The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-24
THE MCDONALD RESIDENCE.

claims committee in the U. S. senate. Be-
ing young men from the same state and
of the same politics, we were thrown much
together, and an intimacy was formed
which continued to the day of his death.
ain after wears this intimacy was
strengthened by an entire harmony of
views as to the various political questions
OF the times. AS to some of these Ques-
lions We were not in accord with popular
sentiment. This was particularly true in
the days when popular wave seemed to
roll over Indiana in favor of wild infla-
ton of irredeemable paper currency. The
leaders of both the great political parties
generally shrunk from antagonizing this
popular sentiment. Not SO, Joseph L.
Mcdonald; the only question with him
was, is this right? Looking alone to this
and discarding entirely that it would be
unpopular, he stood then, and always in
favor of a sound currency. This I'M
doubtedly lost him friends in certain
quarters, and probably more than once
prevented his selection to high Office.
I'm the great civil war he waa decidedly
in favor of maintaining the Union | hap
pen to know that, at a most critical period
of the war, he took an important part with
Michael C. Kerr, myself and other dem
ocrats in exposing ana preventing mis-
chiefin this state, by the so-called society
of the Sons of Liberty. or Knights of the
Golden Circle. Some account of this is
given in Mr.. Woolen's admirable book of
Sketches of Early Indiana but all
has never yet been made public MIR. Nc
Donald was true man to his country,
his friends. and his party.
"He was a democrat as far back as 1 first
knew him, and Justly proud of his firm
and consistent adherence to the principles
of that party. He said in my hearing not
long ago, with great earnestness and deep
feeling as l thought, that he had fought
a hundred battles for the democratic par
w but never one againstit. And he spoke
nothing but the truth when he said 1t.
No party ever had a more prudent leader
or more consistent and persistent advo-
cate He richly deserved all and more than
his party ever did for him He should
have been president of the United States.
He possessedln an eminent degree the quail
tiles most needed for that important and
exalted station. / had the honor of in
Producing into the Indiana state conven-
ton of 1884, the resolutions instr ucting
for him for the presidency, and there
were times before that when / felt the
party would have acted wisely TO have
selected him. He might have been nom-
mated in 1850, but for reasons that there
is not space here now to explain. AS
matters turned out it was best for him
that he was not. The presidency was not
for him much as he deserved it. But it is
all the same to him now that he has
Fought his last battle" and his great
heart is forever at rest.
although Mr.. Mcdonald was a strong
party man, it was in the patriotic sense OF
using party to further the best interests OF
the whole people. Within the organiza-
ton OF his party he sometimes differed
with a majority of his political friends, as
in the matter of initiation before men
toned, but he never thought OF acting
with any other party because he could not
control his own. He felt he could do
more good by biding his time where he
was and exercising his influence for right
inside the organization of his own party.
"In a word, he was great, broad, liberal
statesman, uninfiuenced by any little or
selfish considerations. Firm in the main
tenance OF his own views, he was exceed
ingly tolerant toward those who differed
from him. This was not only true in the
political world, but at the bar and in the
walks of private life. AS a result he was
generally respected even by those who
did not agree with him. He was not an
orator. could not be called brill
liant, but he was, nevertheless,
a man OF great ability, both as a lawyer
and a statesman. Under circumstances
where other men would loose their judy
ment from excitement, he was cool,
calm and collected, and these traits
coupled with his well-known fairness and
prudence made him one of the best
leaders his party ever had in this state,
and safe man to take charge OF any i'm
portant trust. But it was not alone for
his ability, his fairness toward opponents,
bis calmness under difficulties. or his
uniform prudence. that he was 80