The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-07-12
A Noble Character.
From the Portsmouth Times.

/
Gen. Harrison is a man of noble i'm
pulses and will be popular with the masses.
He is not rampant demagogue, though
he has always been friend Of the down.
respect is a most admirable one, quite diff
ferent from that of the late Thos. A. Hen
bricks, 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 respect and esteem
of all the people by his straightforward,
unbiased course. Shortly after the great
Pittsburg riots, during the long-to-be re-
membered railroad strike of III, when
four million dollars worth of property was
burned by the misguided men, the citizens
OF Indianapolis, great railroad center,
began to feel alarmed as to the outcome of
the strike in that city. At large public
meeting Gen. Harrison was appointed,
among others, as a member of a committee
of public safety. He wisely suggested
that they meet with the strikers and hear
their grievances, and then consult with
the railroad authorities. In both instances
he conducted himself in a most manly
way, expressing his views frankly and
freely, WITHOUT fear or favor, and gaining
for himself the applause of all fair minded
citizens. Gen. Harrison counseled cbe-
dience to the law, but at the same time
very strongly expressed the opinion that
the wages were too low and desired very
much they should be raised. He was will
ing to use his influence with those in au-
thority in favor of this desired increase.
In another place, where cool judgment
and good reason were required, Gen. Har-
risen was equal to the emergency. From
the companies of citizen soldiery his COM
pany was selected to defend the U. S. Ar
senal, where oyer 100000 stands of arms,
together with ammunition and cannon,
were stored, place which, above all 9TH
ers, it was desirable that the excited stri-
kers should not get possession of. Gen.
Harrison s conduct in defending the arse
nal was most admirable. under the exist
to be man, every inch of him. When
urged by those who let passion get the
better of their judgment, to fire into the
strikers and compel them to disperse, he
calmly turned to them and said: Il don't
propose to 60 cut and shoot down my
neighbors, unless it is positively necessary
to do so in order to uphold the law"
But still better illustration of Gen.
Harrlson's unselfshness and magnanlmity
of character is afforded. A few days af-
ter the memorable strike was oyer. and
two hundred of the strikers had been ar.
rested by Judge Drummond. of the United
States Court, for interfering with the op-
erations of the Ohio and Mississippi Rail-
road. then in the hands of receivers
These misguided men were all sent to pris-
on for ninety days. Thereupon General
Harrison voluntarily made plea in their
behalf.
He represented to Judge Drummond
that the object Of their prosecution had
been accom- lished they had been taught
that they were. like all other citizens, sub
ject to the law, and General Harrison ex-
pressed his belief that they would 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 interference in their behalf. These
and many other instances tend to snow
the noble man that General Harrison is.
He is one of the best representative Amer
lean citizens. A plain man of the people.
Last Friday the home of Gen. Harrison
was thronged with single callers and dele
cations, and congratulations were pouring
in by the thousands, yet the distinguished
candidate for President of the United
States found time in the afternoon to at
tend the funeral of locomotive engineer,
who had served in the army under his
command. Gen. Harrison is immensely
popular with the people and deservedly so.
They see in him all the elements of the
true representative citizen; an advocate
Of protection to American industries a
friend to the laboring man one whose
judgment places him on the right side of
all public questions who is open, frank
and free in the expression of his opinion ::
and above ALL one in whose viens there
courses not drop of demagogism.
oF