Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1895-05-31
WALTER q. GRESHAM.

Lit announcement vi lHt utdlI OI
Secretary of State Walter Q. Gresham
was certainly a shock to the people of
the United States. 1t was known that
he was confined to his bed by sickness.
but the reports sent out almost daily
gave no intimation that the illness was
liable to result fatally, on the contrary
it was supposed that he was on the fair
way to recovery. In the presence of
death it is hardly the province of ii
newspaper to discuss the life and eff
forts Of a man who has filled so distin-
guishcd a place in contcmporaneous his
tory. Up to recent period his record was
without d flaw. AS a lad he battled
with fate. and under adverse circum-
stances won ii place among the ranks of
men and fitted himself for the practice
of the profession of law. Before he had
an opportunity to gain a foothold in the
legal line the War Of the rebellion
found him an earnest defender of the
Union. and as d soldier he won honor
'''' W. wal tIltlttl, lIt IT.
turned to his first love, the law, and as
a judge he had few equals and no SUI
p"riors. On the bench the name
Of Gresham was Il synonym for justice
and integrity. In the meantime the
state demanded his talents and they
were given in the holding Of two cabinet
positions, that of postmaster general
and secretary Of the treasury.
At the close Of the war he was a re-
publican in politics and at the conven-
tlon OF that party in 1855 was prominent
~ named as ii candidate for president.
At the Omaha convention Of 1892 he was
offered the nomination for president by
the populistS. but after due considcra-
ton he declined and east his lot with the
democrats. supporting the candidacy of
Mr.. cleveland. When the Cleveland
cabinet was formed Mr., Gresham was
made secretary If state. and from that
time until the date Of his unlocked for
death his career has been bcset with
trouble and difficulties, which no doubt
aided in Fastening his end.
First came the Hawaiian trouble and
in that his judgment led him to run
counter to popular sentiment and to
take the high ground that the revolution
had been accomplished by undue inter
ference on the part of United States
troops and that the queen should be
restored. This position was negatived
by congress and to the will of that
body, backed by the people, he
submitted, but it is known that he
did not change his opinion. Then
came the China Japan war, in which
after being one rebutfcd in an offer as
mediator the friendly offices of our
ministers to the two countries were ac-
ceptcd, and they were responsible for
the negotiations that led up to the
peace. Then came the Alliancia affair
with Spain, and the Nicaraguan trouble,
and more important still the yet unset
tied difference with England over the
Venezuelan boundary, involving the in
depreciation of the Monroe doctrine.
There were other and minor matters
that engaged his attention, and in this
rush of delicate, intricate and important
affairs his health broke down. and as a
penalty for distinguished position he
paid his life.
Over the dead body Of the great man,
for he was ii great man, all Americans
will pause to render a loyal tribute to
his worth and services. That many did
not agree with him cannot detract from
his merits, for his most pronounced OPP
p%onents will agree in giving him credit
for being actuated by the sinccrcst Of
motives and doing right as God gave
him to see tho right" In the death Of
Mr.. Gresham the country has lost a
great man. The present generation will
honor itself by paying respect to his