The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-12
HARRIsON's EARLY DAYS.
BepjEmin Butterworth's Warm Tribute to Mi
Harrison rs Citizen and Man.


Bepjsmin Butterworth's Warm Tribute TO MI
Harrison rs u Citizen and . Man.
New York Tribune.
Below are given, by permission, some extracts
from letter written by Congressman Benjamiu
Butterworth, of Ohio, to personal friend IN
this city. This friend had asked Mr.. Butter
worth's opinion of General Harrison: and the
reply, intended only for the eye Of a corre.
spondent, is sincere and eloquent tribute to
the Generals worth as q citizen and public
man. Mr.. Butterworth says:
In your letter you ask me what / know
about Ben Harrison. know all about him. 4
don't think there's flaw in him. and | do not
speak rs Republican, but az a citizen. as one
who knows the moral and mental makeup Of
Ben Harrison. His speeches surprise a great
many on account of their grasp OF many sub.
jects concerning which he speaks. and the
thoroughly practical views he entertains on all
subjects which are Of interest TO the American
people. am not q bit surprised, for | know
the man. 1 should have been greatly disap-
pointed if he bad not developed the strong char
acterisucs which crop out in all his speeches.
In manner Of thought and expression he re-
minds me more OF Lincoln than any candidate
we have ever had. He don't know how TO be q
trimmer, but speaks from thorough conviction
of duty and an inspiration which springs from
an adherence to right *
lyon know that he was born Just over across
the hills from where you and / frat saw the
light, and his experience was about the same as
ours. It's fair to say that he made better use of
his opportunities than we did. Lsastwise. that
is the logic OF the situation; else would both
be candidates on some tckes for the presidency
But Ben Hsrrison's experience was just like
ours. He was q farmers boy, lived In little
farmhouse, had to tumble out Of bed between
aud o'clock the year round-in spring and
summer to feed and GET ready TO drop corn and
potatoes or rake hay before the sun was up. he.
knew how to feed the pigs, how to teach calf
to drink milk out Of bucket, could harness .
horse In the dark, aud do all of the things that
we, farmers boys knew how to do. He used
TO 60 to mill on a sack of wheat or corn, balance
it over the horses back by getting one end of
1t, holding on to the name while he going
up hill, feeling anxious about the result He
bad the usual number OF stone bruises and
stumbled toes, and the average number or nails
in his foot that fell to the portion of the rest OF
rs. He knew how to get up, feed, milk, and
then study his lessons by little taIlow dip.
walk two miles and half TO school and get
there in time to play buil-pen for half an hour
before books.
.'He has ploughed many a time in rooty
ground-and right here think maybe he had
more patience than either of rs, for ] don't
know whether, when the plough struck q root
and broke it and one end of the broken root few
back and cracked him on the shin, he swore or
not; but must say, Quaker as I am, that If he
didn't It's not TO his credit, for / am frank TO
say that nv experience in poughng new
ground has been such that have felt that every
man who grew profane under the provocasion of
q bruised shin was entitled to absolution for
the profanity. have got many a licking for
indulgine in that luxury, and have wished
many time that my father would hold the
plough-bandles and get ono or two whacks just
as samples never saw q broken root strike
him, so don't know just how he would have
performed; but he was by several times
when broken root struck his son, and heard
my attempt to do the subject justice immedi-
ately after which he tried to correct my moral
obliquity with birch. 1t always seemed 10 me
q little tough to have your shins broken while
at hard work, and when giving vent to your
pent-up feelings to have your father come and
work vigorously at the other end OF you to teach
you how to be patient under great trials.
II don't know how Ben Harrison stood the
test He bad our experiences, too, In running
over to watch with sick neighbor. to help roll
logs TO help build . cabin, TO be one at barn
raisin',' to exchange work in the harvest fields,
and all those things. and all of that experience,
which, after all, makes as tsttsr fitted for the
cares and responsibilities Of after life-which
makes as have warmer side for our fellow
men, and creates in US willingness to lend
helping hand to those who are in distress. That
the surroundings of Ben Harrison's boyhood left
that impression upon him l an sure.
Il have often chatted with him about that early
experience, long before ever dreamed that the
good sense of the American people would single
him out for the high Office of President. and
found our experiepce on the old farm had been
about the same, and that the Influence Of the
experience we had had left upon Us the same
impressions. His opportunities were not great.
He attended school in old log school house,
but, as be told me one day when we were pro-
pairing case in Indianapolis, he realized very
early the advantage of being well equipped men
tally, and So as he said, while he did not always
learn rapidly, he made it point to learn well
that which he did learn. and to stick to the
things that were practical and would be useful
in the affairs of life
'"rhe characteristics ! first observed in him
are still dominant He is as kind as mother
while as courageous as any man / ever knew.
He would not consciously offend the humblest
or meanest of creatures, and by the same token
he wouldn't hesitate TO tackle the most power
full If his sense OF duty required it. / cannot
help but feel that In his nomination We are get
ting around more into the Same atmos-
phere that surrounded Abraham Lincoln. While
/ was DEVOTED to John Sherman, whose eminent
public service and acknow ledged integrity and
ability seemed to entitle him to the distinguished
honor, yet, failing in that, could but feel that
the nomination of Ben Harrison was provi-
ntiai
''The talk about his not being warm hearted
IL the veriest rot II there is q warm and gen.
erous heart in Indiana, it beats in the breast OF
Ben Harrison. he does not gush nor slop over
There is no trace of the demagoeue about him.
He does his whole duty, wherever placed or
however situated. / feel satisfied that be will
be elected and hope that you will see your
way clear to support him.
VERY truly yours,
"BENJAMIN BUTTERwoRTH.n