The gold leaf., 1895-06-06
THE DEAD SECRETARY'SCAREER
Distinguished in War, at the Bar, on
the Bench. and in National
Affairs.
Washington Post. |

Waiter Qulnton Gresham was lit
tie more than sIxtythree years old
when his record as soldier, jurist and
statesman was closed by death. He
was essentially an Indianian, though OF
late years claiming residence in Hi
nois. Born in Harrison county, In
diana, March II, 1892, and receiving
all his early education and legal train
ing in that State, he abandoned a
prosperous law practice, and member.
ship in the State Legislature in August
1861, to throw his whole energies into
the prosecution Of the war for the de-
fence of the Union. His gallant, con
spicuously able services in that capaci-
ty secured for him the strong friend
ship of Gen. Grant, and the respect of
his Confederate opponents, which was
frequently manifested in after life.
He entered the service as lieutenant
colonel of the Thirty, eighth Indiana
Volunteers, was breveted brigadier
general for gallantry in the siege of
Vicksburg, and retired as major gen
eral.
In the operations before Atlanta
Ga, while commanding a division in
Gen. Frank Blair's corps he received
wounds while charging at the head of
his brigade which put him in the
hospital for nearly year and to a
considerable extent incapacitated him
up to the end of life He was awarded
a pension for this disability, but after
he became Secretary of State declined
to receive it, although the constant
and intense suffering resulting from
those injuries undoubtedly augmented
the physical ailments which contrib
uted to his DEATH
APPOINTED TO THE BENCH.
After the war closed he was brought
forward prominently as political
candidate. He ran for Congress in
the New Albany Ind.) district in
1866 as a Republican and was de-
feated. Then he was appointed finan-
cial agent Of his State in New York
city, and while holding this position
was selected by President Grant for
appointment as United States district
judge in his native State.
After the death of Garfield, in 1882,
Judge Gresham was rendered the posi-
ton of Postmaster General in Presi-
dent Arthur's reorganized Cabinet,
and resigned his district judgeship to
accept it.
When Secretary Folger died, in
1884, after his overwhelming defeat as
candidate for Governor of New York
by Grover Cleveland, Mr.. Gresham
was transferred to the Treasury port
folio thus vacated
The duties of Cabinet officer and
the exactlng requirements involved in
the disposal of the patronage Of one of
the greatest executive departments of
the government we're not to his taste,
and at his own request President Arthur
nominated him after barely three
months service as Secretary of the
Treasury, to the position Of circuit
Judge for the judicial circuit, which
embraces the States of Indiana, Hi
Eois and Wisconsin. He remained in
his position until, at Mr.. Cleveland's
urgent personal request, he joined
Mr.. Clevsland's second Cabinet as
Secretary of State.
In the meantime varying political
movements had brought his name for
ward as a candidate for the Presi-
dency.
In an interlude in the convention at
Chicago which subsequently nominated
Benjamin Harrison, Col. Robert G..
Ingersoll was called to the platform
for patriotic speech, and after thrill
ing the convention with one of his
finest bursts Of eloquence, suddenly
sprung the name of Judge Gresham
as Presidential nominee and attempted
to stampede the convention to his sup
port.
But Judge Gresham's name was
not seriously considered by the con-
ventiCn.
In 1897 the Populist party sent a
delegation to tender Judge Gresham
a nomination at the head Of their
ticket, but he declined to accept the
offer and remained on the bench until
he resigned at the request of Mr..
Cleveland to become Secretary Of
State.
Personally Secretary Gresham Sc
cured the warmest regard Of those
most closely associated with him. In
all his domestic relations he vas .nost
exemplary. His brilliant record as a
brave soldier, and his conscientious de-
votion to his duties in the high civil
capacities to which he was called will
insure for his memory national respect.
Electric Bitters.