Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-07-13

>
an intimation that he did not endure
the labors Of a Judge long. though he
has. long worn the honors. In Decem-
Der 1881 he was, elected Prose-
cutting Attorney for this circuit, which
then embraced Madison. The cleo
ton was by the Legislature, and his
principal. ifnot his only Competitor,
was, LTD. Lanier, of Madison, then in
the prime Of his professional life. Mr..
Lanier had been Prosecutor. but was
supplanted by Judge Johnston. We
need not tell how he discharged the
duties Of that Office. It was. beyond
question. to the best Of his ability,
which. II we must speak our mind, is
loss adapted TO such duties than tc
any other that he has ever been called
TO.
At the August election 1894. he
was elected TO the lower House Of the
Indiana legislature, while yet serving
as Prosecuting Attorney. His col
league was James Conwell. Il was
no mean compliment to him at that
early age that he received $40 more
votes than Conwell. and So more than
than double the vote given to Ben. s.
Noble, the son Of General Noble, and
formerly one Of the most promising
and popular young men in Indiana
But the destroyer had laid hold Of
him. He had become a drunkard.
and il Is no less compliment to our
fathers to say that twenty one years
60. the d emocracy could not be
driven to the support Of drunken men.
Then, Judge Johnston was a Wing,
and was elected as such. over Charley
Hutchcn. and Ben Sed Noble. Tho
not a voter then. we remember that
we rejoiced greatly at the verdict Of the
people against drunkenness. We tho't IL
spoke well for the intelligence and
morality Of the County. But then we
did not have to overcome some 1900
un-Americanized beer drinkers, which
now cast their votes for those who
promise to protect them in their beer
business.
Here is a suitable place to pause
again. and indulge in a few reflections
that may be serviceablc to our youth
full readers. for whose benefit chiefly.
We are subjecting the Judges modes
ty to severe test. in these sketches.
Too many young men Of the present
generation think that, because they
have neither wealth. nor education.
nos family influence. they are doom
: ed to be mere hewers Of wood and
drawers Of water all their days. They
forget that cit is merit makes the
man." They may hear Of an occasion
alprodigy who has arisen from obscu-
rity to position. without thinking there
are many VI their own acquaintances.
who, by diligence. have overcome
difficulties. and that they too. may ex-
col BY proper application. Too many
parents also think that money is all
thRs their children will need, to ena-
bic them TO pass hono-ably through
life. Had some one whispered to
Gen. Noble. when he first noticed the
Aaxen-h headed boy. in hunters cab
In. in Henry county, that in twelve
years. that boy. unattended by. the pres
tige Of parentage. and without the ad'
vantages Of collegiate education,
and without the influence Of money,
would obtain moro than double the
votes Of his proming. and talented son.
Sed., on whom he was lavishing mon
ey. and to whom he might bequcath
- much of parental popularity as
might be handed from father to son,
he would have thought him the most
visionary Of mortals. But so II prov
ed.
Its not saying too much. 10 say
that Sed. Noble. entered his majority
with the fairest prospects, SO far as
elements Of popularity are concerned
ofsny young man Of that day. He
was the son ola talented and popula-
man. and he possessed talents and
learning. and amiability. to an unriv-
allied extent. But he fell, by dissapa-
-tion. while his former waiting-boy,
arose BY sobriety and industry.
The session Of the legislature the
succeeding winter. was one Of more
than ordinary interest. Moreover it
was Legislature composed Of xES.-
Then . legislator received about six
tines the wages of an. ordinary work
hand. and had to pay about one
twelfth ofhis per diem. for board. lea
wing such an amount that an honest
man could afford to leave ordinary
business for q few weeks. to attend to
the business..of thelState. And what
was still more important, men were
then Independent Of party shackles.
and they would vote for none but good
and true men. Such things. as are
now chosen to legislate. under party
drill. would not then have been pro-
noted to the meanest Office. We hope
TO zee such times return. for surely
We are suffering enough from mean
legislation, to make men begin to think
ofehoosing men Of mind. and men Of
intelligence. And now the Legislator