The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-22

against his absolute fidelity and honesty as q
public official. His name pronounced in .
onym for all that was incorEu ptible in ofisce,
apd fearless In the discharge of its duties. He
Asylum by the'last Legislature, and he died
holding this POI lion, enjoying io-the last the
ful, condolences OF his parry and his friends.
Ris a pabl nc' an sIe' onci eli a1 Iiss
thar we are called to speak such an
sonaI relation which he bore TO his friends,
that was dearer 70 them 'thap all else. He
inspired acknowledgements affection-to
greater degree than perhaps any man ever
knew. Those VINO came In friendly contact
with him were drawn closer and closer to him
as time moved on. He loved and cherished
his friends, and held them as with hooks OF
years and ten. 1t will be 50 years in January
the hand, and gave me Writing g
of college, entirely without experience in the
affairs Of the world. 1 remember that David
duced me, and I remember, as Il IL were but
yesterday, the g.nial encouraging look and
tone of Judge Ristfne when he found that was
one OF the Coal Greek boys, whose father he
knew SO well. From that hour until the other
day, when held his dying hand in mine, and
looked into his dying lace, no man in all the
tide of time ever had a kinder, gentler, truer,
drawer or better friend than he was to me.
between us, our relations became close and
intimate, and remained SO. There Was
never single moments alienation
or Misunderstanding. never even a word of
explanation required in all our intercourse.
Our friendship was all sunshine, wi nout a
cloud, from the beginning TO the end He
honored me with his confidence, and L had
every opportunity TO know and understand
mis- character. In many respects Judge Ris-
tine was very remarkable man. He had
many of the elements of true greatness. He
never knew in any one else to the same ex-
tent. He wss as gentle and tender in his sym
d 1eenieS Vein 'i Of pathos u pervade e his
whole nature. Tears started as he lis
tened to a tale OF suffering. He was
also prominently peacemaker among men.
At the approach of trouble between offers he
instincJiveIy interposed with words of concil
with these gentle traits of character, he bad a
courage as high and as unquaiiing in the
! in the face of danger ever dwelt in the
| heart of man. He had strong resent ments
| under u sense of wrong, and his courage was
| based upon an idea OF duty. He was proud
| self esteem: he respected himself, There was
also great firmness in his mental fiber: he was
of fortune. Taese Qualities became
more conspicuous than ever before
him. 1 was vii him repeatedly in his closing
| days and hours and it seemed as If his splen-
proaca Of DEATH In a becoming - manner. His
| face wore an elevated expression, a look of
hrmuess and serenity, such as never before
| witnessed in the immediate presence OF ths
great change. He would gladly have lived
| longer for he loved this beautiful world and
the friends from whom he was drifting away
but when ne heard the final summons h,
faced the dread unknown with unquailinl
ey, and answered that he WAS ready
His mind was peculiarly clear and Wig
orous tn the very last. a few hours befor'
his death, as sat oy his bedside, he asked mi
when l was going to Ohio, and the point
\ where [ expected to speak. 1 told him. II,
| asked whether l would be in his nativ
| county. told him thought not. He PAUSED
thoughtiully, and then said: "1f the BLESSING
of oyine man could be carried to that people
I would gla iiy send them mlne" He com
mented on the gu 4lities of the opposing can
didateS, ana intimated the result which ha
since occurred. He talked of old aud cherished
friends, OF the living and the dead, called then
by name. and told now dear they had been t
him. Not a murmur. no wall or complain
escaped him. This, however, dld not arise from
| indifference to the responsibilities that wer,
be ore him, and SO near at hand. knew tn
| contrary.
Though Judge Ristine was not member @
a church, yet he believed in the doctrines o
the Christian religion. No one ever heard hin
speak frreverently of sacred things. He rea
the Bible much. and often quoted 1t in con
versation. We had compared views thou
sand times on religious subjects, and he knew
that l was well apprsed of his faith. BE
theref fore, simply SAID to me la our last inter
ziew: 81 rely on the mercy and the goodness
of God" This was his hope, and it is 8
men. Clinging to it, l saw the be-
loved friend of my youth and of m
manhood descend to the portals OF the gray
| with a courage that was sublime and con
request of me-that would do as have don
here to-day-say something for his memor
in the midst of his friends and brethren afte
| he was gone And now, brave and lovin
heart, natures gentleman. FAREWELL The tu
never wrapped a Inapller breast, and a spir
realms of eter 'ity.