The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-15
MINISTER FOSTER.
How He Grew Into Prominence, with Incl
dental Mention of Morton and Lew Wallace.

dental mention OF morton ana Lew w allaces
'Gath's" New York Letter,
The ephemeral topics Of the news which the
public like the best at present bear no eompari-
son to the real topics which affect finance and
revenue. We are coming as nation into situa-
tions pertaining to our maturity. Just as a man
insensbly passes out of his dreams and romances
to that state where revenue and social condition,
and the permanent settlement of his family,
dominate in every act. 1t is rather interesting
for us to observe that the gentleman who has
just made the treaty worth telegraphing from
Madrid to New ork at an expense of perhaps
Sc, 900, was but few years ago the publisher OF
a newspaper in plain town like Evansville, Ind.
This shows our young men the extraordinary
opportunities they have under a republican
society 1t also shows them the advantage in
their political relations of coming into politics
with the frmness and discipline of upright
partisans, instead of being the bushwhackers of
politics, such occasionally determine the re-
suit of presidential election, and then are de-
spised by both the victors and the defeated.
Mr.. Foster grew into prominence under that
most determined partisan, Oliver P. Morton
man who has not had up to the present time his
equal in Indiana in either party. Morton was
himself alone and had o hundred defects of
character but none ofthem affected the stronger
lineaments of his nature and the joints and pro
portions of his body. However he may have
disliked some politician of a different tempera
ment from himself; however un just he may have
been to younger men; whatever scars and hurts
he may have left to raukle for life among mis-
inferiors-he was clear in his political purposes,
positive in his affections and dlSllkes, absolutely
true to his State, and, perhaps more than any
other man in the entire North, he raised Indiana
to a chivalry and courage equal to that of any
of the older Southern States where courage and
chivalry had been almost the only purposes OF
political existence.
Morton was so great man that it is imposSl-
bic to get two accounts of him which agree.
Like many strong persons, he rather admired
servitors and kept around him his mental in
feriors. But you can see shining everywhere
through the mans public utterances a pa
triotism that was almost tyrannical l never
read one of his sentences affecting the
standing of the State of Indiana
in the civil war but it makes me flush or grow
pale, according to my passing condition. 1t was
where he said that the Indiana colonel who al
lowed his troops in the Mexican war to run
away from the battlefield ought to have been
shot for the vindication Of the State and for an
example to future times. Morton took Indiana
in hand the least known and crudest of American
Commonwealths, hardly excepting Arkansas.
Tie State seemed to great many people 10 be
kind of Northern Arkansas. But, as IN Arkan-
sas, there existed in Indiana elements which
only required great man to bring 1t to the front.
However, l am getting off from the subject of
Indiana and Mr. Foster, who has made the
treaty with Spain Young men do not often
escape from the line of their own character.
Foster sold his newspaper in Evansville at the
right time He spoke to me on that subject
year or two ago, and said that he had been very
lucky to get rid of his journal when it would
bring the highest price. l was slightly disap-
pointed that he had been so glad to get out of a
useful business when it is conducted by the right
kind of man. To have played part in educating
and bringingup the people of Southern Indiana,
and incidentally Kentdcky, was more humble,
perhaps, than being minister to Mexico and Rus
STA, but in the greater economies Of the world
was higher position.
We consider a man notable who controls a
university which turns out hundred graduates
a year. TO control a newspaper with daily
circulation of several thousand, and in region
where it is supreme as the counselor and thinks
for the people, ought also to be at least respect
able.
Mr. Foster is a tall man, with eyes, I remem-
ber of deep blue color. His experience In the
diplomatic world has improved his address, and
vet has given him something of a diplomatic
countenance. He has not grown more handsome
in expression as he has grown older. Something
of the subtle, possibly the concealed, seems to
play in his eyes. which, if am not mistaken,
are rather close together He has horid com
plexion and beard haxen or reddish, and hair OF
a similar color
Morton, it was, am pretty sure, who sent
him to Mexico. Morton, perhaps also sent Lew
Wallace abroad. Wallace l think, preceded
Foster to Mexico, and then went to Europe.
Wallace and Foster are both capable men, There
is literary vein in Wallace which he has
worked to some advantage. His novel of the
Fair God" attracted some attention, but his
later novel, called ben Hur," has had
a very good circulation; indeed, much
better than the publishers expected.
made feeble effort 10 read it, but
failed to get through with it; but that must have
been because was of an irreverent nature
could not see the advantage of having three OF
the Magi brought into an interview on the plains
of Asia when it was so pleasant in the magma
ton to let them roam about unnamed. When L
was a boy went to Cologne, and there they had
the skulls of the Magi all covered with gold and
with precious stones in their eyes and gums, and
from that day to this l never took the least in
terest in the Magi With all respect to our
Catholic friends think they destroy more mir
-acles than they establish by their circumstan-
TALLY
Lew Wallace has written excellent battle
account of Fort Donelson in a late nun Der of the
Century magazine. It is one of those descrip
tions where you think you can detect the hand
of the writer chopping the article off so as to
get it into limits, and yet you wonder that be-
tween the editor and the writer they could tell
so much of story in so brief a space. AT Con-
stantinople Wallace, though representing a very
different government, is said to have had con
siderable influence with the Turkish government
Foster was gone long time in Mexico, and we
did not hear much about him but within the
past two or three years he has turned up here
strongly.
reciprocity treaty has been made with Next
CO, and now reciprocity treaty has been made
with Spain affecting only Cuba. Between the
transaction of these treaties Mr. Foster has ap
peared at Washington as the legal representa-
tive of Mexico to fight American claimants. No
human being can define the limits of lawyer;
he seems to be like the celebrated bird of the
geological period called the pterodactyl This
animal was a Ash, a bird and quadruped, if l
correctly remember. He could eat grass, dive,
was cold blooded and could fly as high as the
turkey buzzard l have sometimes thought he
was the geological lawyer In ordinary life
there seem to ue limits to a mans own inconsist-
ency. If l am your friend i'll private life am
not expected to act against you for fee five
minutes afterward. If 1 enter your military
service it is hardly to be thought the next year
will be in the service of your opponenent
Mr. Foster returned to Washington City as the
agent of Mexico to contend against the payment
Of claims to Americans. Many of these claims
were undoubtedly fictitious or exaggerated 1t