J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day, was a pro-slavery racist. We shouldn't forget about that.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
We Nebraskans have lots of reasons tobe very proud. Proud of the people
who've called and called Nebraska home.George Norris, Edward Flanagan, Chief Standing
Bear, Johnny Carson, Bob Gibson, Warren Buffett, Gabrielle Union. Even
more importantly, the ordinary Nebraskans whosettled and stayed here on the farms and

(00:20):
ranches, every day growing the foodthat feeds the world. Proud of our
traditions, the things that we've doneto make the world better, the Reuben
Sandwich cool aid and the Higgins boatsthat carried brave soldiers to the shores of
World War II battlefields. Tomorrow,much of the world, from Cambodia through
the Republic of Congo to Canada willcelebrate perhaps Nebraska's best known global contribution,

(00:48):
Arbor Day, the annual genuflection toTrees. It's a cultural observance designed to
remind how important trees are to theenvironment and how we must plant new ones
to sustain the planet. The world'speople will do it even in countries that
hate US Cuba, Iran, China, North Korea, Russia. Maybe they

(01:10):
all liked the idea so much theychoose to forget its origin. I think
it's time we forget its father.He is Julius Sterling Morton. He was
a person, and his persona todayremains quite materially un Nebraskan. Bad dude,
really bad dude. Martin's brazen,unapologetic hatred for black people makes him

(01:36):
far from the hero that we've idolized. Rather, he is our state's greatest
embarrassment. Morton and his wife arrivedfrom upstate New York in their early twenties,
settling on one hundred and sixty acresof Missouri River Bottom near present day
Nebraska City. He farmed, foundin a newspaper and engaged in the politics
of the day, which were dominatedby one issue, abolition. But the

(02:00):
late eighteen fifties, the Nebraska territorywas squarely in the heart of the national
argument over slavery. Southern Democrats pushedhard in Congress to ensure settlers in each
new state had the option of acquiringand maintaining slaves. Blessedly, it appears
most Nebraskans found the idea vile andimmoral. Southeastern Nebraska became a nineteenth century

(02:25):
distribution center for Northerners immigrating to Kansas, ensuring it a free state. The
migration was dangerous since it came byriverboat across slave Missouri on the Missouri River
to land at Our Falls City.There they would meet up with pioneers driving
modified wagons whose cargo was fugitive slaves. Nebraska would be the westernmost port of

(02:51):
the famous underground railroad. These braveNebraskans of the day were ready to die
to free the slaves. Actually,the abolitionist Republicans took control, persons of
color would be free here. Deniedbut hardly defeated, Morton spent the rest
of his miserable years railing against blacks, attempted to revise history. In writing

(03:14):
the first illustrated History of Nebraska,he all but ignored for what our abolitionists
bravely fought. Instead, he insistedNebraska was destined for slavery. Cited his
own resolution at the eighteen sixty fourDemocrat National Convention urging the delegates to stand
firm against any rights for blacks orany equality with whites as the will of

(03:39):
the people. His reckless use ofthe N word in speeches and articles is
grotesque. It is genuinely believed thatMorton's views are principally responsible for the rapid
rise of the Ku Klux Klan andits terrorist activities across Nebraska for more than
half of the twentieth century, andyet the previous generations somehow saw it fit

(04:03):
to name schools after him, highwaysand byways, even induct him into the
state's Hall of Fame, where hisbust shares that high platform with truly honorable
people. Jay Sterling Morton was evil, vengeful, hateful, and whose name
should be stricken from the eyes,ears and lips of any living Nebraska the

(04:24):
world over. Celebrate Arbor Day andnature's splendor tomorrow. Use it to inspire
our kids to care deeply about theone earth that we all share. Just
forget how we got it.