The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-07-05
The Next President and Vice President.

GENERAL BENJAMIN HARRISON

TuEwINNING TICKET NOMINATED AT CHICAGO
GENERAL BENJAMIN HARRISON
was born at North Bend Ohio, in his grand
fathers house, August 30, 1888 The name is
historic moi only as TO the family name but as q
whole, for the subject of our sketch is third
great man to give honor to the title. General
Benjamin Harrison inherited a robust intellect
that matured early. He entered Miami Univer-
sity, Oxford, Ohio. at the age of sixteen and
was graduated at eighteen. Professor David
Swing says that Harrison. though one of the
youngest students at oxford, was very stud
iouS, and early gave evidence of being fore
most in whatever he might undertake. lie
there acquired the habits Of study and mental
discipline which have characterized him through
life enabling him to grappe with any subject on
short notice. to concentrate his intellectual for
ces and give his mental energies that sort of
direct and effective operation that indicates the
trained and disciplined mind.
His was what might he called legal mind,
and on quitting college he commenced the study
OF law in Cincinnati With the Hon. Il. s. Slower.
In 1904 he removed to indianapolis, where he
began The practice of his profession. Those
were times which appealed TO the manhood Of
the country. and it was quite natural that the
grandson of President Harrison should take an
interest in politics. especially when the issue
was one of extending slavery into the new
Territories of the West and Northwest. He
soon won place rs lawyer in his new home,
and before 1850 he was also considered one of
the ablest political speakers in the State.
In the memorable Lincoln campaign of 1850 he
and the late Thomas A. Hendricks happened
to have appointments in the same town OH the
same day 1t was arranged that they should
DIVIDE the time and the friends of Hendricks
expected to see him only amuse himself with
the young white haired man who was to speak
against him. They were surprised. The
silX hpI IL
Democrats admitted that Mr. Hendricks had
met his match. while Republicans thought that
he had been badly worsted. The chairman of
the meeting afterward said: IL have heard a
good many political debates in my time. but
never heard a man skin an opponent as quickly
as Ben Harrison did Hendricks that day."
In 1850 Mr.. Harrison was nominated for re-
porter of the supreme Court, and was elected.
In July. 1862, Governor Morton, under the call
OF the President for 300 900 three-ycars troops,
requested Harrison to assist in recruiting the
regiment from the Sixth Indiana District un-
der the call the quota from each district being
one regiment.
Harrl>on'S was the first recruiting commits
sion issued by the Governor for the Seventeen
Regiment. bearing date of July IA, 1862, and
making him a second lieutenant. He was made
captain of Company \ of the regiment as soon
as it was recruited and when the whole rcgi-
ment was filled he was chosen colonel. Gov
ernor Morton offered to send some one else into
the field with the regiment that Colonel llarri-
son might retain his civil office in indianapolis
but the Colonel preferred to 60 with the men
who had chosen him their leader. lie refused
to ask any other man to 90 where he W oulu not
willingly 90 himself and he commanded the reg
iment in the field. After variety of service
in kentucky and Tennessee durin" the next
eighteen months. iip to January. 1864. Colonel
llarrison'> regiment was formally assigned to
the First Brigade (Ward's) of the Third Divi-
Si,,bf ff ;,tl
that organization he served until the close Of
the war.
AT Resacca he captured the enemies line and
four guns, and at Peach Tree Creek lille COM
mahhing Il brigade he gained such Il signal vie
tory that General Hooker recommended him to
the Secretary of War fol promotion and he
was iiiade a Brigadier General.
During the absence Of General Harrison i'm
the field the Democratic supreme Court ,,eclar-
ed the oilire of Supreme Court Reporter vacant
and another person was elected to the position.
The General was given Il leave of absence in
the fall Of 1854 with orders from the War De-
pertinent to report to Governor Morton. Dur
ing that thirty days he again made brilliant
canvass of the State and was reelected for an
other term. Then he rcjoncd the army, was
in the Segc of Nashville. served until the sur
render of Johnston. and was with his command
at the final review of the Union forces in Wash
ingtoH.
In 1S6s he declined a reelection as Reporter
of the Supreme Court and resumed the practice
OF law. In 1876 he became the candidate for
Governor under peculiar circumstances having
been place.! on the ticket by the state Central
Committee to fill Il vacancy caused by the dec
lnation Of the regular nominee. General IIar-
ri>on was absent from the State when selected
as the candidate and he accepted it as a
duty he owed his party. His opponent was
the most popular Democrat in the State and he
also had the frauds of W. ii. Barnum and his
corruption fund to fight, but notwithstanding
this unequal fight in Il Democratic State. Gen
cral Harrison received 1000 votes more than
his party. He was defeated as a matter of
course. but he made IL National reputation in
the canvass.
In the convention Of 1SSO his maine was NEIL
toned for President, but he promptly checked
the movement in his favor. In the campaign
secured a Republican Legislature for Indiana,
he was elected to the United States Senate to
succeed Senator Mcdonald.
His service in the Senate was not that of il
new member. He went to to the work well
and he took part in the debates upon
every important question. He was regarded
rs one of the al,'c>t men. best lawyers. and
strongest deb,ters il the Senate. lie proved
himself fully equal 10 the demands of the posi-
ton. and would have been reelected i'm 1SS, had
not the Democrats stolen Republican Legis-
latGre elccte, by the eNertons of Senator lIar-
rison in the canvass.
HON. LEVI p. MORTON
WAS bern in :>horeham. Vermont, May Is,
1924. and is therefore New Englander. He
received common school and academic etluca-
ton and commenced mercantile business in
Hanover. New Hampshire. in 1915. Five wears
later he moved to Boston and in 1854 to New
York. In 1868 he engaged IN the banking busi-
ness in New York and Loirlon aud since that
time his maine has been familiar in commercial
circles whore he is known as Il progressive and
sound business man. Mr.. Morton was appoint
ed by President Grant an Honorary Commits
>ioncr to the Paris Exposition in 1878 and was
elected II Representative to the Forty-siNth Con-
gre-S from the Eleventh New York District re-
ceiving Il majority ever all other candidates in
the field of 6.3SJ. In 1883 Mr. Morton was ap-
pointed Minister to France by the late Presi-
dent Arthur and served with distinguished abil-
ity. He is very popular in his state. has the
the united support Of tie party.