Omaha daily bee., 1883-04-24
A BOURBON LEADER.
Life Size Portrait of Ex-senator
Mcdonald, Of Indiana.
The Prospective Standard Bear.
er OF the Party in 1884.
His Career in the Senate and Hi
Interview with Gould,
Washington Lett +,

Elk Senator Mcdonald is very often
mentioned as the coming candidate
of tho democratic party. No one, as
yet brought forward, is more popular.
There are good reasons for Melon
AIDS popularity. He belongs to the
best grade Of tho public men of the
old school. He is simple and moat
democratic in his manners, without
aping the humility OF q demsgogue.
His record as a senator 10 q strong,
not a brilliant one. No one would
ever call him an orator, but as q
speaker he Ia very clear. He is gifted
with a strong fund of ommon sense,
and "a he is a trained and well skilled
lawyer, his speeches have always been
read with attention.
His personal appearance inspires
confidence. He has the look of q
man of solid sense. He Is above the
medium height. I should say he lie
at least 8 feet 10 inches in height. He
la well rounded la flesh. His weight
must be in the neighborhood of eco
pounds. His head is large ard we'll
shaped. The iron-grey hair Is thin on
top, falling into a loose rolling curl al
the back Of his neck. His forehead
is broad and lined with the burrows of
thought. His eyebrowa arc sharp and
extremely black and long. They are
az sharp and belligeraut in outline eli
a young hussar's mustache. Under
meath these vigorously outlined browa
are two brown-blaok eyes. They
have the aharp gloam of sv
acute observer. The cheek. bones are
red and high, the nose slightly cut Of
the straight line but not unshapely
while the mouth Is small, thin-lined,
and inclined to bow downward. The
face is very broad, full, and smooth
shaved to below the lower line of the
blue .tinted jaws, where q gray wisp o.
beard encircles the throat. The beart
is 80 heavy that the close shaving
leaves q strong blue ahado upon tn,
lower features, In marked contrast
with the warm red color OF the upper
part of the cheeks. He invariably
dresses In plain black. His clothe,
are we'll made, with no a~ffectation o.
granger cArelessness. His disposition
Is an even one. He rarely loses hi
temper. His black eyes indicate
however, that he has q temper will
which 1t would not do to trifls.
His public record Is n that will
not compel him to 90 before the pub
lie to make any defense. He hal
been for honest money when the craze
for rag money In his state ran at thu
highest. He has been always con-
sentative. In all the senate discus
sions he has steadily opposed any
thing like extreme Views. He Is tn,
most temperate and moderate Of tn,
democratic leaders. He is stolic
enough not to be influenced by any
mere party olamor.
He Is q very domestic man. ]
remember him well when he frs
came to the senate. He had rooms o
Wizards hotel. He was then
widower. accompanied by his onl,
daughter. She was o tall, Sigh
brunette, ever active and nervous
Constant change was necessary to he
happiness. Her health was frail. Deaf
had already marked her for his own
The father knew this, and CAREFUL,
concealed this knowledge from tn
daughter. He never opposed he
wishes In anything. He was he
humble, devoted slave. The daughte
was always coming and going In hi
parlor, no matter how the senate
might be surrounded by political callers
; When she came In, the fathers atter
. tion left every one, to turn to hi
"little girl" as he called her, anxiou
, to have every moment, possible of be
society, To amuse her, he CONSTANT
encouraged the presence of .youn
, people in his rooms Then Miss Ros,
English, adashingI Indianapolis beauty
twas In Washington. She was q grea
| friend Of Miss Mcdonald, and be
tween the tvs, tho rooms Of the sena
|, tor were made to resound withgayety
The senator never appeared more con
/. tented than when seated In front O
; an open fire, with q small black olga
ins his mouth, as he listened to th'
chatter of a group Of young people. :
The next year his bright, happ,
faced daughter died. The senate,
came back to Washington alone. III
Engaged q plain suite Of rooms upol
Fourteenth street Just bove.WLlard
hotel. There he was comfortable, bu
(the rooms always had q miserabl!
lonely look. The only woman VIII,
ever came into the rooms was som
place seekr. or the forlon landladv