The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-11
TRIBUTES FROM FRIENDS.
Expressions of Messrs. Turpie, Fair
banks, Faris and steele.

AohlNGION, April Ex-senator Iurple
was deeply affected by the death of his
friend of nearly half century. His voice
was broken as he talked of his dead polit-
cal and personal companion, and he could
only speak of him colloqually with relation
to the past few months. Senator Voor-
hees left Terre Haute only two days before
the meeting of Congress in December" he
said, ''and 1 came on TO Washington with
him. Joined him at Indianapolis and we
journeyed together to Washington. He
looked better than he had during the sum-
mer or fall preceding. but was still under
the care of physicians and taking daily
prescriptions. He seemed. however, to be
in very cheerful spirits and spoke quite
often and with a good deal of interest of
public business expected to be transacted
at the session of Congress about to COM
mence. though at some times he expressed
apprehension that he might not be able
to take an active part in the proceedings
of the coming session. This fear of his
was realized. He did attend the last session
of Congress very regularly. and when he
entered the chamber he did not remain
long. He did, however, a good deal of work
and took very great interest in closing the
transactions connected with the new Con-
and acted quite vigorously in favor of pri-
vate bills then pending in behalf of con-
stituents in Indiana. Indeed, 1 think he
took as much interest in legislative pro-
cedure as / have ever known him TO, and
labored therein as constantly as his phys
ical condition would permit. His health
continued to seemingly improve during the
whole winter months, and the very last
time 1 saw him before his death he spoke
of having gained forty pounds in weight
since his return to Washington, an appar-
emily healthy recovery from previous erna-
citation. He not only gained in flesh. but
his color improved. his eyes grew brighter
and his spirits rose.
After the adjournment of the last session
Of Congress in March he showed some
symptoms Of decline and suffering, but
these seemed to be temporary. Although
the pains were acute, they passed away
rapidly. He employed his time in reading
very largely for the preparation and COM
pilation of a lecture to be delivered on the
platform. for which he had received numer-
GUS Invitations. L heard several extracts
or these lectures read by him only the
Saturday before his death He read over
half hour with excellent command of
voice, elegant rythm and the attractive
cadence so well known in his delivery. The
Wednesday night before his death spent
cheerfully and seemed to be in high hopes
of successful work Occasionally his con-
versation was interrupted by pains in his
chest. They seemed quite acute, but lasted
be in the least apprehensive of unfavora-
bic results and L did not entertain such ap-
prehension He was seated in his chair
surrounded by books and papers. He fire.
quently walked about the room and seemed
in every way convalescent. He spoke of the
new library. which we visited together
nd
told me how he had almost alone COM
menced that undertaking. how il had grown
IN his hands and how fully he realized the
glory attendant on the completion OF that
grand edifice which had been dedicated by
this Republic To the garnered wealth of
that greater commonwealth-the republic
of letters.
Il intimately knew Senator Voorhees, for
forty-five years. His death to me was quite
unexpected. The end of his public service,
as of his life, leaves great void in Indi-
ana history and in that of the country
Senator Fairbanks greatly shocked
over the death of the Indiana statesman
whose seat in the United States Senate he
had succeeded to only short month go.
For several weeks he, in conjunction with
| other friends of the late senator, had been
| quietly working for his appointment as a
| member of a newly-authorized commission
| for the consideration of treaty with the
| five tribes of the Indian territory. and in
| short time he would have received the
| commission. 1t was the almost unanimous
decision of the Senate to make suitable
| provision for him in legitimate and hon
| orable way, and Senator Fairbanks had
| taken the initiative in the matter Senator
Fairbanks spoke in the warmeSt terms of
ex-senator Voorhees,, whom ne had always
| held in high personal esteem, and whose
! lovable qualities he had so often heard
eNtofled. He placed himself at the disposal
OF the family of the deceased, assuring the
| daughter and sons of the deceased that if
there was anything he could do to COM
| mand him without reserve.
| Representative Faris, of Terre Haute
| paid a feeling tribute 10 the dead senator
! He said: 81 had known him for sixteen
| years, having lived in Terre Haute a little
| longer than that time. He was universally
esteemed by the people of his State and the
national capital in a social way. He was
intensely sympathetic, and welded men to
| him by ties of friendship regardless of po-
| ltical alliances or affiliations. Many of his
| warmest personal friends were Republicans,
| and in his personal relations he entirely
| lost sight of politics. In late years the
| asperities that formerly characterized poll
| tics in Indiana have disappeared, and Sem
| ator Voorhees, was regarded with great re-
| spect by people generally throughout the
| Wabash valey-much as the venerable Col
| r. w. Thompson is esteemed. One of the
| striking characteristics of the man during
| the later years of his public career was his
| There is no doubt to the absolute sin
| cerity of his efforts in their behalf. and
| of the widespread esteem with which he
| was held among the veterans of Indiana
| regard ex-senator Voorhees, as having beer
| the most popular Democrat that Indiana
| has ever produced While he may not have
| equaled the late Senators Mcdonald ol
| Hendricks in ability. yet he exceeded bott
| in his great eloquence and his magneti,
| hold on his party. His infinite kindness o
| heart, so unmistable and so genuine, mus
| have had much TO do with this. Ii was
| noble trait-one of the noblest given hu
| manity. Vigo county will feel sense o.
| personal loss in the death of Senator Voor
| hees.
| Representative Steele said: ct Away
liked Senator Voorhees, socially Our rela
tions were agreeable. and to me mos
pleasant. / have known him since 1876
when L resigned from the army. and ha,
known of him. of course, since 1860 Their
are few Democrats in Indiana, If any, VIII,
bad q greater hold on the party than h
| had. He was never in any sense a boss
| nor a political manager. He had the happ,
| faculty of winning good friends and hold
ing them. His name will undoubtedly b
| connected with the National Library of thi
| city, which will be lasting and a splend
monument TO his memory. He will be de
servedly regarded as the leading projecto
| and father of that great building, whic
Mr.. Overstreet Mr.. Lands and the othe
| members of the Indiana congressional dele
CATION now in Washington expressed tn
deepest regret at the sudden and unex