The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-24
At REST.
Concluded From FRS. Page.

tended it. But his candidacy on that oc-
casion really laid the foundation for his
election to the senate of the United States
ten years later. In some conversation l
had with him in 1864 in regard to his pro-
posed candidacy for governor, he did not
deny that he had some political aspira-
tions, but they were rather in connection
with national than state affairs. In
fact, the goal of his ambition then seemed
TO be the United States senate,
and he finally succeeded in reaching that
body; but his services in that place were
cut short by events Of a rugged political
character in 1880, and circumstances were
never afterward favorable to his return as
a member of that body. During his pub
lie and political career he sustained some
defeats and met with some disappoint-
ments; but he usually bore those with
great equanimity and good temper, eel
dom indeed complaining. The most
noted exception of this good temper on
his part was manifested at his failure to
get the complimentary vote of
his party at the senatorial election
when his successor was elected,
This failure seemed to be the hardest
thing for him to forget that my attention
was ever attracted to and was matter to
4
terms of bitter disappointment.
In 1880 he really had what seemed to
be, at the most critical moment, fair
chance for q nomination as the candidate
Of his party for president, but the delega-
ton from Indiana seemed not to realize
this opportunity until it became too late
There was critical time in the history of
that convention Immediately after the
withdrawal of Mr.. Tilden as q candidate.
In which matters IN relation to
candidate were exceedingly unsettled
and vigorous movement in Mr.. Melon
aids behalf just at that time would, in the
opinion of many of the prominent men
connected with the convention, have re-
suited in his nomination. But he did not
become generally known to his immedi-
ate and most active friends until other
candidates had taken the field. In 1884
when the delegation were pressing his
claims for a nomination at Chicago
was several times reminded that we,
in Indiana, had allowed the most favor
able time for his nomination to escape US
ia 1880. Mr.. Mcdonald was always an
active, but not usually an extreme, parti
san and had great aptitude in many re-
s2ects for the incidents Of public and po-
htical life. But he was always more of a
lawyer than politician. His career as a
lawyer was from the first one of encoura-
ging success. As an advocate and as q
public speaker he was better adapted to
the court room than to the rostrum. |
mean by that that he was more impressive
before court and jury than he usually
was before a large Assem- bly, of people.
For this reason his manner and bearing
were well adapted to the U. S. senate.
lsIt will be remembered by many of our
old citizens that the late Judge David Da-
Wis of the state OF Illinois, who was for
many years judge of the supreme court
of the United States, and who was an en-
inent judge as well as man of affairs, used
TO hold a term of the U. S. circuit court
here the latter part of the spring of each
year. He had earlier in life become &C
Quainted with Mr.. Mcdonald in some of
the state courts of Illinois. 1t was evil
dent to every one that Judge Davis had
great confidence in Mr.. McDonald's legal
ability, as well as high personal re-
gard for him. This became so palpable
that one of the other LAWYERS demonstrated
with the judge, saying that we had here
In Indianapolis lawYerswho were closer stu
1enJs and dipped deeperinto the books than
did Mr.. Mcdonald. Judge Davis replied,
"Oh, that makes no difference. Melon
AID Is one of those lawyers possessing such
strong common sense and such practi-
cal knowledge of affairs that when he does
not know just what the law is he has
good idea what 1t ought to be and he
never misses it very far" This, in a gen.
eral way, described one of Mr.. McDonald's
strongest points as lawyer. In the lat
ter years of his life at least he was SEEM
ingly not a close student OF books. But
1t was not necessary that he should have
been. His memory OF what he saw, heard
and read was so tenacious that he did not
have to read and re-read books as most
others have TO do in order to keep abreast
of his profession and of the times in
which he lived.
Mr.. Mcdonald was, in brief, large
Drained, large-hearted, fair-minded and
generous man, and in its best and most
useful sense, a man OF broad views and OF
distinguished ability. He was also a man
endowed with strong personal attach
ments and was one greatly admired and
loved by those who knew him well, and
especially by those who knew him best
He will be long remembered with kind
ness and affection by all classes and con-
1itions or people to whom he was in any
wise known.
CONDOI-aNCE raNnEPzn