Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-28
3 sEcRETARY,s DENISE.

died AZ Ills A. NJ. No death could be
more quiet. more calm, or moro peaceful.
For two hours during dissolution there
had been no indication Of either pulse
or a heartbeat He lay during that time
with his head resting on the arms OF his
daughter. Mrs. Andrews, while his devoted
wife sat by his side, his hands crossing
hers. his face so turned that his last
conscious gaze should rest upon her
And so the minutes dragged slowly on
tin the end came. He was conscious to
the last.
lie suffered greatly during the preced-
ing forty-eight hours. after the pneumonia
symptoms were complicated with his
other disease. and was only temporarily
relieved by frequent hypodermic injec-
tons But as the end approached the
suffering disappeared, and ne passed
away as quietly as tired child sinking
In slumber in the arms Of It's mother
Arrangements FOR his funeral win be
made after Mr.. Otto Gresham. son Of the
deceased. shall arrive In Washington, this
morning from Chicago.
THE LATE sECRETARY's CAREER.
Walter Qulnton Gresham was little
more than 65 years old when his record as
soldier. jurist, and statesman was closed
by death. He was essentially an In
danian, though OF late years claiming
residence in Illinois Born in Harrison
county, Ind. March II, 1882, and receiv-
ing all his early education and his law
trimming In that State, he abandoned
prosperous law practice and a member
ship Of the State Legislature in August,
! 1861. to throw his whole strength into
the prosecution OF the war for the de-
fence OF the Union. His gallant and con-
spicuously-able services in that character
secured for him the strong friendship OF
General Grant and the respect of his
Confederate opponents. which was fire.
| quently manifested in after-life He en-
tered the service as Northumberland OF
the Thirty-eighth Indiana Volunteers, was
breveted brigadier-general for gallantry
IN the siege Of Vicksburg, and returned
as major-general.
In the operations before Atlanta, Ca.
while commanding a division in General
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 inca
FACILITATED him UP to the end Of his life.
lie was awarded a pension for this dis
ability. but after he became Secretary of
state declined to receive 1t, although the
constant and intense suffering resulting
from those injuries undoubtedly aug
mented the ailments which contributed
TO his death.
IN POLITICS.
After the war closed he was brought
forward prominently as a political candi-
date. He ran for Congress in the New
A bany dndiana) District. in 1856. as .
Republican and was defeated. Then he
was appointed financial 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.
In 1880. when one Of the customary
changes in the complexion OF the Indiana
Legislature made il possible TO elect a
Republican to succeed Mr.. Joseph Il.
Mcdonald in the United States Senate,
Judge Gresham and Benjamin Harrison
were the leading candidates for the po-
sition. and Mr.. Harrison secured the
| election.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
After the death of Garfield. in 1852,
| Judge Gresham was rendered the posi-
ton OF Postmaster-General in President
Arthur's recognized Cabinet. and re-
signed his district judgeship to accept
it. When Secretary Folger died In 1884,
after his overwhelming defeat as candi-
date for Governor of New York by Gro
yer Cleveland, Mr. Gresham was trans
| ferred to the Treasury portfolio thus va
Gated. The duties Of a Cabinet officer,
and the eXacting requirements involved
in the disposal of the patronage Of one
Of the greatest executive departments Of
the government, were 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 Of the
Seventh judicial District. which embraces
the States of Indiana, Illinois, and Wis
| consin.
SECRETARY OF STATE.
lie retained this position until, at Mr..
Cleveland's urgent personal request, he
Joined Mr.. Cleveland's second Cabinet as
Secretary Of State. But, in the mean
time varying political movements had
brought his name forward as a candidate
| for the presidency. In an interlude In
the convention at Chicago which subse-
ouently nominated Benjamin Harrison.
Colonel Robert G. lngersoll was called to
the platform for a political speech, and
| after thrilling the convention with one OF
his finest bursts Of eloquence, suddenly
seconded the name Of Judge Gresham
as presidential nominee, and attempted
/ to stampede the convention. The utter
| ~ unexpected anti-climax which followed
| this dramatic incident is something which
even the most experienced frequenters
OF political conventions will always bear
in memory II seemed as II the entire
convention rose as one man and booted
| down the eloquent speaker for what was
regarded as an attempt to take snap judg-
ment on them, and Judge Gresham's name
was not again seriously considered by
| the convention
In 1882 the Populst party sent a dele
CATION to tender Judge Gresham nomi-
nation at the head OF their ticket but he
declined 70 accept the offer, and remained
on the bench until he resigned at the
personal request Of MIR. Cleveland. to
become secretary Of State.
DIPLOMATIC ACHIEVEMENTS.
recently-published semi-ofncial state
mont as 10 the foreign policy of the
present administration claims credit for
Secretary Gresham for having success
fully interposed our good offices in the
late Niearaguan dispute with Great
Britain in such way as to secure an
amicable agreement, while at the same
| time admonishing that impetueus iitue