Evening journal., 1913-12-29
NEW MEMS OF YESTERDAY
v hy Oliver P. Morton De-
Ciined the British Mission
BY Holland.

! could not help inferring that an
anecdote which was told me by the
late n. B. sperry. who for some If
teen years represented the New
Haven district In Congress and who
was an Intimate personal friend OF
President Lincoln. Senator o. p. Nor
ton, Governor John A. Andrew. Of
Massachusetts. and of many other
leading Republicans, was based upon
something which had been told TO him
a few days earlier by Senator Morton.
The great Indiana Senator, who has
passed into history as one OF the Gov
ernors Of Civil War days in the early
7o's. had been visiting Mr. Sperry at
his home in New Haven
The two men were longtime
friends. and their friendship was not
merely based upon political associa-
ton. but was also due to very con-
genial personal qualities
Mr.. sperry said: Il don't know how
many offers of high Office Senator
Morton had while he was in the Sen
ate, but I do know OF two which
came to him. both of which were de-
clined. Morton was a very strong
supporter Of General Grants plan of
securing a coaling station for the
United States in San Domingo, and
he also favored as Grant did, the an
nexation of San Domingo TO the
United States.
"You may remember that this San
Domingo recommendation which
Grant made was the direct cause Of
his quarrel with Senator Sumner,
which resulted in the removal of
Sumner from the chairmanship Of
the committee of foreign affairs in
the Senate.
"Well, Morton stood stanchly by
President Grant during all that rum
pus I'm the Senate. The difficulty in
part led TO the removal of John
Iothrop Motley from the post OF min
lister to England. an act for which
many Eastern Republicans never for
gave General Grant or Hamilton Fish,
his secretary OF state.
"The President wanted a strong
man and a representative Republican
as the successor Of Motley. The first
man he thought of was Senator Nor
ton. In a discreet way Senator Nor
ton was informed that II he would ac-
cept the appointment the President
would be very glad to nominate him
TO be sent as minister to England
Norton, of course. knew that the
domination would be instantly and
unanimously confirmed by the Senate.
for that was the custom when sena-
tors were appointed by the President
10 cabinet or other important posts
H.
that the thought OF going to Great
britain as minister was very attrac-
tive to Senator Morton He was not
feeling in the best of health. He re-
memhered that after his first attack
Of paralysis, in 1866 he gained great
benefit by a eoionrn in England and
upon the continent. Besides. he was
getting somewhat tired of some of the
pressing duties OF public life.
Gle thought the matter all over
and was about ready to say that he
would accept the appointment when
/ Il suddenly occurred to him that il
/ he did he would be OBLIGED TO resign
/ his seat in the senate. thereby Great.
/ inc vacancy with the chances very
strong as political sentiment was al
( that time IN Indiana. that a Demo
Crat would be chosen TO succeed him
! Therefore. he told the friend who
/ made the communication to him that
/ he could not accent the appointment
and he said furthermore that Pres.
/ ident Grant could not afford at that
/ time 20 mart with him as Senator
/ ard he thought TINT the marty. in ad
/ di'on had need Of his services. There
/ fore It was out of the question I,
consider him in connection with thu
Enplish miseion
"I am inclined TO think" Mr.. Sperr'
continued. chat on the whole Genera
Grant was very g'od 10 he able Il
reiv upon continuance Of III
stench ennrort Of him and his ad
m'nistrat'on which Senator Mortol
always gave"
Copyright 1913 nv u. 7 Edwards
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tel
"An Anecdote of Oliver p. Morton.