The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-19
WALTER Q. GRESHAM.
SOMETHING ABOUT TIE MAN WHO
MAY Be CLEYELAND's PREMIER.


An INSIGHT Into His Characterization
Gresham Ordered Benjamin Harrison
to Take BIS Seat
From the NeU York World.
Walter Quintin Gresham, upright judge
gallant soldier, pharisee- batter, idol of his
friends, the man who dares all for principle,
will occupy a seat in the next democratic
cabinet. as he has sat within a decade In the
cabinet Of a republican President
He is one Of the few remaining log-cabin
statesmen. He was born on March II, 1882,
In an old-fashioned farm house, near Lanes
willie, Harrison county, Indiana. His birth
day as the same as st. Patrick's but the
Greshams are of English ancestry, and
the family is as old as the
Lincolns in the mother country.
His father. William Gresham, was sheriff
Of the backwoods county. and he died the
death OF brave officer in the discharge Of
his duty. An outlaw named Sipes had
defled arrest and terrorized dozen officers.
William Gresham sought him and arrested
him at q dance. The sheriff was unarmed
and Sipes shot him dead with his rifle.
Judge Gresham was 2 years old then, next
60 the youngest Of five small children.
In bis boyhood he followed the pillow by
day and studied his books at night. His
education was gained by the hardest kind of
work and self-denial. His mother was poor
but plucky and she managed the farm and
kept the family together. She lives on toe
old place yet, and her distinguished son
pays an annual visit there. Walter went to
che district school aud when he was l6 years
old an opportunity came to attend Corydon
Ia ola bah in ba re
auditors Office, and this paid bis board and
school expenses He spent two years at
Corydon, then a year at Bloomington
University, and on his return to Corydon be
got place in the county clerks Office. Here
he studied law, having entered his name in
the office of Judge William A. Porter. He
was admitted 90 the bar when % years old
and began 10 practice.
He was a wing 10 politics and Joined the
Republican party as soon as it was organs
lied. His law PARTNER was delegate to the
convention that nominated John c. FREE
mont for the presidency in 1856 Young
Gresham stumped the state for "bhe path
hnder.h He was nominated for the legisla-
ture In 1860 as a republican and was elected,
though his district had a normal democratic
majority Of 500. As chairman of the com
mittee on military affairs he brought for
ward and had passed a militia bill which
placed Indiana on Rlmost war footing. He
was valuable coadjutor Of War Governor
Morton, who leaned upon him and gave him
his confidence. He aided il procuring the
assent of the Indiana legislature TO the pro-
posal to the legislature of Virginia for
conference of representatives Of the border
state at Washington.
There was a military company in Cory
don called the Spencer Rifles. Young
Gresham was its captain. When the war
broke ous bis constituents wanted to re-eieot
him to the legislature, but the young mill
Gary captain was too ardent @ patriot. He
enlisted as private in the Thirty-eighth
regiment. Almost Immediately be was
made its lieutenant colonel. He first saw
service at Shiloh. Then he helped Gen.
Veeche besieRe Corinth. At Vicksburg he
met Grant. After the surrender Graat and
Sherman united ia recommending Gresham
for brigsdler's commission, and hs re-
ceived it, He was shot in the knee while In
command of a division of Sherman's army
at Leggetts Hill before Atlanta. Gen.
Gresham has never fully recovered the use
Of that shattered leg.
At one time Gresham was placed In COM
mand OF the post and district Of Natchez
dis government Of that turbulent city was
so wise and judicious that it is spoken Of
TO this day. His great difficulty was with
she cotton spectators aud cotton thieves.
When they found an incorruptible man In
command they resorted to every device
and subterfuge TO deceive him. One of
them became quite friendly wish Gen.
Gresham, but to no purpose Gresham
finally told him TO leave town or he would
put him in irons. The speoulator, who had
been soldier, complained to Gen. Grant.
Dld Gen. Gresham say he would put you
in ironsP said Grant
"He most assuredlY did"
Well, then, " said Grant, ~ would adj
wise you to keep away from him, for |
have always found him a man Of mis- word. u
When Gresham was ready to stump to
the front again the war had endel In
1868 be was brevetted major general, and
being mustered out began the practice of
law at New Albany, Ind. When Gen.
Grant became President be offered Gen.
Gresham the collectorship of the port of
New Orleans and subsequently the district
attorneyship for Indiana Both these offers
were declined 1t was said that Gresham
had Endorsed the applications of other men
Tor each OF the places and felt himself in
honor bound TO refuse them. He twice ran
for congress and was defeated by Michael
G. Kerr. In 1869 President Grant appointed
him United states district Judge for In
diana. This appointments he accepted, and
here began his judicial career. In the
sWelVe years he held that district judgeship
not one Of his decisions was reversed
President Arthur called him from the
DS1SA w Oo1OAAO q A1cu2DcF Oh us CHDlneE
In 1883. be took the portfolio left vacant
BY the death OF Postmaster General Howe.
One OF the notable incidents OF bis career
as Postmaster General was his exclusion Of
the Louisiana Lottery Company from the
USE OF the mails, and this be accomplished
In spite OF powerful pressure. Near the
close of President Arthur's term. on tho
death Of Secretary Folger, Judge Gresham
was appointed Secretary of the Treasury. a
position which he held but short time,
Although one of the youngest. he
was always one Of the most trusted
OF President Arthur's advisers. His
Judicial quality Of mind his sense
OF fairness and his even temper
made him a valuable coadjutor in such a
position. he shared President Arthur's
views with respect TO a revision Of the tariff
and reduction OF the surplus revenue
one OF his last acts as member OF the adj
mlnlstratlon was a speech delivered in Wall
street to the business men of New York in
which, although Blaine, the republican can
didate for President, was daily turning
every protectionist argument to account in
the CANVASS, he maintained that there was
no legitimate excuse for the heavy burdens
OF popular taxation. That circumstance
alone, his friends claimed with good rea-
son, proved him independent OF party dis
cipline.
Gresham's fancy was always for the
bench, though he was in very retired posi-
tion during his twelve years as district
IndUa nd O., F,-sa