The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-30
EX-GOVERNOR BAKER.
Action OF the indianapolis Bar Yestsr-
day.

afternoon at o'clock to take suitable action
on the occasion OF the death of Hon. Conrad
Baker.
On motion by Major Gordon, Hon. W. A.
Weeds was called to the chair aud NJ. How
land appointed Secretary. A Committee on
Memorial Resolutions was appointed OF
which Mr.. Noble C. Butler was made the
chsiruan. The committee reported the TO.
loving resolutions, which we're UNANIMOUS
ly adopted and ordered to be spread on the
records of the United States Circuit Cour
tie Supreme Court and the Superior Court:
The death of Conrad Baker deprives the state
OF Indiana OF one OF lis worthless aud most emf
nsnt citizens. on It's deadrolI OF soldiers aud
civilians there is not any name that occupies
more honorable or conspicuous place than his.
It's history would be grossly incomplete without
any mention of his life ana public services. His
name is written in the records OF its courts as q
lawyer and judge; ii is on the journals OF the
legislature; II may be found among the archives
Of its executive department., and il has an I'm.
pOrt6nt place Ia It's military annals Wherever
II appears the State has reason 20 be proud of a
name that was never stamped by SINGLE vice
whose owner always aud everywhere wore upon
his breast the white flower OF a blameless life.
The neIce light which beats upon every candidate
Tor pOlli; al distinction disclosed spot upon his
character; SANDER was dissrmed by its purity and
Distraction was stricEen dumb. Mortusry litera-
ture sbounds in benevolent falsidcations but il
can be guilty of none in its unstinted praise of
him. The sensitive cons clence is not strained
in the cOmmemorstion OF his virtues, or by the
cODcealm, Mt of any Shortcomings. II would be
impossible to OveIrate him. for the highest eulogy
Is the simple truth. In every act and relation of
his long and useful life the simplicity and good
ness OF his nstnre were manifested. as they were
Ttveslt in every hnesment OF his siugulsrly
henigl ant features
AS a lawyer he was conspicuous, painstaking
sDd industrious. q safe and iudiciOus counselor,
faiihfulao the interests OF his clients aud regard
full OF his own duties 10 the Court. he had the
implicit confidence of the courts, because they
knew be would not consciously mislead them or
sui er them to be misled. His forensic trumphs
were due TO the sincerity aud earnestness. the
skill and judgmt with which he advocated and
managed q cause, instead CT the arts and devices
OF the orator, for which ne indulsed quick aud
humorous con tempt 1htS Bar of Indiana may
have bad more brilliant members, but IL never had
enc more justly dis inguished for the dephth and
accuracy OF his professional lenning.
His brief period of service on the Bench was
long enough TO demonstrate his peculiar htne,s
Tor the discharge OF judicial funcuOns aud II
afford an unmistakabie earnest OF suDseq uent
distinction as Judge hao he chosen 10 continue
Indiana has never had wiser or better admin
is ration of Its affairs than when he was its Gov
ernor He gave 20 the administration OF them
dignity and elevation OF character which had its
source In himself.
In the field and at the head OF his regiment he
displayed q tranquil courage and a calm fortitude
which never deserted him under any Of the vicis
STUDIES of war; A striking Illustration OF
these qualities Is afforded by an act of his
while he Provost Marshal General TT InG
annapolis. An unruly and 6elllgerent MOB of
toloieTs was threatening with destruc.i N the
office of O newspaper which had incurred their
hostility. He went amonZ them alone and al
great personal risk, and stopped the assault rs
soon as IL began. IL was at tine when the Union
sentiment was intente and proscriptive and his
interference in behalf OF q newspaper that had
become the object OF It's passionate fury was sim.
ply heroic. HIS sense of justice could Oa
jueated by popular clamOr, and tt broad
enough 10 include those who we're regarded by
nis ocistes and comrades as the enemies III his
country.
/ The patriotism which made him soldier actu.
a;ed him es a citizen, and it never degenerated
into mere psriisanship In his social and domes.
tic lie the virtues winch marked his professional
and public career mad Their counterpart, Toe
which, according TO the poet. should accompany
old age" have followed him TO the edge OF the
in which he was held. tie has lei, fragrant
memory and the precious legacy OF 2 good
example, which through many years that
ere yer unborn viii stimulate and encourage
the virtuouS efforts OF those who have known ana
survived him: What Antony said OF the dead
BIutUs is applicable TO Conrad Baker:
"His life was gentle and the elements
So mixed IN him that Nature might stand M
And say TO ali the worlo, This was man"
NOBLE G. BUTLER,
SOLOMON CLAYPOOL,
w II. IL. MILLER
JOHN NJ. BUTLER,
WILLIAM Z. FHHBACK.
Committee.
After the resolutions were adopted the
| Chair called SUCCESSFULLY on Senator Melon.
| aid, Mr. Harris Colonel Charles DENLY of
Senator Harrison. These gentlemen, in the
| order named, delivered short addresses com
| memoTative of The life and character of Gov
err or Baker. They were all appropriste, ex
| cellently worded and full of feeling for the
| great loss the State has suffered. While the
committee was out, Major Gordon read
| most appropriate and beautiful tribute to
the deceased
As Colonel DENLY Is here to take personal
charge of the remains, and has been a life.
long friend of the deceased, his remarks are
printed in full as follows:
Mp PRESIDENT IND GENTLEMEN-It IL proper
that !, a stranger, should preface what may say
on this melancholy occasion by a few words of
explanation. 1t is not likely that any member of
this Bar has more cause TO revere and respect Gov
ernor Conrad Baker than / have. Nearly thirty
two years ago entered the law office of Baker Il
Ge1Nln as s'uuent 4 was poof, unAuoWn ooy:
Evansville Remained in his office nearly ten
}ears. He was my preceptor TO him l recited;
| owe II most OF all 10 his teaching and TO his
| precious example
1t is perhaps worthy OF remark as somewhat
Illustrating the character OF the man, that ne was
| an ardent member of that Young Republican
| party which was then preparing to beat down all
| opposition, and TO control the Government. as it
Ola DO, for tweDty-fOUr years, while was a Dem
| ocrst Those were troublous times in Indiana.
was editing for my support Democratic paper;
| but between the preceptor and the pupil never a
Earring word or thought came. Ii iys my heart
this day 10 know that from that time TO the latest
| moment We remained friends.
! My relations with Governor Baker did not end
J with my probation So student When he and
had both left the army, we formed a copartner-
4 ship which lasted some months and until.
! throuf the absence of Governor Morton, he came
10 Indianapolis 10 administer the duties of acting
| Governor OF the State. How he performed those
outies is history now. He won and wore tue title
| OF "Old Honesty" which never could have been
| more wortbily bestowed.
| The communist aud the anarchist may aud will
have their hings and sneers at the Bar. But let Il
be said to its credit that when tbs ocSin OF civil
| or foreign war Is sounded. the resdiest response
| to the country's call is made by the
| Bar. Blackstone is dropped and Hardee is
taken up, aud the trained interest which
| argues the demurrer in the courts does not tail
| to master the intrcacies of forming square or
column by companies, or lire OF battle. There