Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1896-02-05
SENATOR DAVIS.
MinnesOta's Choice for President.
Career Described by Senator
Hansbrough.
As Lawyer, Soldier and States.
man He Has Brilliantly
Shone.
A Brilliant Speaker and an Ear
nest Student of the Nations
Needs.

Davis of Minnesota, as a senator OF thu
United States and as candidate To-
the presidency, justifies an estimate o.
his qualities and sketch of his career
Senator Davis was born at Hender
son, Jefferson county, N. Y, on thu
18th day of June, 1888. He comes Of
Puritan stock; the tombstone which
marks the grave at Plymouth, Mass, OF
Mary Allerton, the last survivor of the
Pilgrims, and wife of Thomas Cush'
man, marks also the resting place OF
his ancestress Of the seventh genera.
ton The strains of blood which come
to him through the Cushmans, Kel'
loggs, those of his own surname, and
allied families, show that the qualities
which have gained him distinction
are rightfully his by inheritance as
vel as By personal achievement.
Senator Davis is New Yorker only
by birth; in education and experience
he is of the West, for his father re-
moved to Wisconsin Territory during
the first year of his life. His educa-
ton, begun in country log school
house, of Waukesha county, was con-
tinued at an academy, for which he
furnished part of the expense by work
rs telegraph operator, and supple
mented by three years at Carroll col
1ege, Waukesha, and one year in the
senior class of the University of Michi-
gan, from which institution he graduated
in 1857 Choosing then the profession
M
Randall the war governor of Wiscon-
sin, and commenced practice in that
state in 1860 The stirring events Of
that time, however, were not favorable
TO the studious pursuit of his new pro-
fession, and politics engrossed him more
than law His father was of old Wing
stock, and Thurlow Weeds Albany
Evening Journal was in his home next
In authority to the family Bible.
The transposition from the Wing to
the newborn Republican party was
natural and easy, and in the case of
young Davis it was fastened and made
imperative by the influence of man of
remarkable impressiveness and power.
It was his fortune to make the ac-
suHaintance of Theodore Parker, and,
while from his Puritanic training, the
theological tenets of the latitudinarian
seemed rank heresy, he was enthralled
by that great mans habitual dwelling
In the higher regions of thought, by his
sclear visions of justice, and by his all
prevaiding, broad humanity.
So, when the impending conflict be-
tween the North and the South in
yOlved not merely the preservation of
the Union, but the settlement of the
mest momentous moral question ever
submitted to the decision of a Chris
tian people, the young lawyer threw
aside his briefs, and, following his con-
science, engaged in the controversy
with every force of an ardent nature.
He was found to have rare facility of
public speech, and in the early days
of the civil war his voice was heard
among the elders, advocating the integ-
rlty of the Union, the changeless rights
of man, and in stimulating enlistments
for the maintenance of both. He
could not, however, long remain talk
ing at home, when his youthful COM
rades were rushing to the field, and in
1882 he enlisted and became first lieu
tenant of Company B, Twenty eighth
regiment, Wisconsin volunteer infan-
try. With the Army Of the Tennessee
he participated in the Vicksburg and
other campaigns, until, after the two
years service in the malarial districts
of the Southwest, he was attacked with
army fever, and was forced to resign.
Lieutenant Davis went to Minnesota
in the late autumn Of 1854. He had
visited various places in pursuit Of
health, and finally went there as last
resort When he entered the army he
was strong and stalwart young man;
when he landed at St. Paul he feebly
tipped the scales at 81 pounds. It re-
CURED from two to three years to re-
store his health sufficiently to enable
him to engage in professional practice,
but with health came the opportunity,
which rarely fails to wait on genius, in
the murder case of Van Solen. This
case, since become leading one in
Northwestern criminal annals, was car
ried through two trials, of disagreement
and acquittal, and it established his
reputation. Thenceforward to the pres
emit his practice has been limited only
by considerations of physical ability
and the conflicting demands of public
duty.
For many years no capital case was
tried in Minnesota or the Dakotas with
ont his connection as the leading coun-
sci for the defense. His sympathetic ma
ture made him the natural defender of
the accused, and it is rare tribute to
that quality and to his legal acumen
that no client of this class ever suffered
conviction. This sympathetic nature
also made him the recognized attorney
for those who had suffered wrongs and
injuries from railroad and other cor
porations; and Of the thousands of these
cases in which he has been employed
during nearly 80 years of practice, he
always appeared on behalf of the in
jured complainant often without fee,
and never on the side Of the corpora
tion. He became SO generally known
as the peoples lawyer and was 80 sue
cesSful. that the CORPORATIONS sought to