The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-01-12

IN this ouaintbook Is told a tale Of much
interest, one which throws as strong light
upon the Difficulties president must struggle
with and gvts one such a satisfying glimpse
of the characer of the first President lIar-
rison that | deem the story worth telling
here, Nowthat the country Is teeuiug with
ambition fer place under Harrison the second,
it Is interesting TO noto how Harrison, tho
grandfather, was pursued by place hunters,
and how ,ven he, good, honest man that no
was, fou,d it almost impossible to combat tho
the influence of tho politicians and ade-
quate'v reward one of his dearest friends
who we not in favor with the cabinet which
the hep Of Tipecanoe called around him.
Thestory is that of old Gen. Solomon Van
Rensselaer,, who had fought with Harrison
under Gen. Wayne, and who shed his blood
on Queenstown Heights. President Monroe
mad him postmaster at Albany, but Van
Burn removed him. When Gen. Harrison
becnne president the old general concluded
hisucky day had come at last. His expecta-
tiois We're high, but not higher than the cir
cunstances justified. Gen. Harrison had
BEN his military companion and warm
'rhnd. Van Rensselaers son had accom-
panied Gen. Harrison on his diplomatic mis-
sion to BOgOta, South America. Gen. Van
Rensselaer, was the Original Harrison man"
mthe Harrisburg convention, which nomi-
naed the Hero of Tippecanoe for president,
AMI according to Gen. Van Rensselaer,, that
nomination would never have been made but
for his efforts, During the campaign Van
Resselaer visited Gen. Harrison at North
Befi, aud a Letter from the Wing candidate
wa.read AT a public dinner given Cen Van
Rensselaer, at Cincinnati. In this letter Gen.
Harrison told how Van Rensselaer, had been
his fe long friend, and dropped into poetry
owe the relationship that had existed be-
twen them
when had | > friend that was not Pol1ore's.
OFolidJrc a friend that was not mine''
All Gen Harrison continued in the lofty
stylsvhich he loved 50 well, NOT only prais
ing Is friend, but giving expression go some
ideaon The Jaoksolian policy of TO the vic
tors elong the spoils,' and on tho Injustice
and Congs of "a clean sweep" which may
or my not be OF particular interest Mt this
time. Thus wrote Gen. Harri-on
Iw, NOT atieuut, gentlemen, 70 give you even
O summary Of cservices Of Gen Van Rensselaer,
Twill 1t tell you Of the deep debt Of gratitude
whichs due 10 hun from western men, OF his
gallauJaarias 90 the battle of the Rapids OF the
Miamiud the blood which | saw pouring from
his mly bosom upon the soil OF Ohio, or his
still me glorious achievements upon the heights
of Qua,JJwu. But, for a moment, let me ask
your G.ut.on to the more recent history. Aye
what lie now What and who Is the hero of
two wa. the conQUeror of the heroic Brock
yea,so | would have answered you, fellow
citizenshat he was living in humble retirement
in the tcm OF large and happy family. sup
ported the emoluments Of an humble Office,
the gifua president who had himself ieopardized
his lif,ud shed his blood in achieving the in
pendtc q his country and knew how to ap-
prsciat< se.os services and reward a soldiers