The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-28

The death of Secretary of State Walter
O. Gresham removes a prominent figure
from national life. and from Indiana a
citizen whose vivid personality made
him a picturesque. if not an influential
element in. it's public affairs for many
years. He has been known to the coun-
try at large first as Postmaster-general
and Secretary Of the Treasury nde
President Arthur, as a Judge of a federal
circuit court, at intervals during this
period as a presidential candidate on
one party tick after another, and,
finally, as a Cabinet officer under Presi-
dent Cleveland. Previous to that time
he had occupied a position on the bench
of the United States District Court in
this State, to which place he was ap-
pointed by President Grant. on whom he
had favorably impressed himself for his
soldierly qualities during the war. His
first military commission came from
Governor Morton. and though his serv-
ices as an officer and soldier were en-
tirely creditable and satisfactory, the
restlessness and discomfort with his en-
vironment and the conditions affecting
him which characterized him later mani
tested themselves even at that early day
and caused the Governor some trouble.
After he went upon the bench this rest
lessness assumed the form of political
ambition, and he was always to be
reckoned on as a possible candidate for
the Office of Governor or United States
Senator. But his political sagacity did
not keep pace with his ambition. He
was a poor politician. and with all his
efforts never succeeded in securing an
important elective Office. his official posi-
ions all being of an ap~pointive charac-
ter. He was a man of strong prejudices,
intense likes and dislikes. and had a
habit of giving way to his personal feel
ings even upon the bench. He was. i'm
fact, entirely lacking in the judicial
temperament, and was untitled by nature
and training to render unprejudiced de-
cisions. This popularity was thorough
ly understood by the lawyers who prac-
ticed in his court. and to them and
others who knew him well it explains
many of his later political acts which
are yet -unaccountable to the outside
~ EOA Will ali IL lInpuiSlEe not
headedness and his vacillating DISPOSE
ton. he had strong and marked charac-
teristics, and a measure of personal
magnetism which not only held his
friends firmly to him but impressed peo-
pie generally with the belief that he
possessed greater talents than really be-
longed to him. These friends and ad-
mirprS were alvyayS axpaotinn froc, H.,
more than he was capable of perform
ing. This was true in State and ma
tiona politics, where over and over
again he was expected by a certain ele-
ment to lead, and disappointed their
hopes. He was not a leader.
summed VI. it may be said thu he
was a brilliant man with many win
ming and agreeable social qualities, a
good friend and a good hater, ambitious,
but lacking in the firmness and determi-
nation that make ambitions triumph.
Although he received. high honors from
three Presidents. ii is doubtful if he
was ever content with any-the last
least of all. For. with all his tempera-
mental faults, it must be believed by
those who knew him best that Mr..
Gresham was thoroughly American in
spirit, and that if he had not been con-
trolled by the un-American spirit of the
Cleveland administration the dealings
of the State Department with foreign
countries would not have been of a
sort TO cause every patriotic citizen to
blush for shame. There is good reason
to suspect that the unhappy results Of
diplomatic proceedings had much to do
with causing the physical n mental
depression that has ended in death.
His greatest services to his country
have been as a soldier and as POST
master-general, in which Office he To-
bored earnestly for public benefit. The
history of his career will form an in
teresting chapter in American public life.
ONE OF THE STOCK QUESTIONS,