The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-07-11
HoNORs TO THE LATE GOVERNOR
JAMES D. WILLIAMS.

HONORS TO THE LATE GOVERNOR
JAMES D. WILLIAMS.
On Saturday, November 20. 1880, at 1880,
noon. James ID. Williams, then Governor of
Indiana, took his departure from earth, laid
down the burdensof life and sought repose in
the embrace of death. To-day, July 4, 1889,
there is to be a great gathering at Wheatland,
the old home of the dead Governor, and
where his dust awaits the sound os the res
direction trump. to do honor to his name and
deeds. A monument, erected by loving
friends to mark the place where the good
man rests, is TO be unveiled with sppropu-
ate ceremonies. 1t is we'll to build monu-
ments sometimes, and especially is it proper
if thereby memories OF great and good deeds
as we'll as recollections of men are perpet-
uated. The present is a monument building
age. Bonanza kings and millionsires are
ambitious to distinguish the residence of
their families in the cities of the dead by an
ostentatious display of wealth. Humble
hesdstones are for the common herd, the
sculptured shaft for those who made money,
no matter how, and boarded it. And thus it
happens, in vast majority of cases, that
granite and marble rising proudly amidst
the habitations of the lowly dead, signify
little more than pride and imbecility, often
arousing sentiments of disgust or levity
when the mind should be serious, if not SOY
rowful, and the department respectful, if
not reverental. But when monument, ss
in the case of the lamented Governor VIII
liams, marks the last resting place OF man
VINO wrought
"With human hands the creed of ereeds
In LONELINESS CT perfect deeds"
the people are ready TO bear testimony in all
proper ways that in honoring such men they
honor themselves, their God and their coun-
try. 1t may be asked, now and in the future,
as it has teen in the past, why pay such dis
tinguished honors to the late Governor Will
liams? What great deeds did he perform
worthy of monumental marble? etc. As
some people estimate greatness, Governor
Williams would stand far below the highest
round in the ladder. He was not warrior
nor an orator. He had never devastated
country like an AlaTio, nor moved the rabble
to mutny like Mark Anthony. He was
not Yersed in the arts of the demagogue, and
critic. He did not mature like
a mushroom nor dazzle like meteor. He
was identified from his childhood with the
common people and grew up to manhood in
their midst and remained with them till his
death. He began his fficial life in 1889, as
Justice OF the Peace. He reached the
highest Office within the gift of the people
II Id l..
after forty years of official life. clothed in
the official robes of Governor of an empire
State and required him by decree that ad-
mits of neither modification nor appeal to
exchange them for a shroud. Governor
Williams was man of unbending integrity.
earnest convictions and answering fidelity to
public and private trusts Almost forty
years in public office, his life
was an unsealed book, open to
criticism by friend and foe, and yet, at
the age of seyenty-two years, the people were
permitted to contemplate chief magistrate
of the State with a character unsullied and
long official career without blemish. We
do not make the present an occasion for
rehearsing the deeds of Governor Williams
esteem of the people. Certain, however,
that it was not by any bold stroke of policy,
nor by mapping out new departures for the
achievement of success. Governor Williams
possessed a sturdy mind. He quickly per-
ceived the right and always had the courage
TO pursue it. Symmetrical rather than brill
liant, Governor Williams takes his place in
al CcTF
made, self-poised and self-reliant, he made
the best OF the circumstances that sur
rounded him, and compelled fortune and fate
TO yield him mo~a than an average share of
success and satisfaction. To the common
people, the men who start out in life having
for their capital integrity, self-relianoe and
honorable ambition Governor Williams must
ever be bright example, and the people of
the State who gather at Wheatland to-day
will do good by bringing into the boldest
possible prominence the life aud character of
a man whose honorable public career and
private virtues made his name illustrious,
and shed honor and proud distinction upon
his State. Those who viii witness the IN
yelling Ct the monument in honor of the
uNd1 pONClhOA Will A4StCiA III Aapb dttohl4Ou
az gifted men shall rshearse his virtues.
80 Further on
A belt of darkness seems to bar the way
Long, low. and distant. where the life 10 come
Touches the Life that is. The Hood CT years
Rolls toward il Bearer and nearer. Thrust pass
That dismal barrier. What is there beyond
Hesr what the wise and good have said-Beyond
That belt q darkness still the years roll on
More gently, but with not less mighty sweep.
They gather up again and softly bear
An The sweet lives that late were overwhelmed
And J, - 10 sight, all that in them was good,
Noble, and truly great, ana worthy OF love"
TIE WILLIAMS MONUMENT.
We reproduce in the Sunday Sentinel,
from our Fridays issue, the speeches of Sem
ator VOORHEES, and ex. Governor Baker deliY-