The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-13
AN HONORABLE EXIT.

Yesterday Hon. Albert q. Porter laid down
the office of Governor Of the State of Indiana,
with which he was invested four years ago,
and the reins of authority were taken up by
Hon. Isaac P. Gray, who was the incumbent
of the Office at the time of Gov. Porter's ac-
cession, by reason of the death of James D.
Williams which event occurred few days
before the expiration of his official term. In
retiring from the executive Office Gov. Porter
carries with him the fullest measure of popu-
lar approval. We have had frequent occasion
to commend the careful, prudent, painstaking
methods of Mr.. Porter, and it is a pleasure
and duty to say again, on the occa-
sion Of his formal withdrawal from
public life for the present, that
Indiana has never had a more conscientious,
devoted and efficient Governor than Albert G.
Porter. Anything like an extended review Of
called for; at the date of the meeting of the
Republican State convention this was pre-
scented in our columns and the party of which
he was the representative then expressed the
universal verdict by the unanimous passage of
hearty resolution of approval. While watch
full for the interests of the whole people, and
ever conscious that he was the Governor of
the State, and not merely the agent of
party, Governor Porter has not made the too
c IL.
effort ''to rise above party" for the cheap and
paltry purpose of acquiring reputation for
best officers and administrators will always
be found the strongest party men; not the
strongest in the sense of sacrificing principle
to apparent temporary success, but the
strongest in the sense of believing that their
party is the best vehicle for the best express
sion of the best thought and purpose Of the
people, and of working so as to keep it such,
recognizing that howsoeyer great and glazing
may be individuals faults, government
in this country must ever be a government
of and by party and that one party or the
other must be nearer in its principles and
methods to his own views of public questions
than another The strong party man in this
sense is the best citizen, the best voter, the
best oficer-the man who works through the
medium of his party to achieve the best good
of the whole. The man whose principles and
convictions set so loosely upon his conscience
that he can train to-day with the Republicans
and tomorrow with the Democrats, feeling
equally at home with either, is simply of no
value to the State or to society; unstable as
water, he is worth nothing. In the best sense
Gov. Porter has been Republican. No act of
his ever imperiled the real interests of the
Republican party; but in speech and action
his purpose has been to keep the party on that
high plane where it could worthily challenge
the support of all true citizens.
It was not to be presumed that every detail
Of his administration would meet with equal
or unanimous approval. The Journal has
found itself out of harmony with the Gov
itated to express disapproval But the differ
ence was an honest and candid one, on both
Sides and could not have interfered with mu-
tual respect and regard. But the general con-
duct of his administration has been such as to
command the appreciation of all, even of his
bitterest political opponents. While going
out of Office with the respect of all the peo-
Pile, he has, in an unusual degree, the
cordial esteem of the members Of the
great party whose invitation to bear their
banner in crucial contest he accepted
with unfaltering fealty leading them not only
to victory in the State but opening the
thoroughfare over which the Republican
hosts marched to an important national tri-
umph.
The announcement that Governor Porter
will write history of Indiana is a welcome
one. No man is better fitted for such work;
none who will bring to it a higher measure of
careful study and research nor one who will
handle the materials with fairer judicial and
historical temper, or with a finer literary
method. history of Indiana by Albert G.
Porter will be notable and valuable additict1
to the growing and creditable literature of the
State
WHEN Horace Greeley, in his one little
three months term in Congress, introduced
@bo; e