The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-10-09


tist, and the brOnZed and stalwart country
man swayed by the lofty eloquence and thrill
Ing appeals OF the preacher as the storm rocks
the vessel at sea. Shouts of approval went
up from every quarter Of the encampment. l
shall never 70 get the feeling produced
his long service to his church and Fellow men,
aud holding up his arm pointed to his dIlapi-
dared coat as the only one he had in The
tense; the blood gushed from the nostrils of
one man who had been noted as never having
religious sentiment in his life. John Strange
the purest and aolest men of his day.
There are many other subjects the history of
which would form valuable addition to pub
lie knowledge. The judicial history of Indi-
ana; the organization OF the courts; the
changes in the law and the practice under It.;
and members of the bar, are all worthy
OF preservation. The literary, the
medical, the agricultural and man
very Interesting. The projectors of our
railroads, aud railroad men should be noted.
1 ;n eoHeze Lees and nniversities and schools Of
have their proper mention. But this ADDRESS
must have an end. II is already longer than
intended. 1t was difficult. however, to make
II shorter and many tempt atoms to lengthen
IL. In conclusion can truly say thai am
glad to meet you here, and hope that there
will be many annual reunions of the old set
tiers of Indiaua, and the proper means adopt
ed 10 perpetuate the history of the entire state.
Whether we shall have these early remin1s-
cences or not depend upon your determination.
You can not set up as an excuse that you
old and your memories have failed; for we
know as general result. that while the men,
DRY grows dull a to what passed yesterday, it
becomes brighter as to the even S of our earlier
years. Physical infirmity, it is true, may rem
der all exertion painful, and in some instances
impossible. Macy of us are old, however, be-
cause we whimsically allow ourselves to so
think and act. Won Moltke. at the age OF 70
years, successfully commanded the armies of
Germany. Old statesmen like Palmerston
skilfuIy governed Great Britain as her prime
are Off en- strongly eloquent. They reused
themselve to the work before them and aston
will we want-the intellect is here.
We have had many political cam paig MS, the
history of which might be given without in
the least inter ering with the party feelings Of
truthfully reported would afford much aInuse-
ment AS we'll as instruction. No political con-
test, however, in Indiana ever eQualed that OF
1910. 1t was the most remarkable that ever
occurred In the life of the nation. The excite
ment was unparalleled. The outpourlng of
the people, the enthusiasm, the log cabins, the
canoes, the banners ana flags, the coon skins,
the hard cider, and the Thousand devices
TO attract attention oreXpress a sentiment
but, above all, the 10000 people assembled in
convection at the Tippecanoe battle ground,
and sending forth a mighty voice to all the
states of the un on, was literally overwhelm-
ing. What opposition could Withstand for
moment the terrible avalanche? The revou.
ton in public sentiment was complete. The
party In power was hurled from their places
as dry leaves before the wind. Still we have
no record OF that wonderful campaign ex-
no one here to revive the memory of the
scenes of the year 1870? Haye we also forgot
ten the men who lead in the events to which
1 have alluded? L remember the names of
Oliver III. Smith, James Rariden, Samuel G.
Parker, Caleb b. Smith, George q. Dunn,
Jonathan McCariy, George III. Proffitt, and
host of others who might be mentioned. The
gentlemen named are all dead; yet for force,
power and elOquence they are not exceeded
by any of those of the present day. In too
many instances we have ftiied 10 foster the
fame OF our great men. While other states
cherish the reputation OF their brighter spirits
and glory IN doing honor, even to distin-
guished opponents, we too frequently suffer
our petty jealousies and party strifes to de-
tract from their true merits. Let us nurse the
memory OF our great men and extol their
good deeds, and the world will be the more
ready to do them Justice.
A very interesting portion of our history is
connected with the adoption of the great sys-
tenn of internal Improvement Of 1896 For sew
eral years previous the subject had occupied
the attention of our principal public men
seth Sevenworth, one of my early school
teachers, an enthusiast in favor of internal
improvements was elected to the legislature,
and brought the matter in 1925 before the body,
of which he was a member. His measures,
however, were deemed extravaganza, and met
with little support. In 1873 Governor Ray, in
a Naming message, again brought the subject
before the people of the state; but his plans
were alto thought to be eXtrayagant and him.
self fanatic. L recollect about this time my
respected father, in a public speech, told the
people that in England hey were running on
railroads at the rate of 20 miles hour.
Many of his audience doubted his word a
thing improbs BILE, insisting "that a traveller
going at such speed could not catch his
BREATH" Public sentiment however, became
more and more enlisted with each returning
year.
AS result of the continued agitation and
di- eussion of the subject a bill was introduced
and passed In 1886 adop ing magnificent
scheme for improving the,state. Eight differ
ent works, consisting of pike roads, canals and
railroads were authorized, and required TO be
completed without delay; board of public
works constituted, and loan of ten millions
permitted on a credit of . years, at per cent.
with demonstrations of delight. Bonfires and
illumlnatiOns were kindled in every locality
to be benefited by any of the works. The
opposition in the legislature. Eighteen mem
bers of the house voted against the law, aud
about one-third of the sena G. headed by John
Dumont, the senator from Switzerland, one of
the aoiest and most witty debators OF his day
John Dum0nt entered the arena the next year
as candidate for governor against David Wal
lace, who favored the system. The only ques
ton discus ed was the classification OF the
public works. Dumont was defeated, TO the
great qualification of the friends OF the meas
which no one OF the contemplated improve
ments was completed, and n debt OF ten mill
lions was Incurred, the whole scheme fell, un-
honored, togeths + with its warmest advocates
Il was a stupendous failure, the hi tory of
which would require many pages to unfold.
While the tru N of history demands that
we should record me mistakes In the
measures adopted, however well intended,
there are Others oil which we may Justly boast.
Our school system IS OF the number. Many
hard battles were fought before IL became
fixed on a basis which we now trust and be-
lieve is permanent. The mass of our people
had come from states where fles schools had
no existence. They were averse TO taxing
themselves TO educate The children of others.
As late as 1850 the census showed that we had
nearly 90 0OOl seventy-five thousand people
over the age of twenty-one years who could
n