The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-28

LAWYER; WIS elected to the legislature in
1860. and In August, 1861, became lieu
tenant colonel of the Thirty eighth In
diana infantry The following December
ne WAS made ,olonel of the Fifty-third In
diana and served for two years In that
rank. making an exceptionally brilliant
record, especially In the campaigns OF 1868
in Mississippi.
Aua. IL, 1se8, he was commissioned
brlgadier general, and while commanding
the foysth division OF General Blairs
corps before Atlanta he received wound
which disabled him for year, ending his
service. March 10, 1868, he was breyetted
major general for gallantry In the Atlanta
campaign. He resumed law practice, this
time at New Albany, Ind, and became IA
Republican leader, but the Democratic
majority in that region was too much for
him, and he was defeated in the race for
congress. Again, in 1881, he was an un-
successful candidate for United States
senator. Meanwhile President Grant had
appointed him federal judge for the dis
trict OF Indiana.
In Arthur's Cabinet.
When Postmaster General Howe died,
in April, 1888, Gresham, then holding
court al Evansville, was rendered the cab
met position by telegraph, and accepted.
Near the close or Arthur's term, on tho
death Of Secretary Folger, he was ap-
pointed secretary Of the treasury, posi-.
ton he held until October 1884, when he
withdrew from the cabinet altogether.
During his cabinet service he was one OF
Arthur's most trusted advisers. In Ee.
cember, 1884, Judge Drummond having
retired from the Office of United States
circuit judge, President Arthur, who had
taken him from the bench, had the salts
faction Of restoring him to the bench at
the end of his service.
In 1888 Judge Gresham was made
prominent candidate for the Republican
nomination for the presidency at the Chi
cago convention. Harrison ultimately
captured the Indiana delegation and was
nominated.
Previous TO that, Gresham had displayed
n strong inclination TO dissent from the
extreme high tariff doctrine Of the Repub-
lican party. His views on the tariff
created against him the antagonism Of the
extreme protectionlsts at Chicago. When
the Republicans assumed power and re-
vised the tariff by the passage of tho Nc
Kinley law, Judge Gresham, with other
Republicans, openly disscnted, and In
1892, after the nomination of Cleveland
by the Democrats, he, with other Republi-
cans, renounced thoir allegiance to the
Republican party and advocated Cleve-
lands election. After Cleveland was
elected in February, 1898, he rendered
Gresham the position of premier Of the
cabinet he was forming. Gresham ao-
cepted, and assumed the duties Of secretary
of state on March z, 1903.
During his short term as postmaster gen.
eral, Gresham accomplished much From
the day he set foot in the Office he evinced
those qualities of application and master.
fulness which have always characterized
his public labors. The reduction of post
age on letters from cents to 2 cents
and the increase of weight allowable
from half an ounce 30 an ounce were tho
crownfng gfories Of his administration.
Under his administration the foreign
postal service was also greatly improved.
As Secretary OF State.
As secretary of state in tho present ad.
Mr. Gresham has had to deal
with problems more vexatious, intricate
and delicate, automatically, than has
fallen to the share OF most secretaries OF
state. His treatment of these measures
was marked by the strong individuality
which was part Of the man. To him 10
made little difference how any line OF
action promised TO affect his own country,
he could and did disabuse his mind Of any
personal feeling In dealing with an inter-
national question, and the first considera-
ton with him was always absolute fair
ness; IL his own country occupied false
position in the matter. he thought IL was
his duty 20 set it right, even at q sacrifice
Of material interests, as il might appear at
the time.
Secretary Gresham found much to dis |
satisfy him with the state Of our foreign !
relations when he assumed Office this last |
ime, and in his characteristic fashion no |
'et TO work TO shape these TO meet his own |
deas without delay. Such course was
'ertain To subject him TO bitter criticism, |
md he fully realized this In advance, but
vas In no respect deferred from doing |
What he thought was right.
This brought him face to face with the |
yreat question OF the hour at that time
he annexation Of Hawaii He had de-
ded views upon this matter even before
le cane into the cabinet, and the secretary
made his celebrated recommendation that
he queen be restored, inasmuch as she
lad been deposod through the action OF
he officers OF the United States. When
ongress finally made known Its wishes,
he secretary accepted them for his govern
nent, but 1t cannot be discovered from
ny subsequent utterance of his that no
vcr changed his views az originally an
lounccd to tho justice of the action he had
proposed.
While he was deep in the Hawaiian
negotiations, Gresham was Obliged sud.
enly to give immediate attention to the
ubject of the Bohring sea fisheries. The
arranged by his predecessor
vas in full swing. Hero was another
natter with which he was not in
armony.
The British wero unwilling to do the
lrst Of many things, and it was only by an
Exhibition OF sttength through his charac-
er and purpose that he succeeded in hurry.
ng through the British parliament an act
o give effect to the arbitration and then
ecuring the adoption Of regulations to
leep of tho poachers.
His Wonderful Tact.
BY clause in the Wilson tariff act, con-
'ress has swept away in line all of the