The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-07-11


ton WAS indeed limited, snd Colleges aud Unit
versities sealed mysteries to his bOyhoOd but
there were lessons OF higher wisdom and of more
value than fChOOlmaster or Professor ever taught
engraved upon his mind "a he grew TO manhood
In the receoiug shadow Of the wilderness aud In
little read Tg matter In the pioneer settlements
The FIRST newspaper In all that vast region now
comprising Indiana. Illinois, Michigan and Wis
published by Elinu Sk.ut. IN its columns the
Young and the old Of that day eagerly scanned the
sayings and doings OF those who were intrus.ed
with public affairs No other people are deeply
interested IN good Government as those who are
not yet strong, rich and seltreliant In cOnse-
Quence of this fact the inhabitants OF the frontiers
at every stage of American history have been vis-
liant observers of their puo Bile servants Turn now
to enc of the few whiteh haired fathers who yet re-
main, and who can recall the closing days Of the
Indiana Territory and the early years OF the
Stale,
GOVERNOR WILLIAMS
could and often did. and you will be filed with
astoDisbment You viii fod that the scenes and
events OF that period of anxiety and determined
effort have been painted on his memory IN unfad
ing colors. He will repest, as ] have hesrd In
some Instances. verbatim, the speeches to which
he isteDed more than half century ego; he win
tell you their effect on the audience, scribe the
personal appearance and manneroi the speaker,
and inform you TO IFS fate 1T the polls Re viii
recount the various Legislatures of that trying
time and specify their acts on leading subj sets
He will speak of the messages OF Governors aud
the influence they had on the public mind; what
principles they involved and how they were set
you that the fountains of knowledge. though not
breaking forth in classic grounds or academic
shades. were not denied him. And so II was with
Governor Williams. His nrst reading was on
grave and serious matters. His youthful miad
knew nothing OF fiction. His thoughts aud life
were real. he read the messages of the early Gov
errors. Jennings. Hendricks ard others, IN which
there glOwed feryent love OF country and a firm
faith in the people.
THE GLORIOUS TRADITIONS
and the high American flavor of the Revolution
a boy Governor Williams often listened in silent
wonder to men not much past middle
Washington and In council, with JeiTer-
son. Mao ison and Monroe. 1t has been said that
from lack of education and travel he had certain
nRrTowness of view ia public affairs. On the con-
trary, Governor Williams was developed and iu
st1ueted from youth to robust manhood In
school On thought snd action which never yet
failed to make broader. stronger and more useful
men than the Greek lexicon or tourists guide
book. He formed his earliest ideas OF government
and of public duty from the purest and best
sources and there was not a proScriptige, intoler
ant or narrow sentiment in his nature His love
of country was OF the Old-sShloned kind, Inspired
by the spirit of l775, and ii was broad enough to
embrace every star ON the flag. and every
folds. But there still another powerful reason
Why Governor Williams carried intO tue discharge
heart. He lived and died a practice farmer. He
knew the lsboring people better
than any public msn Indiana ever
BHd remained there 10 the end. He was at home
IN the brcsd and wholesome neld, and he was ia
miliar with the wants and ways. the hsrdships,
and the hopes of those who eat their bread in the
sweat OF their faces. From the days OF Cincln-
n6tUs TO the present time men seeking popular
favor have been psrsded and eulOgized as farmers,
who could lot tell held of wheat from field OF
oats but tie farmer In " hose memory we are here
to-day drove his team and held
and gathered ii IL; sowed mis- small grain. and
Teaped his harvests; raised horses csttle. sheep
and hogs, and fed them with his own hands. He
made more than two blades OF grass grow where
none grew before. and thus advanced the general
welfare. In the pursuit OF these labOys he became
deeply imbued with sympathy for the agricultural
olssseS, and with an earnt ST desire for their i'm
pIoyement. At an early period OF his life he be
afiops and for more tbsn thirty years was a con-
trolling meInbe OF the edana state Fair organi-
ZstiOn. gbk Tribute, so long continued, and COM
iIg as ii did from
THE TILLERs OF THE SOIL,
was peculiarly grateful and doubt If any Doli,i-
cal honor was ever as pleasant to him or as highly
priced as his prominent connection with the
TO interview a herd of blooded cattle keenly as
reporter delights 10 interviews string of can
didates for the Presidency. His enjoyment
of cultivated hogs, looking comfortabie
from high living and handsome from high breed
iIg was very great and very genuine. In his ad-
miratiOn of the horse he had, without reading
Bsoon, adopted the Bsconian philosophy. He
looked 10 utility rather than 10 style and speed.
His pride was 10 the farmers horse rather than IN
hy an, s S9u s OF the race track Growing
the clover fields aud broad meadow lands were 70
him source OF unisiling interest and continuous
comment. While traveIsing every part OF the
State few years ago. and as the bright and beau
tiful farms seemed 20 glide by like painted
oTsms on exhibition. how often have ! heard his
eomme5ts on the mcrs than msg;esI CRANES I
had witnessed. He had, indeed IN his own day
ard generation seen the wilderness put OF its saw
sge garb ana array Its waste places in the richest
70 hes OF proereM culture and refinement 1 have
heard him recall the fact that within his rec)llec
tion not a tree OF the primeysl forest had been
disturbed by the white mans az where now stands
the splt ndid capital Of chr State. George Pogue.
the first seuler OF Indianapolis. was massscTe1 by
iqUad OF SnawIce 4lClans, ST point not lar
iron the Governors Circle, IN April, 1921, and
Governor Williams. then an intelligen. boy thir-
teen years cld, could easi ly remember
THE PAINFUL EXCITEMENT
ss the news Travelled from settlement to settle
meDt aloI the banks of White River and down
here TO his own home. II is not any wonder,
Therefore, that he looked with peculiar emotions
On the present condition of Indians, The happy
home of 100000 healthy prOsp erous people, her
fields 1ie.ding more agricultural wealth in proper
ton to area than any other State ia the Mon; her
coal. timber stone and fine clays giving
employment at good wages 70 nearly one hundred
tories reaching the annual value of two hnndrsd
miiiioIS; and all these elements Of wealth and
divenifed industries ia no necessary conflict, but
capable, under wise legislation, OF being made TO
promote, foster and encourage each other. lie also
saw the Cause Of education move forward with
force ana rspidity unknown in any other Common
wealth. he bebeld the whole face OF the state
ado ned and lit up with commOii0Us free schools,
with Colleges, Seminares High Schools and Uni
veIsities: he exulted in the fact that using gen
eratons had abundant access TO pathways OF learn
ing and science and that there were
so few left IN Indiana who were I'M
able 10 read and write their mother
tongue. In ell these stupencous Developments
Governor Williams whether in private or public
life always bore active and honorable part. In
1913, then being thirty-fve years of az ne was
first elected to the Indiana Legislature as a mem
Der of the House. aud from tina, time ID the day
of his death he rarely. IL ever, out of public
employment. During period OF thirty years he
was almost continuously elected and reelected 20
the Legislature. either as member of the HOu se
/ or the Senate. such long aud unbroken con l.
/ dence on the part OF those who knew him best is
far
MORE ELOQUENT EULOGY
than can be uttered over his grave on this
Gee aston. He who in State Nation
has legillsted faithfully aud wisely for
the homes and the freside happiness OF his people
needs not the aid OF the orator sculptor to be
membered by his own aud by future generau IONS
Governor Willisms took prominent part in all
| important legislation in Indians for more than
quarter Of century, and he was the best informed
man in the legislative history OF the State have
| ever had the good fortune TO know. The grasp of
/ his memory was strong and reliable, and ne
authority on disputed points In reference to the
action of different Legislatures After long. dis
tiIction as a capable and honest Official in the
management Of State affairs ne was elected in
1874 10 seat in the Congress OF the United States
| he IVES known and respected in Washington a an
industrious member, safe and reliable in his jHdg