Page images
PDF
EPUB

their own terms and these terms would be the blotting-out of all constitutional and legislative hindrances to the reduction of a race numbering more than four millions to the former condition of slavery. Thus they mean to accomplish another rebellion, headed by the President that now is or is to be.

The wretched status of Democrats in Vermont gave point to an anecdote which Morrill told in his address before the convention. He compared the Democratic Party to a kitten which was owned in common by a little boy and his little sister. The children agreed that "the girl was to own the head and the boy the tail. The roguish boy trod on the kitten's tail and of course there was a squall. The little girl was loud in her complaints, but the boy excused himself, saying, 'I only trod on my part, and your part hollered!' Not for the purpose of mischief, but the prevention of mischief, it will be our duty for some time to come to tread upon the tail of the Latter-Day Democracy and I have no doubt the other part, owned by the slave oligarchy, will holler every time we do it."

CHAPTER X

THE GRANT PERIOD

THE Grant period marked an epoch in Morrill's life as it did in the life of the Nation. Peace had come and recovery was in progress. Political animosities were ameliorated; there was general acceptance of General Grant as the first citizen of the country as well as its President. Republicans were secure in their lease of power which they believed would be a long one. The North was content and settled down to an unrestricted devotion to business; even the South was hopeful, and but for the carpet-baggers and scalawags might have shared in the general prosperity.

For Morrill the period was one of large influence and growing dignity. His position was enviable. Senator from the most Republican and conservative of States, he had the confidence of his constituents and could rest assured of a prolonged if not a permanent lease of office. Strong at home, he was not less so at Washington where he had established durable friendships, not only in the House and the Senate, but in the administrative services also. He was comfortably at home in the great machine of which he was a part. To the prestige of office and the esteem of many friends was added the comforting possession of a modest fortune and complete domestic happiness. He might well be counted among the fortunate as well as the eminent men of his generation, and he showed that he was both content and confident of the future by building a house which gradually became his home for the greater part of the year.

This house was the scene of much quiet hospitality and entertained under its roof at its modest festivities the most

distinguished men of the time. Here came frequently the Shermans, John and William T.; Senators Edmunds, Anthony, Dawes, Windom, Hoar, and Allison; here on the eve of Grant's retirement from Washington he dined with Washburne and a few intimate friends; here came other Presidents, Hayes, McKinley, Roosevelt, and here were always welcome home friends from Vermont - from Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland, and little Strafford. The house was planned with Morrill's usual prudence and care. He chose for it the curve of Thomas Circle, long since left behind in the growth of the city toward the northwest, but then on the outskirts, in fact the most northern of the city houses in that section of the town. The great expansion of Washington was even then visible to the eye of faith, and it is related that one of his friends reproached him for not going farther afield, "Come out to Rhode Island Avenue," said the venturesome one, "and you can get so much ground for the same money you are paying here that you can keep chickens." Senator Morrill smiled over the recollection and his reply which was, "I did not feel that I had the blood of the pioneer sufficiently strong in my veins to push out into the wilderness." The "wilderness" has long since been absorbed into the city, Thomas Circle has been invaded by business, and the house which the Morrills built on the edge of the residence section has disappeared, swept away in the advance of blocks and apartment houses.

It was a solid, unpretentious, but comfortable house, built under the direction of Mr. Clark, the architect of the Capitol, in the fashion of the time, with two stories and a mansard roof which practically added a third. A modest plot of ground gave it a pleasant, airy setting which was aided by its position on a corner with a view across the circle. The ample front door, approached by steps and a short path, opened into a wide hall with doors to parlor, sitting-room,

[graphic][merged small]
« PreviousContinue »