Evening star., 1895-05-28
GRESHAM AND HARRISON
The Rivalry Between the Two Men for
Republican Leadership.
1t Commenced With the Struggle for
the Indiana Scnatorship-Grcsha
In Arthur's Cabinet.

| General Harrison for leadership in the re-
publican party In Indiana has long been an
| interesting topic with those fond of the
| personal features of politics. A great deal
has been written on the subject, and much
CT 1t remains undisputed, but there are
| well-informed men who assert that the
| story in its full and connected scope has
yet to be written. 1t was no ordinary
struggle. 1t lasted for years, and it
| brought into play the resources of two as
4 resolute and as fearless men as ever con-
| fronted each other on any kind of field.
General Harrison won. but Judge Gresham
| transferring his residence to Illinois, con-
| tinued to play a great part In affairs, and
dies while filling one Of the most important
| pests in the government.
| The Indiana Scnatorship.
| The first distinct advantage gained by
! General Harrison over his rival occurred in
1881, when a United States Senator was to
| be chosen in Indiana to succeed Joseph E.
| Mcdonald. The republicans had carried
| the legislature in their triumph of 1850,
party prospects were bright for a great
| lease of power there and the demand was
| for the strongest possible party organiza-
tiCn.
Gen. Harrison and Judge Gresham were
easily at the head of the poll of the local
| set that the senatorship would go to one
| or the other of them. One was practic-
| ing lawyer of very high reputation, and the
| other was the United States district judge
| for. Indiana. Both lived at Indianapolis,
and Gen. Harrison occasionally appeared
in Judge Greshams court. But the two
men were not on friendly terms, and their
respective supporters divided on the Ques-
ton Of their talents and deserts with m lch
show of feeling.
Harrison Won.
The choice between them was. in one
| sense, not an easy one to make. They had
some qualities In common. Both were good
lawyers. good republicans good men. Both
were personally ard politically, brave and
aggressive. Both had won praise and pro-
motion on the battle field, and each was
still the idol of the men who had served
under him. But when the whole matter
had been canvassed. the party, by a good
majority. decided for Gen. Harrison, and
he was chosen Senator. There seemed to
be much more in this election than the
mere winning of a seat in the Senate. In
diana was then, next to New York. oftener
in the calculations of the politicians than
any other state in the Union.
She was one of the pivotal states. Might
not Gen. Harrison come to national leader
ship? Why not? Everything was assur-
ity, all favored him. His friends believed
indeed. that they had placed him in line
Tor the presidency, and they had no sooner
arrived at this conclusion than they began
to sound sentiment at a distance on the
subject. 1t may be mentioned. too, that
Gen. Harrison's debut in the Senate en-
couraged all the hopes of his most ardent
admirers. He went at once to the front
and in one years service in that body i'm
pressed himself on his associates as
debater of the first-class.
Retired From Political View.
Meanwhile, Judge Gresham had retired
from political view. and was pursuing the
even tenor of his judicial way. There was
no thought in the state that he would again
come to the front. unless in the line of
the judicial promotion, which his friends
felt he long had richly deserved. He made
no wry faces over his defeat for the Sen
ate. He continued to be good republican
and to support the party policy. Then,
upon the sudden, came the assassina lion
Gen. Arthur to the presidency, and the
complete change in the party calculations.
New possibilities seemed to open up to
many men. and especially to the newly in
stalled chief magistrate. His success in
the White House was as immediate as that
of Gen. Harrison in the Senate. The coun-
conservatism, and an Arthur boom for 1854
soon took shape.
In Arthur'A Cabinet.
at first regard Mr.. Blaine as a probable
rival for the great prize. The Maine mans
disappointment in .1S76, and again in 1885,
had been so bitter. they inclined to leave
him out Of the equation for the future
They turned their eyes on Harrison and
began to watch him, and to consider plans
for neutralizing his influence at home and
In the surrounding states. And so. when
the vacancy occurred in the Post Office De-
rartment. the Arthur people at once saw
an opportunity. Judge Gresham was their
man. He was not only worthy of the place
by reason of his capacities and personal
worth. but his appointment would attach
his friends at home to the Arthur standard
and help check the growth Of Harrison
sentiment for 1884.
Gen. Arthur was struck with the sug-
gestion, and especially when 1t was pointed
out that the ticket might be made Arthur
and Gresham. The Office was rendered to
Judge Gresham and accepted, and the rest
Is history. The new Postmaster General
made most favorable impression on his
chief. and they worked well together. But
IN time 1t was developed that 1t was NOT
Harrison but Blaine who needed watching
and was to be antagoniZed, and this upset
the whole of the Arthur program 1t did
not. however. diminish Cen Arthur's inter-
est in Judge Gresham v hom he had learn
ed thoroughly to trust, and SO when Judge
Folger died Judge Gresham was trans
ferreG to the Treasury Department, and re-
NAMED there until he was appointed to the
United States circuit bench at Chicago.
From that time Judge Gresham ceased to
be all Indiana man in effect on the political
situation, and Gen. Harrison came to an
undisputed sway in the state in the affairs
of his party.
A Surprise to His Friends.
The appearance of Judge Gresham at the
head of Mr.. CIeveland's second cabinet was
surprise and something of a shock to his
old republican friends in Indiana. They had
sympathiZed with his opposition to the
Harrison regime at home and they were
aware that he was not in agreement on the
tariff question with the high protectionists.
But they were not prepared for his going
over absolutely to the democracy, and in a
manner which showed this feeling but with
entire personal respect. they resented it.
Few of them called to see him when in
Washington and many of them pledged
support to Gen. Harrison at home stronger
than that accorded by the original Harri-
son men. But Judge Gresham bore this
without comment OF any kind He was a
strong and self-reliant man, who made few
explanations of his conduct and no apoio-
gies whatever for 1t.
Nnf Placed tn ri