Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-08
GEN. BENJAMIN HARRISON.
A Brief Sketch OF the Career of Tho
President-E Eject.

A Brief sketch OF the Career OF tho
President-Eiect.
HIS KARLy STRUGGLES AND n.pp,.ax-u
LANr RECORD poRrSo TEE v..-u,. no, -
CAL LuE-THE NEXT LADY or TN. 80,
HOUSE,
Benjamin Harrison. OF Indiana who 4, =.
lives, viii be the next President OF the rn,,.a
States, was born August 20. 1883. at the bo,n.
of his grandfather. Gen. William Henrv 49,
son, at North Bend Ohio, some Is miles belov
Cincinnati, on the Ohio River. AT the ace .,
fourteen he was sent TO an academy in a suburb
OF Cincinnati, and in 1850 he entered Miami
University at Oxford, Ohio. as q junior. His
career nj college was that Of an earnest dill
gent student and be was graduated in 1850
fourth In a class Of sixteen, Rev. David Swing,
OF Chicago, taking second honors and Hon.
milton saylor being the first in rank. The sub
lect OF young Harrison's graduating address
was The Poor Of England" and his treatmens
OF u showed that he had sounded both the
depths and causes OF this poverty.
AFTER HIS GRADUATION
hr. Harrison immediately began the studv Of
law with Judge Bellany Slower. in Cincinnati.
ana before he had fully completed his studies
he married Miss Carrie l.. Scott. the daughter
lAsQr: John w. Scott. president OF A voung
versitya academy in Oxford. o.. where the mi.
iority Harrnated. When he reached his ma
and he inherited Gather advanced him $500.
small capital he removen an aunt With this
to Indianapolis in 1854, and. b his Young wife
practice of his profession. ClientsSd upon the
into the Office of the young lawyer. act rush
had not received the position of crier OF th.lAe
;. Court it is quite likely that he would have
a I
rison speaks OF the $3.50 a day which he re-
ceived for his services as court crier as the first
money he ever made.
HIS FIRST OPENING
in his profession came to him by accident In
a burglary case the prosecuting attorney was
called away, and he asked Harrison 10 make
the closing address TO the jury. Though he
had but little time for preparation he made an
| excellent argument, and was rewarded by a
verdict OF guilty from the Jury, although the
defense was ably conducted by Gov. Wallace.
His maiden effort was so successful that he at
once formed a copartnership with the son Of
Gov. Wallace, who was against him in that first
trial, and who had been appointed cadet by
Gen. Harrison's grandfather when President
Business and a fair amount OF success came to
! the young firm, but in 1850 Wallace was made
| clerk OF the Circuit Court and Harrison was
elected Supreme Court reporter at q salary OF
$4,000.
| Durlug MS cdnNdss Tor tnat once young hAr-
| rison met Hon. Thos. A. Hendricks in joint de-
| bate, and as the issue of that campaign was the
| swamp lands question, one with which Harri-
| son was thoroughly familiar, he was more than
amatch for his distinguished opponent Sena-
! tor Voorhees, came to Hendricks assistance but
Harrison easily routed them both. This incl
dent established his reputation as political
speaker.
HIS CAREER IN THE WAR.
/ In 1862 Mr.. Harrison enlisted as private,
Dat raised company of which he was COM
missoned captain. This was assigned 10 the
18th regiment, and when the force marched to
the front Harrison was in command as its colo
mel Although he had no previous experience
In military affairs he at once made il his bust
ness to thoroughly inform himself as TO his
new duties, and soon had his command in ex-
cellent discipline. He looked sitter the CON-
| fort OF has men, and they learned 10 have great
confidence in his skin and Judgment He frs,
went to Bowling Green, Ky., 10 defend South
ern Indiana against Kirby Smiths guerrilla
raids. Later, at Resaca, he had an oppor-
tunity to distinguish himself and led brilliant
charge which resulted in one-third of his CON-
mand being killed and wounded. At Peach
Tree Greek he rendered such gallant service
that he was complimented by Gen. Hooker on
the field with the remark, by God, Ben Har.
rison, I'll make you a brigadier for this day's
work" He kept his word and wrote to Score.
tary Stanton asking promotion for the gallant
young colonel
| HE GOES INTO POLITICS
At the close of the war Harrison was aeai,
elected reporter Of the Indiana Supreme Cour
and declined a reelection in 1868. preferrinl
to devote his entire time to the practice Of hi
profession. I'm 1876 he was nominated for gov
ernor, Godloye 5. 0rth having withdraw
from the canvass because he was not in har
mony with the views Of the republican part,
on the financial question. Although he die
not expect an election, Gen. Harrison entered
into the campaign with characteristic yigol
and ran 1000 ahead of his ticket This gave hin
such q claim upon his party that in 1851 ever,
prominent rival withdrew and he was elected
U. s. Senator by reclamation. His record in
the Senate is well known; his Dakota repor
and speeches and his speeches on tn,
Edmunds resolution regarding ciyil-servics
reform, being among his ablest efforts. II,
failed of reelection to the Senate in 1887 anc
returned TO the practice of law. His nomina
ton at Chicago for the presidency last JUNE
did not greatly enthuse his party, but his con
duct during the whole campaign has been dig
nitied and discreet. His ability as a speakel
has been severely tested, but in all his speeches
he has dwelt only upon the cardinal princi
pies OF his partys platform, and has ayoides
all personalities.
HIS DISTINGUISHED ANCESTRY.
Gen. Harrison has most distinguished an
cestry. The first Of his race who became IN
nous was hanged October Ii, l660, but for hi
virtues and not for his vices. He was major
general under Cromwell and signed the deatl
warrant of Charles l. After his execution By
Charles II the family emigrated, and the frs
descendant Of the Round Head regicide who
became famous bore the same name as the
President-elect He was a signer Of the
Declaration Of Independence, q colo
nial Congressman and thrice-elected
governor of Virginia. His son, Gen
Vim. Henry Harrison, served his country both
in the army and in civil Office from 1871 TO IS41
when he died one month after taking the oatt
of Office as the President of the United States
President Harrison's son. John Scott Harrison
the father of the President-elect,w was q member
of Congress from 1853 to 1857, and died only
few years ago at his home in Cincinnati
Gen. Harrison is also one of the great army
Of descendants of the romantically celebrated
Indian princess, Pocahontas, and through tn,
Randolphs he is related 10 the Virginia families
of Lee, Carter, Pope, Robertson, kennon, Skip
worth Beverly, Gay, Fleming, Murray, Mead,
: and the famous John Randolph, Of Roanoke.
A SKETCH OF MRS. HARRISON.
Mrs. Harrison, who will preside, is the sau,l
age as her husband. Her father now resida
in this city and holds a clerkship in the Pen
sion Office. Mrs. Harrison is q woman of re
fnement and culture. She is an industrioui
reader and is devoted to decorative art. Fol
an amateur she is unusually skilled as q paintel
Of flowers in water colors, while much Of hel
china painting would not discredit profes
sional artist. She is a brilliant conversationalis