The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-04-21
Justin S. Morrill,

1t seems only yesterday that Justin
S. Morrill, was one of Vermonts hon
ored members in the United States
Senate and yet today we celebrate :
the centenary of his birth. 1t hap !,
pens, usually, that a generation inter
venes between the death OF states
man and such an observance, but in
this instance only little more than
a decade interyenes between his |
passing from active service and the
rounding out of the century. During !
the past year the hundredth anniver-
saries of the birth OF not few great |
men, In this and other lands, have |
been observed but with the exception |
of Mr.. Gladstone none has seemed so !
much a part of the present as the
man whom We honor this day.
His career in many respects was
most extraordinary one. Having
entered mercantile life and acquired
competence seven years after the
retirement at IS, an age when many
suppose that a mans best days have
passed and opportunity no longer
knocks at the door, he entered upon
a public career that was to establish
the longest record Of continuous con-
gressional service in the history OF
the United States, thus far, almost
forty.four years. And yet that record
is but an incident in his career. True
craftsmanship, not mere length OF
service made Senator Morrill, justly
famous.
The beginning of his career marks
the end of the Wing and the rise Of
the Republican party. Franklin
Pierce was president OF the United
States and Jefferson Davis was sec
rotary of war Webster, Clay and
Calhoun had just passed from the
national stage and men like Seward
and Sumner, had just entered upon
their careers In the Senate. Abra-
ham Lincoln had not become a nat
ional figure. John Sherman entered
Congress with Mr.. Morrill, The Mis-
souri, compromise had only recently
been repealed and the bred Scott de-
cision had not been announced by the
supreme court. Bleeding Kansas"
was the great issue Of the times.
Senator Morrill's period Of public ser.
vice, extending from the days Of
fierce anti-slavery agitation to the
end Of the Spanish war thus covers
nearly half a century-the most mo-
mentous period Of our national his
tory.
His record as a statesman Is pres
ented elsewhere in this paper and is
one OF which every Vermonter must
be proud He achieved fame In both
House and Senate and was one of the
great masters OF congressional nm
ance In the history OF the United
States. In his whole public. career
there was never hint that he used
any unfair or corrupt methods in Sc
curing election to office. and never
the faintest suspicion that his record
was dimmed by the least suspicion OF
dlshonor. II is a model for all sue
ceeding generations who may asplr,
to place and power.
Without money. or influence, or ed
ucation TO aid him. he won great sue
cess. BY his industry and discretion
he accumulated comfortable prop
erty. BY diligent and careful stud!
he acquired liberal education ant
. became the embodiment OF the fines
+ type OF American refinement and cul
ture. by his faithful service aide,
= by native ability he achieved a des
y erved reputation as an illustriou
American statesman.
= But after all. the supreme tribut
paid to Senator Morrill, is of IN,
l. same kind as that paid to Abraham
Lincoln, mankind trusted him an,
; loved him. II is probable that In al
the years that have passed since ver
= mont became an independent CON
monwealth not one OF her public ser
wants has been more universally be
loved than Justin S. Morrill,. II 4
Q not alone because we admire hi
( splendid services but quite as mucl
= because we love his memory that W,