by the sublime
lessons of the event we celebrate and with hearts of gratitude
to God for all he hath vouchsafed to our fathers and to us in
the past, let us take courage, and turn our faces hopefully,
reverently, trustingly to the future."

XLIII
A NEW DAY ADDED TO THE CALENDAR

THE HIGH CHARACTER OF STERLING MORTON AS A MAN AND A PUBLIC SERVANT
--HONORED BY CLEVELAND--ORIGINATOR OF ARBOR DAY.

I recall with pleasure years of close personal friendship with
J. Sterling Morton. He was a gentleman of lofty character and
recognized ability. Much of his life was given to the public
service. As Secretary of Agriculture he was in close touch with
President Cleveland during his last official term.

At the dedication of the monument erected to his memory at his
home, Nebraska City, October 28, 1905, I spoke as follows:

"I count it high privilege to speak a few words upon an occasion
so fraught with interest to this State, and to the entire country.
I gladly bear my humble tribute to the man whom I honored in life,
and whose memory I cherish. A manlier man than Sterling Morton,
one more thoughtful, kind, considerate, self-reliant, hopeful, I
have not known. Truly--

'A man he seemed, of cheerful yesterdays,
And confident to-morrows.'

Of few men could it more truly be said, 'He took counsel ever of
his courage--never of his fears.' With firm convictions upon
pending vital issues, he did not shrink from the conflict. His
antagonist he met in the open. In the words of Lord Brougham, 'His
weapons were ever those of the warrior--never of the assassin.'

"This, is indeed no ordinary occasion. Here and now, we unveil
a monument erected in honor of the memory of one who, alike in
private life and in public station, illustrated the noblest
characteristics of the American citizen. Something of his life
and achievements we have heard with profound interest from the lips
of the chosen orator of this great occasion, ex-President Cleveland
--one indeed eminently fitted for the task. The orator was worthy
the subject; the subject--honoring the memory of one of the
benefactors of his age--worthy the orator.

"In all the relations of life, the man whose memory we honor this day
was worthy the emulation of the young men who succeed him upon the
stage of the world. With clear brain and clean hands he ably
and faithfully administered high public trusts. He was in the
loftiest sense worthy the personal and official