The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-30
HONORS PAID TO THE DEAD.
The Members of the indianapolis Bar
Pay Respect to Gov. Bakers Memory.
Distinguished Gentlemen Speak in Highest
Praise of His Character, and the Meeting
Adopts Memorial Tribute.

| Courthouse were flying at half mast, out of re-
| spect to the memory of Hon. Conrad Baker. In
| the afternoon at 3. o'clock, full membership OF
the indianapolis bar, besides other distinguished
citizens, assembled in the United States Court
rooms, at the Postofice building to render lit
ting tribute to the memory Of the deceased.
| Upon motion, Judge William A Woods was
elected chairman. He stated the object OF the
meeting in the following words:
Gentlemen and Brothers of the Bench and Bar:
| We are assembled for the purpose of paying pub
lie tribute to the memory of our late brother Con-
rad Baker. Chosen simply to preside over your
| meeting, there is no need, nor fitness indeed,
that | should say more than an Introductory
word There are others here especially chosen
| Tor the purpose and fitted for 1t by long and
| intimate personal and professional acquaint-
| ance who, doubt not, are prepared to present
| well-considered and adequate estimates of the
life and character and Individual worth OF the
| deceased.
! If the bereavement of family, the broken ties
of friendship, and kindest considerations could
| be ignored or forgotten, should be much in
clined to say that this was not an untimely
death. ''To all men death comes soon or late In
| his case not until well nigh the end of three
score years and ten, and so full did he fill the
| allotted years of his manhood with good words
| and work-with conscientious and unremitting
effort to do his full duty in every relation-that,
| if prolonged, his life would hardly have been
| more symmetrical or complete, or covered in the
end with higher or better deserved honors.
| Certainly his example as man or citizen could
not have been made much more benehcent and
| helpful, nor the love of friends and their
grief for his loss made deeper:
| Without attempting an analysis or even general
| estimate of his character, which, from the time
| first came to know him personally, has always
seemed to me exceptionally complete and free
from blemish, the particular traits which have
| impressed me most were his modesty and his
| devotion to truth and duty. Conscious, as he
must have been, of the talents, and culture and
| learning which gave him place in the fore ranks
| of men, he never was ostentatious, but seemed
DESTROYS rather to escape occasion for display or
his powers, except when duty compelled it. If to
the call of duty in any important matter he
ever failed to respond all knowledge of the fact
L think, must have gone with him. SO far as L
| know or h e heard, mortal lips have never
uttered the accusation.
What suppose to have been the most notable
display of this trait of his character, was his en-
lstment and service during the war of the
rebellion, in the army of his country. Constitu-
tionally as we'll as by education and training he
| must have been strongly opposed to war, and by
every instinct of his nature doubtless shrunk
from such employment But tho call came; it
was to him the call of duty which he could not
disregard.
That he was eminent in, and an honor to, his
chosen profession, goes without saying and so
long as it can show such characters. engaged
will not be without honor among men.
Major Gordon then spoke of the deceased. He
said that in the death of Governor Baker the
country had lost valuable citizen. His public
life was simple, honest and fair. 1t was as easy
to tear the sun from his course in the heaven
to lead him from the path of rectitude. He
never did anything for success that would
| touch the conscience of an honest man. Gov
ernor Baker was ready for all the emergencies
and contingencies of public life. He had charity
| for all and malice for none. Brave as Caesar,
| just as Arstdes and gentle as Brutus, death
never closed over worthier man than Governor
| Baker.
| Senator Mcdonald said that the Indiana bar
had lost one of it's brightest lights in the death
of Governor Baker. There were more brilliant
orators. and men of more legal polish in the bar
than he but in his unbending, unf1inching in
tegrity, he was superior to them all. Governor
Baker was somewhat like his great contempora-
ry. Lincoln, in his homebred honesty: The two
men were alike in this respect, both had to con-
vince themselves of the business of cause be-
| fore they would support it. When they were
not thus convinced, both were weak men. 1t
was not unfortunate for the country that Gov
ernor Baker had died. His end is the common
fate of all men, After rounding such life as
his, and painting such noble record in the
pages of his countrys history, death cannot be
| regretted
Hon. A. G. Harris said that on such an oc-
| cason as the present it was impossible to speak
any but words of praise. The character of
Governor Baker was formed by his early sur
| roundings. Reared as he was on the farm, he
was always fond of the forest, field and sun
shine. His whole life open and clear to
| everyone as the sky overhead. The peculiar
traits of his character were his integrity and
simple honesty. In political contests these traits
inn lie VIII fo ic
lesson and study for the young men of to-day.
Governor Bakers motive was charity, and his
| purpose was to deal out justice. He
had g. high e. and abiding dd5;a evidence e s
| Everywhere his mind turned on the poles Of
| truth Living, as he did, in heroic age-a
| time of war-he never shrank from contest, but
| performed nobly the part of soldier Governor
| Baker had no enemies, either at the bar or in
| politics. He never sought preferment but it
| came to him. All the ends he aimed at were
his country's and his Gods. His great talent
was in giving force to reason and fair play to
Justice
Colonel DENLY, of Evansville, once student
of law under Governor Baker and afterward a
partner, spoke with feeling of his Indebtedness
to the teachings and preceptorship of the de-
ceased, and said that the Governor was the most
accurate and painstaking lawyer that he ever
knew. His one great fault was that he labored
too much The conscience of Governor Baker
was almost abnormally developed. He was
deeply read in all the literature of the law, and
was one Of the brightest examples of the old
school of lawyers.
Judge Niblack spoke also of his Indebtedness
to Governor Baker, and related how, in his early
career as lawyer, the Governor had rendered
him invaluable services. Other lawyers were
more ornate in their language, but as safe
strong lawyer, Governor Baker held the highest
place, perhaps in the State. Not only was ne a
most useful lawyer, but also Christian gentle
man.
Senator Harrison said that Governor Baker
was one who found the successful and diligent
practice of the law consistent with justice and
truth. The light of kindness was in his heart
and eye He was genial companionable, and his
heart was ever guestchamber for the needy.
In wit and story Governor Baker was most
fertile, and the incidents which he had stored
| away in bis mind he told with great zest. His