronE was present.
Cleveland said the tendency OF the
present American Is to worship the gol-
den calf n that they would better
learn a lesson from the great and good
life OF Morton and emulate his example.
Grover cieveland's Speech.
ar. Cleveland said:
have not como 10 the surviving family
OF J.. Sterling Morton. and 90 those who
were his m friends and neighbors,
superiuons recital OF his virtues and mem
but / am not here without a mission. I
would fain interpret this monuments mes
ionship and cooperation. In the discharge
OF the highest public duty. with the man
We honor, i am here to give evidence con-
corning the things no revealed TO mo In
the light Of that companionship and coop
Grafton. This is but 20 testify, TO his lofty
civic righteousness, hts simple and suro
inslstence on ofncial honesty. his sturdy
adherence TO opinions deliberately and
cons~cientiously adopted. his generous con-
efforts. and his passionate desire 20 serve
the best interests In his fellow country
men.
Stood for Economy at Washington.
lie Dcllcfcu mat waste IN pubic cNpeudi-
ture was sin. These beliefs were not In
his mind mere comfortable sentiments,
mildly stimulating TO self-rightcousncss,
but were active Incentives TO battle. The
t~ravagance could not blind his eyes. nor
could the ridiculc OF those who had learned
TO soon at official economy. or the threats
OF those who pcrfdiously contrivcd TO ap-
propriate public funds 20 private gain.
drive him TO compromise with wrong.
our friend loved nature with c~onstancy
and delight. and through nature he was
led 20 n reyercut love OF the Maker OF the
universe. lie served the purposes OF God
on earth and taught his fellow countrymen
to realize their relationship to nature and
the Father OF all created things. when he
established the planting OF trees as a Gus
tom OF general observance among our pco-
pie. u work was done without trumpet
Ing the pralSo OF the man who founded
Arbor day. and without perverting its
beaeicicnt design 10 the exploitation OF
his fame. IL was done modcstly and quiet
ly-in Keeping with the disposition OF its
promoter and his estimate OF reasonable
service.
The Lesson OF His Life.
And yet none OF us should go from this
place untouched by the lesson which this
statue teaches. Here We should learn tina
character. interrupted by the contagion
or ignoblc things and unwcakcncd by the
corrosion OF sordidness and money-mad-
ful life. and OF every genuinely noble
achievement.
We shall do violence 20 the moral sense
which God has VouchSafcd 20 humanity ~
amid the surroundings We close our minds
To the truth. hat character represents the
real value or a man according TO the un-
nl1srable standard OF fino gold: and that
" differs immcasurably from reputation
which measures a mans worth by the
and untrue standards OF mean
ambition or successful cupidity.
We Worship the Golden Cali.
We have fallen upon days when our pco-
nile nFa mara shnn agHg~ sWWfl 49,. -.
their old faith In the saving grace OF char
acter. and Hooking To the worship OF
moncy-maklng idols. Daily and hourly in
the Hight OF investigation and exposure.
charactcrlcss lives are seen IN appalling
numbers, without chart or compass crowd
cd upon the rocks and shoals OF faIthlcss-
ness and breach OF trust. How III have
these wrecked lives exchanged the safe
course aud the harbor OF honor and use
fulness which character and rectItude
point out. for a Wild and hcadlong rush
over unknown seas IN "A consuming search
for pelf.
Our Hope Is in Such Men.
II our people ever return again 20 their
trust In character ~ a stcady!ng force In
rial growth, Il will DO when they axe 10
hcart tho full significance OF such a com
metnoration as this. We memorabilia a
man who not only earned the lasting hon
or OF his countrymcn. but whose life, In
all things worthy OF high cndeaVor. was
abundantly successful.
Description Of Monument.
The fund with which the Morton
monument was erected wa raised by
the Arbor Day Memorial association.
which was organized shortly after the
death OF Secretary Morton early I'm
1902. This association had as It's pres
ident Ex-Governor Robert w. Furness.
III. ID. Wilson OF Nebraska City was
made treasurer. and John Nordhouse
was elected secretary. Twenty-Five
NInA NFnHNNnRHn $500
whom were prominent Nebraska citl-
zens.
The central figure In the
Is. OF course. h statue OF Mr.. Morton
himself, which stands upon n massive
yet graceful pedestal. in an attitude
Characteristic OF his strong life. His
right arm hangs easily at his side, and
In his left hand he holds lightly n pa
per, as though ~ recent reference: n
branch OF a tree rests easily ut his
feet, while a plowsharc slightly in tho
rear suggests the rugged pioneer DAYS
or his lie. At the foot OF the pedestal
stands n graceful wood spritc. her left
hand tendcrly protecting n young
growing tree. thus symbolizing the
spirit OF the wise. public spirited ideal
expressed by Mr.. Morton's simple
formula. PLANT trees" \ scmi-clrculnr
stone bench stands at some distance
back OF the pedestal. and forming a
friozc around II are tho words. Pioneer
Statesman. Scholar. Tree Planter"
The back OF the bench Is further or
namcntrd with ~ large medall!ons
en- bronze plainly visible To the right
and loft OF the statue rs one stands
before IL. These illustrate the one and
important epoch In Mr.. Morton's ca
rccr, and the other his hearts desire.
namely. the treaty with the Pnwneo
Indians. I'm which he prominently par
tiCipatCd. and a group OF school chill
drcn planting trees. The lower part
Og the bench bears the inscription:
Erected BY the Arbor Day Memorial
association. In memory 81 ]. Sterling
Morton. 1903"
Upon tho pedestal itself Is inscribed.
y. Sterling Morton. father OF Arbor,
day: plant trees
The reverse OF the PEDESTAL hears n
concise sketch OF Mr.. Morton'S life and
public services. The spaciouSness and
solidity OF the base and foundation OF
the monument arc intended To har-
monte with the vastness and substau-
TALLY OF tho western country.
The platform around the
Is about 20 by 80 feet. and excepting
for the brick. which IL used In the
platform. the entire Is OF
granite and bronzs II IL located In
Morton park.