Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-07-20
A NOBLE CHARACTER.
From the Portsmouth Times

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impulses and will be popular with
the masses. lie is not a rampant
demagOgue, though he has always !
been friend of the down -trOddeu |
and oppressed. His record in this
respect is a most admirable one,
quite different from that of the late !
ThOs. A. Hendricks, "Blue Jeans"
Williams, and a score or more of
Democratic demagOgues of his
state. In the trying times of 1877,
Gen. Harrison conducted himself
calmly and coOlly and won the re-
spect and esteem of all the people
by his straightforward, unbiased
course. Shortly after the great
Pittsburg riots, during the long to.
be remembered railroad strike OF
III, when four million dollars worth
of property was burned by the mis-
guided men, the citizens of Indian
apolis, great railroad center, be-
gan to feel alarmed as TO the out
come OF the strike in that city. At
a large public meeting Gen. IIarri.
son was appointed, among others,
as a member of committee of pub.
lie safety. He wisely suggested
that they meet with the strikers
and hear their grievan ces, and then
consult with the railroad anthori.
ties. In both instances he con.
Quoted himself in most manly
way, expressing his views frankly
and freely, without fear or favor,
and gaining for himself the APP
plause of all tair.minded citizens.
Gen. Harrison counselled obedience
to the law, but at the same time
very strongly expressed the opin.
ion that the wages were too low
and desired very much they should
be raised. He was willing to use
hie influence with those in author.
ity in favor Of this desired Increase.
In another place, where cool judg.
ment and good reason were re.
quired, Gen. Harrison was equal to
the emergency. From the com.
panles of citizen sOldiery his com
pany was selected to defend the
u. S. Arsenal, where over 100000
stands of arms, together with am
munItiOn and cannon, were stored,
a place which, above all others, it
was desirable that the excited
strikers should not get possession
of. Gen. Harrlson's conduct in
defending the arsenal was most
admirable, under the existing cir.
cumstances, and he proved himself
to be a man, every inch of him.
When urged by those who let pas.
sion get the better of their judg-
ment, to fire into the strikers and
compel them to disperse, he calmly
turned to them and said: 81 don't
propose to go out and shoot down
my neighbOrs, unless it is positive
ly necessary to do so in order to
uphold the law
But still better illustration of
Gen. HarrisOn's unselfshness and
magnanimity of character is afford.
ed. A few days after the memOra.
BILE strike was over, and two HIM.
bred Of tho strikers had been ar.
rested by Judge DrummOnd, of the
United States Court, for interfer-
ing with the operations Of the
Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, then
in the hands of receivers. These
misguided men were all sent to
prison for ninety days. Thereupon
General Harrison voluntarily made
a plea IN their behalf.
He represented to Judge Dram
mond that the object of their pros
ecutiOn had been accomplished
they had been taught that they
were, like all other citizens, sub.
ject to the law, and General Harri-
son expressed his belief that they
wOnld heed the lesson If released.
Judge Drummond granted the plea,
and as the prisoners filed out to
freedom many Of them grasped
Gen. Harrison's hand and thanked
him for his interest in their behalf.
These and many other instances
tend to show the noble man that
Gen. Harrison is. lie Is one of the
best representative American clti.
zens. A plain man of the people.
Last Friday the home of Gen. Har-
rison was thronged with single
callers and delegations, and con-
CALCULATIONS were pouring in by the
thousands, yet the distinguished
candidate for President of the
United States found time in the
afternoon to attend the funeral of
locomotive engineer, who had
served IN the army under his com.
mand. Gen. Harrison IS immense
~ popular with the people and de-
seryedly so. They see IN him all
the elements of the true represent
tatlve citizen an advocate OF pro-
lection to American industries
friend to the laboring man one
whose Judgment places HIM on the
right side of all public questions;
who IS open, frank and tree in the
expression of his opinion and
above all, one in whose veins there
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