The Conservative (Nebraska City, Neb.) 1898-1902, May 29, 1902, Page 16, Image 16
16 Conservative * state of Nebraska made Mr. Morton famous before he was given the ap pointment to President Cleveland's cabinet , in which lie made a notable record. He was a man of wide attain ments and was successful as an editor , a lawyer and a statesman. Post. Farmer and financier , journal ist , astute politician and lover of trees , his interest , his activity and his achieve ments included all those elements of public and private service in citizen ship which are embraced in our time- honored ideals of the sovereign citizen. Inter-Ocean. He had convictions and he stood by them. When grown men and women would not listen to him he appealed to the children. His truest fame was won in his successful effort to induce men to diversify and improve prairie regions with woodland growth. Chronicle. The originator of Arbor Day , for which ho is best known in many localities beyond his own state , his active and philosophical brain was prolific at all times of ideas and sug gestions calculated to benefit his fel- lowmen. His death is a genuine loss not only to Nebraska but to the entire country. Men of his type are not com mon in any age , but they are needed to day in America more than at any pre- vious time in its history. Record-Herald. Mr. Morton was a sturdy and vigorous personality , tena cious in his adherence to what he be lieved to be correct principles , unyield ing in his advocacy of the things that made for honesty and sanity in public affairs. He was a typical educated farmer of wide and liberal culture , who loved the soil and his books. He was recognized as one of the highest author ities on finance and the higher politics. American. Personally he was a well- mannered and likable man , popular among his equals and well liked by his subordinates. He was good-humored and kindly. Tribune. His first thought was for his country ; his last thought was for himself. The qualities which character ized him sturdy integrity , convictions i of right and justice , personal independ ence , unflagging industry , manly honor and love of country are not so fre quently met with among public men that young men can afford to neglect a study of his life. Live Stock World. He was father of the idea of Arbor Day , and the good his work and words have done and will do in clothing our prairies and hillsides in youthful and beautiful trees , would be hard to overestimate. Unity. Let there be one tree set out in the most desirable and fertile corner : let it be a long-lived tree ; let it receive special care and let it be known as the "Morton Tree of 1902 , " his death year. Let the story of it be passed from one generation of school children to another , and on each Arbor Day , under its spreading branches , let the story of J. Sterling Morton , the great tree-planter , be gratefully told. American Lumberman. A man of clean life , of active mind , of warm sympathy , a man whose activities were not limited by his own interests or en vironment , but which went out to all the people. He was a remarkable ex ample of disinterested patriotism. North Western Christian Advocate. Secretary Morton's administration was characterized by devotion to the in terests of farmers , and is especially i v I * notable for the interest taken by him in the cultivation of forest trees. BLOOMINQTON. Pantograph. Ho was one of the most practical and progressive men of the West. As an official of the government , his record was honest and straightfor ward , and the department has had few men who have given more devoted and intelligent attention to its duties. Bulletin. Those are wonderful mon uments which J. Sterling Morton has as memorials of his abiding faith in the great West. No grander shaft was ever erected than the living trees which dot what was once seared prairies. EDWARDSVILLE. Intelligencer. All his life he has been a farmer and a leader in the upbuilding of every line of agriculture. It was he who originated Arbor Day , which has become an annual festival. JOLIET. Republican. He will be best remem bered by the people of the nation as the founder of Arbor Day , which was ap pointed upon his natal day. His con stant motto was , Plant Trees. SPKINGFIELD. News. Morton was one of the demo cratic leaders of the country , who has left a splendid record behind him. Register. His contribution to the wel fare and happiness of mankind was not limited to his own generation , but will continue to grow , blossom and bear fruit throughout the generations yet to come. KANKAKEE. Times. In the death of J. Sterling Morton the nation loses its most prom inent farmer and horticulturist. OARLINVILLE. Democrat. He was a man of stead fast convictions , unswerving honesty and undoubted ability. HENRY. Republican. As an official of the government his record was honest and straightforward. He illustrated the patriotism and sense of duty which are stronger than party ties , with the true American. CICERO. Advocate. As the founder of Arbor Day ; as a citizen who was loyal to his country above his party ; as a man who respected his honor and loved his home above partisanship or wealth , J. Ster ling Morton was honored in life , and in death his name will long be cherished. Our Morton Park may well be proud of the name. PEORIA. Herald-Transcript. He was a refined and cultivated gentleman , but at the same time he was an intensely practical farmer. His death is a severe loss to the state and to the entire nation. He was a man of a type which is unfortu nately disappearing from the political world. HILLSBORO. News. He was a man of steady con victions , unswerving honesty and un doubted ability. NEW YORK. NEW YORK. Evening Post. His life has been full of conscientious and useful service to his day and generation , and remains a fine example to the young. Journal of Commerce. He was a clear , simple , straightforward and per fectly frank representative of popular government , who was ready to spend a lifetime in convincing people that they were wrong. People who agreed with him were invited to vote for him , but lie never would shade his opinions to win any man's vote. For forty years he was a real force for good government. Mail and Express. Mr. Morton was the originator of Arbor Day , and thou sands of trees now thriving on the once woodless prairies of the West are his living monuments. BUFFALO. Times. It may be regarded as a melan choly coincidence that the death of Julius Sterling Morton should have oc curred in the very week marking the annual celebration of Arbor Day , for Mr. Morton's best claim to fame was as the originator of that day. News. He had fixed ideas and could maintain them with determination and intelligent argument when called upon to dp so. The farmers had always a willing listener and a judicious and brave adviser in J. Sterling Morton. Commercial. The late J. Sterling Morton , of Nebraska , who was secretary of agriculture during the second ad ministration of Qrover Cleveland , has a claim to remembrance that will not be overlooked. ALBANY. Times-Union. The death of J. Ster ling Morton takes away as rugged , well-poised and public-spirited an Amer ican as recent days have seen. Argus. The late ex-Secretary Morton , of Nebraska , was a man of strong char acter and no slight ability. As secre tary of agriculture in President Cleve land's last cabinet , he impressed him self upon the country. He was proud of the title of Father of Arbor Day. UTICA. Dispatch. J. Sterling Morton was a man of wide and practical knowledge who exerted considerable influence in politics. SYRACUSE. Standard. It would be a good thing if there were a great many more like Morton. MlDDLETOWN. Press. He was the originator of Arbor Day , and in connection with that useful anniversary he deserves to be most gratefully remembered. ROME. Sentinel. Secretary Morton was a practical farmer , and therefore he was a valuable cabinet officer for the coun try , though he was not valuable to the politicians , who sought to use him for their private ends. He was a man of learning and character. ADAMS. Journal. He always maintained an interest in the home of his birth , visit ing Adams when he was a member of Grover Cleveland's cabinet , and of course making a most favorable im pression on those he met. TROY. Times. The American people will hold in kindly regard the memory of J. Sterling Morton , for he has done his country service which entitles him to such remembrance. 3 *