Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-12
John 7. M organ.

A type of the highest development of
American craftsmanship. John Tyler Nor
gan stood for years in the front rank of not
only his party in the Senate. but of the men
of all shades of political opinion. Though
elected to Congress as democrat and en-
bodying all the principles of his organiza-
ton, standing in short for the best democ-
racy and for the best southern sentiment,
Senator Morgan was. nevertheless, above
all beyond party and beyond sec
ton. whose view of all questions was broad
and patriotic and whose conception of his
duty limited by no geographical or
partisan lines.
Senator Morgan's ardent and far-seeing
Americanism was demonstrated in perhaps
the most striking manner of his entire
career by the stand he took upon the ques
ton of Hawaii Rejecting the policy
adopted by the head of his party, President
Cleveland. wien the chief executive under
took to undo the work that had been done
at Honolulu in the interest of civilization
and progress, Senator Morgan stood stead
tasty in opposition to the efforts. to restore
the overthrown monarchy. and rendered
valuable service to the United States there
by. as events soon demonstrated. Had 1t
not been for the intelligent zeal displayed
by Senator Morgan in that fight this coun-
try might have made the monumental blum
der of handing the successful revolutionists
in Hawaii over to bloodthirsty queen to
be butchered in revenge. 1t would have
learned its error in 1898, when Hawaii was
badly needed by this government as half
way station in the Pacific during the war
with Spain.
In the Hawaiian affair Senator Morgan
was actuated by the sincerest of patriotic
which always ruled his course in public as
well in private life. No man ever had
occasion to question his motives or to doubt
the genuineness Of his beliefs. He lacked
the politicians finesse. but he had what
was infinitely better the statesman's di-
rectnesS and honesty. These qualities We're
amply proved in the course of his numerous
campaigns for what he unwaveringly be-
lieved 10 be the right. For instance, never
a better fight waged than that which
Senator Morgan conducted against the
funding grabs of the Pacific railroad cor
porations. In his tits in committee room
examinations with Coils P. Huntington
Senator Morgan proved his exceptional abil-
ity as a lawyer and as man of affairs.
Party considerations never swerved him
from his course when he was assured that
the higher interests of the country de-
manded a vigorous fight for against a
proposition. When he struggled against the
railroad lobby that was opposed to the un-
dertaking of the isthmian canal work by
the government. Senator Morgan knew no
republican democrat, but only the friend
and the foe of the great waterway project.
He became thoroughly convinced that the
Nicaragua route was the better and It
was characteristic of him that he continued
his fight for that route after the decision
was rendered against it. But no man ever
dreamed of suggesting that John 7. Morgan
was not a true friend of canal construction
because he opposed the Panama line. His
convictions were too deep 10 be set aside
abandoned. That was his way of working.
No one thought of Senator Morgan in
terms of years. He was nearly eighty-three
at the time of his death, but the end was
shockingly sudden Alabama loses by this
passing, even though it has already COM
miSsioned man of ability to take the place
thus vacated. The Senate loses one of its
most learned. most courageous. most bril-
liant members. The country loses patri-
otto servant in place where John T. Nor
gan's particular abilities were never needed
more urgently than at present