ervice in the Senate equal in length to that of
Thomas Benton, whose service had previously held first rank in
duration, covering the period from December 6, 1821, to March 3,
1851, making 29 years, 2 months and 27 days. I had entered the
Senate March 23, 1861, and served continuously until March 8, 1877,
making 15 years, 11 months and 15 days, when I entered the cabinet
of President Hayes. My second term of service in the Senate began
March 4, 1881, and has continued until the present time. My service
since June 16, 1894, is in excess of that of Benton.

On the 4th of July, 1894, the Sons of the American Revolution
celebrated the day by a ceremony held literally in the shadow of
the Washington monument. There, at the base of the great shaft,
the members and friends of this organization and several chapters
of the Daughters of the Revolution gathered at 10 o'clock to listen
to patriotic addresses. The societies had been escorted from the
Arlington hotel by the Marine Band, and gathered in seats around
a grand stand while a battery of artillery welcomed them with a
salute. The band played national hymns, and the audience sang
"America." General Breckinridge introduced me and I was heartily
greeted. After narrating the principal events of the American
Revolution, and especially incidents connected with the Declaration
of American Independence, I said:

"It is a marvel of the world that these humble colonies, composed
of plain men, for there were no nobles or rich men in those times,
furnished genius which brought to mankind greater wisdom in the
framing of a government than ever elsewhere existed. It was of
these men that Lord Chatham said that they had prepared papers
stronger than ever emanated from any court of Europe. Our country
was built up on intelligence, obedience to law, desire for freedom
and the equal enjoyment of rights. Those who are gathered here to-
day are classified as sons and daughters of the Revolution, and
therefore they are under deeper obligations to be true and patriotic
citizens."

I then spoke of the character of our people and our institutions,
and the Civil War, happily ended, and the increasing strength and
power of the republic. I narrated how the Washington monument came
to be completed. I said it was true it cost a million of dollars,
but what was that to 65,000,000 people! The occasion was enjoyable,
the speeches were suitable for the 4th of July, patriotism and love
of