THE OMAHA ILLUSTRATED BEE.
October 22. 1I0&.
Norton Aonuirienl to Be Unveiled by Gro ver Cleveland This Week
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GROVER CLEVELAND, WHO WILL. DELIVER A EULOGT ON J. STERLING
MORTON.
STERLING MORTON mi one of
a group of remarkable young
men who came out from the old
states to Nebraska fifty year ago
In aearch of homea and fortune in
a land which waa widely condemned by
geographer as a sterile and barren waste.
A nutii-e of northern New York, reared In
Detroit, Mich., and educated at the Michi
gan university and at Union under Tup pan
and Nott, he attracted the attention in his
early youth of Lewis Cass and Wilbur F.
Storey of the Detroit Fres Press and later
of the Chicago Times, by contributions to
the newspapers. The fact indicated the
ability with which he was endowed, and
the trend of his , ambitions. These ambi
tions were distinctly political, and when he
arrived in Nebraska in 1864 with Carrie
French Morton, his beautiful bride, the
mother of Joy, Paul, Mark and Carl Morton,
it did not remain an open secret many
years that his aim was a seat In the senate.
Democrats were dominant in those days in
the territory, as in the country,' under the
sway of Doug-las, Pierce and Buchanan,
until the election of Mr. Lincoln and the
advent of war. Republicans now occupied
the seat of power, but when state govern
ment was ordained Mr. Morton and his old
classmate and friend, the late Andrew J.
Poppleton, were the only democratic can
didates for the senate. No other men were
thought of for these great honors by demo
crats, and they received the unanimous
vote of the minority.
Might Rave Been Senator.
I thought I knew then, and I think I
know now, that had an honest vote and a
fair count been permitted, J. Sterling Mor
ton, and Andrew J. Poppleton would have
been the first United States senators from
the new state. It is certainly true that it
never contained two men better fitted to
adorn the senate than those founders of It,
whose names have beeii so long and justly
honored by our people. It was, I believe,
'fortunate for Nebraska that, for more
than forty years, republican control gave
to it the benefit of the wise counsels and
continuous labors and endeavors of Mr.
Morton In laying the foundations of the
young commonwealth, which, had he been
sent, to the senate, it could never have re
ceived. As Secretary at Nebraska Territory.
Mr. Morton succeeded Thomas B. Cuming
as secretary of the territory at the hands
of Lewis Cass, President Buchanan's secre
tary of state in 1868. Wllllany A. Richard
son of Illinois was the governor. In his
occasional absence the duties of governor
devolved upon the secretary. In the fierce
Nebraska Soldiers' Moauinent
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SOLDIERS' MONUMENT RECENTLY
controversies over the removal of the capi
tol Mr. Morton originally favored the
measure as a representative of the South
Platte section, but in the later emergency,
when a minority adjourned the legislature
to Florence, he took a broad view of the
subject and opposed the revolutionary at
tempt. Governor Richardson, who was In
Illinois at that time, promptly supported
lilm in his position. Succeeded by the late
Senator Puddock in 1M1, Mr. Morton re
turned to his home In Nebraska City,
where as farmer, editor, essayist, home
builder, tree planter, political leader and
foremost citizen of the southern section
and democratic leader of this part of the
west, he lived a long and stirring lite of
usefulness and honor.
Activity Begins Karly.
Mr. Morton began his y activities on his
arrival on this then frontier or the union
as a contributor to the first newspaper
Nebraska ever produced, the Palladium of
Fellevue, and to the Council Bluffs Bugle.
It did not take him long to Impress himself
upon affairs. Locating soon afterwards at
Nebraska City, he became the editor of the
Nebraska City News, and a strong factor
In the factional, sectional and political
strife of the white occupation. As a leader
of thought and of men, as a man of bril
liant mind and, solid character, a a finan
cial and economic thinker, sound In princi
ple on all public questions, a the advocate
of the home and of the simple life, as pro
moter of all moral, educational and ma
terial welfare, as teacher and preacher of
the wisdom and necessity of tree planting
In a treeless country. as the discoverer of
Arbor Day, whose name waa continually
connected as a candidate for the highest
honors of the state, he gained a national
reputation, and. called to the cabinet of
President Cleveland, who comes afar to
speak his eulogy at the dedication of the
monument which has been erected at Ne
braska City, he proved his sturdy charac
ter and administrative abilities by a service
and a record that reflected honor upon the
administration of his illustrious chief.
His Modal Qualifications.
Mr. Morton was a man of rare social
qualities and Intellectual culture, lie read
much, but he thought more, and his orig
inality was his most striking trait, unless
It was his courage. He was a ,man of
convictions and waa never afraid to avow
and defend them. The more rancorous,
unreasoning and stormy the opposition, the
better it suited him. His ready wit and
humor In public discussion was a help to
his power of clear statement and logical
reasoning. He was at his best in bis
home, where there was always the charm
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UNVEILED AT RNDOLlI, NETj;
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of genuine and generous hospitality from
one who knew well how to bestow It.
After his retirement from tho cabinet
Mr. Morton edited and published a weekly
Journal, The Conservative, which gave
form and force to his thought upon cur
rent subjects of public concern. It was
widely read and greatly enjoyed, as it
gave its editor wide scope for a style that
was always his own, and for the expression
of views on a large range of topics with
which It gave him much satisfaction to
deal. Declining health chastened his
labors on the Conservative, und Insidious
disease came upon htm almost unaware.
On April 27, 19U2, he passed from the
scenes of earth, and his death was univer
sally regretted as a severe publio loss. The
;SOth saw a vast concourse ut the funeral
to pay 'respect to tho memory of Nebraska's
eminent cltiien. and every honor was
shown for his character and life. Promi
nent citizens from all parts of the slate
gathered at his home and thousands fol-
Gossip and Stories About
I'adyiaar Plea for Bryan.
0N THE Bethel cemetery, near
I Wellsville, Mo., the following in
J, scrlption Is found on the tomb
'3C3P stone at the grave of Henry
ii Norrls, who died a few yean ago
at the age of 61 years. It reads:
Kind friends I have lift behind.
Cast your vote ior Jennings Iji vuii.
H. B. Hudson, the marblo dealer, at Mont
gomery City, Is the author of the unique
verse. Norrls was one of the strongest sil
ver men in the country, and, with another
man, had tho envied distinction of shaking
hands with Mr. Bryan when the latter was
in Wellsville a few years ago.
Norrls remarked to his friends that if
they erected any kind of a monument at
his grave he wanted a silver verso in
scribed upon it.
After his death, in April, his friends
"chipped" in for a monument. Mr. Hud
son and Mrs. Oliver, wife of Judge Oliver -of
Montgomery county, wore appointed m
a committee to "think up something ap
propriate.'' Jlr. Bryan's attention was called to this
whlta he and Governor Folk were on the
platform at Montgomery City. Mr. Bryan,
smiled and called Folk's attention to tho
fact that they were near the sKt where the
remarkable epitaph might be read.
Brothers Meet After Fifty Years.
Three brothers. Kcv. 8. B. Tugtfart, M.
R. Taggart and David Taggait, had not
met for fifty years until the Grand Army
of the ' Republic encampment Jn Denver.
David Taggurt and M. R. Taggart are
Nebraska Soldiers' Monument at Randolph
HE unveiling of the soldiers' monu
ment at Randolph was an oc
casion f hat drew a Urge crowd of
people from the surrounding coun
try. Governor Mickey was to
make the princluul address, but was de-
tained In IJiicolq by state affairs and Ad
jutant General J. H. Culver represented the
governor. , .
This monument Is one of the finest in Ne
braska and rati hardly be equalled in the
slate for artistic beauty of design and
carving. The entire work, except the statue
the soldier and granite columns, was dona
in Randolph at the marble yards of Louis
Boinruer. the designer and builder. It is the
oiide of Randolph ritisens. The value of
the weaumeat ta l&M aad Ue money waa
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MONUMJliNT TO i. oTiiiUlJ MUU'iVN AH 11' HTANDfl.
fjiiiiigy l! is i ji iuu?
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ARBOR LODGE, THE MORTON HOME.
lowed his remains to the grave. . The
strong feeling over the death of Mr. Mor
ton led to an Immediate movement for a
monument to his name, and a popular sub
scription was raised. The needed funds
were promptly produced with contributions
from our own and other states, the artist
has done his work, and the monument is
about to be dedicated by imposing cere--
moniea. The Impressive fact Is tliut one
of the most Illustrious of the ex-presldents
of the United States comes fifteen hundred
miles from the midst of Important duties
to do honor to the nunc and to speak the
final eulogy of J. Sterling Morton.
GEORGE L. MILLER.
Suggested For The Presidency.
In ISfo, when Mr. Moiton was still a
member of the cabinet of President Cleve
land, the matter of the democratic nom
inee in 1896 was being debated. An ad
mirer of Mr. Morton wrote from Min
neapolis, under dale of August 27, 1S9S, tu
veterans of the civil war. At the begin
ring of the war they enlisted In different
Pennsylvania regiments. They went
through the war, fighting battle after bat
tle, but never meeting each other. During
that time Rev. S. B. Taggart I was attend
ing Princeton Theological semiiury. At tho
close of tho war the brothers became
widely separated. The theological student
returned to the old home, M. R. Taggart
remuiued in the south and David Tageart
drifted to Kansas and located near Olathe.
They met at the I'nion depot In Denver
and after fifty years recognized each other
at sight. David Taggart is 72. M. R. Tag
gart t7 and il. B. Taggart 74 years old.
M. R. Taggart is a merchant at Pittsburg.
Pa. Iavld Taxeart Is a retired farmer
living near Olathe, Kan., and Rev. S. B.
Taggart's home Is at Alton, 111. The other
two are now visiting David.
A I'ioaeer Miser.
Memories of the picturesque day of
frontier milling t itles are revived 'now und
then. The death of James Daly, 7; yiurs
old, at the county poor l'.irni at Virginia
City, Nev., recalls the honlin.J period oi'
that i-uinp. The Yr:e;idles Da.y r.as one
of the pioneer of ilie CouisiiH'k lorV. lie
was then a wholesale and retail maker of
s Ik hats, employing a large force in the
business, and had anions his customers
such men as Flood, itm kiiy and Fair, who
were quite ready to pay as much as $.'0o
for their headgear. Then Daly was as
good ss any of them, drove the finest
horses in Nevada, and accumulated a for
raised by the voluntary subscriptions of
P.audolpil people.
The extreme height of the monument is
nineteen, feet, and Its total weight is SS.rt'1')
pounds. The first bae Is lo9 f.-t and upon
tills rest three other bases, all of cut Bed
ford stone. On theae buses rests tr.o die.
On the, east and west faces of the die are
the IrttArs "G. A. R." in relief and in rustic
pattern, while on the comers on tsch side
of t!ie initials are the dates ls-71 and llcfi.
Resting on the four corners of the die are
four columns of polished Wisconsin granite,
of a red tint, and resting in the so be
tween the columns Is a cannon made of
dark blue marble.
Each of the granite pillars has a Bedford
stone cap carved lu Ionic styto aod en these
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the editor of the New York Evening Post,
as follows:
"Anent the third-term discussion, the
Evening Post of August 17 says of the
president: 'The people turn to him for
further service because they are unable
to find as a successor any one who gives
assurance that, if elected to the presi
dency, he would guard the public Interests
in the same fearless and effective manner"
as Mr. Cleveland has done.' The successor
to Mr. Cleveland is not far to seek.
J. Sterling Morton possesses in an equal
degree every quality which has made the
president strong in the public confidence.
"There has been no more stanch up
holder, of the public credit than Mr. Mor
ton. He was among the very first of our
public men to stem the '16 to 1' free silver
tide In language so clear and Incisive as to
leave no doubt about 'its meaning. With
him. 'sound money' Is that In which tho
civilized world does business gold or Its
equivalent. He has shown administrative
Noted People
tune of perhaps Sl.uoo.uoo. But the hatter
went into stock speculations, lost his
money and for ten years had lived In the
county poorhouBe. There arc many in .
Nevada who knew "Jim" Daly at the
height of his fortune.
Economics of Sngr.
A lawyer In Nassau street whose office
is across the way from where Kusscll Hage
makes and remakes his millions started
early for his Lackawanna train one day
last summer relates the New York Tribune.
It wus In the hot spell In July, and he look
his tiin. When he reached Broadway and
Cortlnndt street he found, so he Kays, that
Rues II Sage was just ahead of him mak
ing his way with his usual nervous speed
down toward the Sixth avenue "I,." Mr.
Sage, who usually looks as though no
amount pf heat or humidity could affect
him, seemed, nevertheless, to feel the tem
perature, and JiiHt as he reached the ele
vated railroad stairs the lawyer passed
i'iri. 'Tnt'le" Rtjfifc 11 wa? jnni about ad
dreosinK a venderf raiinleuf funs.
"I w:irt a fanV' said Mr. Sage. "How
much?" H thru-it his hand into his pocket
u nil waited for the reply.
"Five cents apiece." returned the vender.
"I'nele" Bunnell hastily withdrew his
hand from hi:i trousers' pocket, but there
whs no coin In it.
He hdd up two ringers. "Two for five?"
lie slid. The ventter shook his head.
"Fl' centf." he r-lleravd But 51r. Satte
was adamant. He denuded, cli'iilied the
stairs, and as tie wept., he i!0: "fiver In
NsrsHii street they're two for five."
rents the cap-stone, on the ast and west
faces of m-hich are ,the words, "Randolph
Pout No. lri" AtK.ve the cap is the pedi
ment, on the east face of hii ii is a shell
in rell'f bearing the date l.n.5, and on the
other three side are crossed cniiions. Tlw
foot stone is the next piece, and like the
haves and raps is of Bedford stone. Around
the edge of the foot stone Is a border of
eanr.on bails tut in relief. Surmount iug the
w hole stands I lie statue of u soluier six and
one-half feel high, carved in Bedford stone.
The soldier' stands at parade rest, both
hands grasping his musl.et. the cape thrown
back from his right shoulder, cartridge, box,
bJt and canteen In place. The monument
Is set in the center of the cemetery grounds,
oocuylng aa eminence overlooking the city.
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THE LATE J. STERLING MORTON.
ability of the highest order In the conduct
Of the Agricultural department. While,
with a wise economy, saving to the
treasury over $1,000,000 returned to it from
the appropriations, the value and efficiency
of the department have been greatly In
creased. No branch of the government has.
In the Interests of the people, been more
carefully guarded or more Intelligently
directed. This Is recognised by men of all
parties. The tolling millions, whether In
tho workshop or on the farm, have in hint
a faithful and fearless friend, too honest
to deceive them with false hopes. Labor
and captial. each needing the aid of the
other, friends, not foes, have In film a
defender and ally. A graduate of Union
college, he Is a man of broad and generous
culture, and at the same time he Is, like
Lincoln, a plain man of the people, easily
accessible, and of gracious manner. In
deed, he possesses many of Lincoln's char
acteristics which so endeared him to his
fellow-countrymen. The author of lArbor
Day, now so generally observed, of which
he Is Justly proud, he Is widely and
hororably known. In the purity of hi
public and private life he la above reproach.
"A representative democrat, Mr. Morton
stands for a wise economy In administra
tion: for commercial freedom In a tariff for
revenue only, graduated by the actual needs
of tho government: for honest money
opposed to any scheme for tampering with
the standard of value: for a pure civil serv
ice depending upon merit. Should the dem
ocratic masses. a in the case of Mr. Cleve
land, summon him to the leadership of the
party', his candidacy would Inspire confi
dence In business men everywhere, draw to
Its support the most Intelligent and thought
ful of our people In the majority It Is be
lieved east, west, north and south; and
should he be elected to the presidency, it is
safe to say that in high purpose and pa
triotic devotion his administration would
be equal to that of any of his predecessors."
Monument a Tribute from Nebraska.
When the plan to erect a monument to
the memory of this distinguished citizen of
Nebraska was broached it was Immediately
popular. The Morton Monument associa
tion was formed and the plan was given a
practical turn, so that now, a little more
than three years after his death, the monu
ment Is complete and ready to be formally
dedicated. It Is true that J. Sterling Mor
ton has a more enduring monument In the
many groves of waving forest trees that
now deck the once treeless plains of Ne
braska. In this he bullded better than
sculptor or. mason, and has a fame that will
outlive the most obdurate of granite, for so
long as a tree is left to cast a grateful
shadow In the summer that long will the
people of this state. have In mind the man
who preached and practiced the planting of
trees. The monument that la to be unveiled
next Saturday Is merely the concrete em
bodiment of the sentiment of his fellow Ne
braskans toward him and his work.
Last week when The Bee's staff photographer-
visited Morton Park at Arbor
Quaint Features
T'yIms With Twelve Finn-era.
MK WIFE of Miehaelo Glgantl. of
Quidnlck, R.' I., gave birth to
twins, each of which has Hlx
fingers on' each hand and six toes
on each foot.
The attending physician says the hand
and feet of the children are perfectly
formed, the etra tiimers and toes growing
straight out parallel with their fellows.
"Jach of the e: tin toes and ringers hs thre.
phalanges, and In every particular is as
perfectly formed as thoce constituting the
rcKular complement.
The doctor suys there Is no deformity
of either hands or feet on either child, and
that owing to the perfect formation one
would not notice the additional fingers and
toes.
The twins are a Uiy and a girl. The
extrn toes will not prove embarrassing
when shoes are to be fitted to those six
toed feet. It will te different with the
handi. however. The young people will
perforce have to wear mittens or have
their gloves made to order.
4 booses lr" Own Coffin.
The funeral of Mrs. Hannah K. Moullou.
of Newton N. H.. who made all the arrange
ments for It before she died, was held from
the First Christian church and was one uf
the most novel ever held in that city.
Mrs. Moultou was an eccentric woman
and more than a year previous to her death
made all the Ji I ai f enients for her burial,
fcelng poKsexsed of some means, she told
her neighbors that site was going to have
a good uuAto-datc funeral If it cost her t!A.
Having reached this conclusion, she
visited an undertaker and spent consioer
ebie time in looking over the assortment
of caskets, finally selecting a half couch.
She gave minute directions for the trim
ming and selected the mountings. Hhe next
purchased di-ea goods of black silk, which
he baa since kept in the bouse, with older
that nothing ahould be dona to it until
eftor her duatb, wbsn It waa to b made
Lodge to get a view of the monument, he
found the statue already draped and await
ing the ceremonial moment to be unveiled
to the public. He made the photograph
which shows how It stands today, but not
as It will appear In after years. Mr. Ru
dolph Evans of New York, who designed
and executed the monument, superintended
its erection and draping, and left for the
east early In the week. A statue of Mr.
Morton Is the chief figure of tho monu
ment. It stands high on a solid pedestal,
a simple figure, outlined against a back
ground of wood and sky. The pose adopted
Is one that was most natural for the sub
ject, an easy, graceful attitude, Just as he
was wont to stand when engaged in con
versation with his friends. A Bemi-clr-cular
stone bench surrounds the monument
and pedestal, being suitably Inscribed to
the memory of the father of Arbor day.
The whole is mounted on an ample plat
form of masonry, elevated above tho level
of the beautiful park In which It stands.
Those who have watched the erection of
this monument are eager In their praise
of design and execution, as embodying the
spirit and typifying the nature of the nun.
Morton Monument Association.
Shortly after the death of Mr. Morton,
In 1902, the Morton Monument' association
was formed and , the work of securing
funds was commenced. The work baa since
progressed most favorably, no hitch In lta
proceedings having been noted. Robert W.
Furnas, since deceased, waa made presi
dent of the association and associated wUh,
him as vice presidents were: Ezra P. Sav
age, ex-governor of Nebraska; John M.
Thayer, ex-governor of Nebraska; James
E. Boyd, ex-governor of Nebraska; Lo
renzo Crounse, ex-governor of Nebraska;
E. Benjamin Andrews, chancellor Univer
sity of Nebraska; J. M. Wool worth, ex
president American Bar association; W. H.
Munger, Judge United States district court,
Omaha; General Victor Vifquain, Lincoln:
James E. North, Columbus, Neb.; C. H.
Gere, editor Lincoln Journal; Peter Jansen,
Jansen, Neb.; Colonel William F. Cody,
North Platte. Neb.; Joseph Millard, United
States senator; Charles Dietrich. ex-United
States senator; Charles F. Manderson, ex
United States senator; David H. Mercer,
ex-member of congress; E. J. Burkett,
member of congress; E. J. Hairier, ex-member
of congress; Dr. George L. Miller.
Omaha; E. Rosewater, editor Omaha Bee;
Bishop Bonacum, Lincoln; R. M. Allen,
Ames, Neb.; J. B. Weston, Beatrice, Neb.,
and R. B. Schneider. Fremont, Neb. H. D.
Wilson of Nebraska City was made' treas
urer and John Nordhouse secretary. An
executive committee was provided, consist
ing of John W. Stelnhart. chairman; John
Nordhouse, secretary-, and R. W. Furnas,
Paul Jessen and A. T. Richardson. This
commltte has looked after the details of the
work and .has discharged Its duty In the
matter so successfully that next Saturday
at Arbor 1-odse the most interesting fea
ture of the undertaking will be completed,
when the monument Is unveiled.
of Current Life
In the latest fashion. She Informed her
friends that not a stitch was to bu slighted
in the making of the garment, simply be
cause it whs for her funeral. All of the
aii-ungeineiits were minutely carried out. '
ilim'l .i ear the Water."
Several young women of Salem, O.. who
have been trying to learn to swim had an
experience a lew evenings ago about which
they are not Maying much. The young
women repaired to a pellucid stream
known to lf.ee I fame as Bowman's dam
that meaiide'.-eil through a sequestered spot
and in a moment three beauteous Psyches
leaned over the margin contemplating an
entrancing scene in the ripphnif waters or
diihliled in their refreshing depths.
While thus they disported themselves,
practicing "treading watei' und floating,
a wild-eyed cow. favored beyond its fel
loux. strayed that way and, mistaking tho
vaii-coloi ed and dlapliunous garments of
th fair bath.-rs which lay on the bank
for a new kind of breakfast food, began to
nibble them. "Hookey" was enjoying a
pier de resist -nice which, however, ofteqer
find mention In the confidential cata
logues of the department stores than on
th clothesline menu of the bnine family,
when a shriek from the water Indicated the
discovery of the horned poacher.
"Hookey" started across the fields, still
holding to her mimlln sandwich, which she
defiantly w-ived at three airy and blushing
Auroras tai scampered shooing at her
heel. Tl.t i-lia-u' was long, but fruillefs.
"Sookey" rot awav with er it then, but
it if not recorded, that any of the flr
bathers went home In a barrel or "hid
out" In the woodshed, as the small boy
similarly enib arrasx-d Is wont to do. until
the benign shadows fall. Nor Is It re
corded that "Hookey" or her women friends
have been Heeu in strange raiment, though
doubtless it ahern that Is to say, there
will t a leading topic at the next MWlng
circle In bovine society.
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