The Washington bee., 1896-05-16
IOWA'S GREAT SENATOR.
WILLIAM B. ALLISON, THE GREAT PRO-
lection LEADER AND CHAMPION
OF THE COLORED RACE.

this sketch, was born in Perry Count
Ohio, and was educated at the WeStel
3Reserved College, Ohio; studied la
and praCticed in Ohio until he remove
to Iowa in 1857 served on the staff Oft
Governor of Iowa and aided in organ
zing Volunteers in the beginning of tn
war for the suppression ofthe rebellion
was elected a Representative in th
Thirty-eight, Thirty-ninth, Fortiet
and Forty-frst Congress, and was {
lected to the United States Senate as
republican took his seat March 4, IS7:
and was reelected for four sucCesSiv
terms.
With the public services of the grea
Iowa Senator the public is familiar
but as there is a probability that h
may be the successor of Grover Cleve
land our readers will feel an interes
in knowing something concerning tn
home life and personal traits of thi
man who has occupied such a conspiC
uous position in the nation, and whc
has been an earnest advocate of tn,
rights Of the colored race. He is /;
most genial man. He is a charming
conversationalist. He talks on inter
esting subjects in an interesting way
There is never any indifference in hi.
manners or words. He talks of men
or events or issues with perfect frank,
ness. He looks on the good side o
men and on the bright side of things
He is man who would rather find
good than bad in the world. He is
not only cheerful in disposition, but he
is full of large hopefulness, founded
on profound study of the course OF
human events and on an uGaltering
faith in Providence. His religion is an
every day religion. He inherited it,
| together with his strong constitution
and great mind, from his sturdy anCes-
tors, who were Covenanters. He is a
member of the congregation of the
First Presbyterian Church Of Dubuque
and is a regular attendant on the SER
vices of that church when in the CITY,
His religious views have had much to
do with shaping the tenor of his life.
Of Senator Allison you can write
truly that he displeases you in no re-
spect. He is from every point of view
a man. He is that rare combination of
simplicity and strength of frankness
and reserve; of gentlenesS and rug
gedneSs which appeals to the eye and
to the heart no less than to the intellect.
He is every inch a Senator. He is
strong of body, big of head and warm
ofheart. His welcome is an inspira-
ton and his farewell is like benedic-
ton. He Is one of those men whom
men admire and women loye, instinc-
lively. Each recognizes in him that
superior manhood which is really the
greatest good in the world. His is the
manhood which Swerves not in the E.
ternal pursuit of the right, which holds
no duty too humble to be well done
and no ambition too great to be
achieved. The longer you talk with
Senator Allison, for he is a good list
ener as we'll as good talker, the more
these great and good qualities impress
themselves upon you. He grows in
greatness as a mountain grows in |
height as you approach its base. He |
is strong all around. He is like we'll |
fortified city and the Notifications are
his own life and services. In his
speech he is sometimes light, but more
often impressive. His diction is pure
and lofty, without being either formal
or cold. His utterances are full and
exact; incisive and decisive. He is
quick to see point and ready to ap-
preciate Joke. He never tells, either
in his public speeches or private con-
versation, a story or incident which he
might not have related before his own
mother. He is a pure man, without
prudery. In personal appearance,
Senator Allison is strikingly hand
some and impressive. His hair and
his beard are Wh;tened, but his face is
ruddy and his cheeks have the delicate
glow of the school girls. Every fea-
.ure in his face tells you that he has
lived simply and nobly. His chest is
his shoulders are strong,
lis neck courageous and his head mas
Sive.
HIS ANCESTRY AND BOYHOOD.
When Abraham Lincoln had become
amous, a newspaper man, as news
PAPER men will, asked him about his
,arly life. The great President, with ,
hat pathetic smile for which he was
loted, repeated the line from Grey's
1legy:
The short and simple annals of the =,
'oor." How wildly that summed up !
IL through which he had passed to =
himself for the great tasks :
Which were his, allotted to him by Di- =.
inc Providence. :
Senator Allison, asked the same !;
uestion, might make the same an !
wer. His beginnings also were amid :
umble surroundings. He, too, was :
radled in the wilderness and for him,
DO, boyhood and early manhood were :
with poverty. But not one :,
his admirers would take away those v
Experiences, even if he could They Il
elped to form the man. They are ..
art of him, ingrained in his sturdy 6.
ody and in his upright heart. Be- {.
luse of these experiences he has bet {.
n understood the needs of American 8.
egiSlation, and he has been enabled to ..
We always near the heart of the plain .
eople, of whom he is proud to account (
mSelf one.
HIS GREAT POLITICAL CAREER. m
Senator Allison learned early in life c
take all interest in political affairs. b.
is father was Whig and he himself d.
as a Wing before he became a re- if
lbliCan. In 1855 he was a delegate, c
ON Ashland County, to the State re
onvention which nominated Salmon m
Chase for Governor of Ohio. In cl
Sc he supported Fremont for Presi- p;
mt and was locally one of the active Is
orkers for the new party which was H
,stined to play such an important NJ
lie in National affairs. m
Announced LincoIn's Nomination. m
Mr.. Allison was a delegate to the at
ate Convention which nominated Mr.. "
in 1889, In 1860 he was hon 10
ed by being sent as delegate to the ~
ltional Republican Convention, the Kf
invention which nominated Abraham De