The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-13
GEN. HARRIsON,s ADDRESS.
Notable Tribute to Lincoln, with q
Personal Reminiscence.


Personal "Reminiscences.
Ex-President Harrison, the speaker of the
evening, was given hearty greeting when
he arose to respond to the toast Abraham
Lincoln" When the applause had subsidized
he said:
Mr. Chairman and Gentemen-A few
weeks ago, when the pressure of other
gagements made 1t apparent that it would
be impossible for me to make any prepara-
tion suitable to the dignity of this occa-
SIGN, ] withdrew a previous acceptance of
the invitation of the club. But the COM
mittee. with quite an undue sense of the
Importance of my presence, arranged to
facilitate my coming and going, and prom
ised for themselves, and so as they were
able for you, if 1 would come, to be con-
tent with but a few words from to-
f'The observance of the birthday Of Abra-
ham Lincoln, which has become now so
widely established. either by public law
or by general custom, Will more and more
force the orators of these occasions to de-
part from the line of biography and incl
dent and euogy and to assume the duty Of
applying to pending public questions the
principles illustrated IN the life and taught
in the public utterances of the man whose
birth we commemorate.
"And, after all, we may be sure that that
great simDle-hearted patriot would have
wished it so. IFlattery did not soothe the
preciative of friendship. not without ambi-
ton to be esteemed. but the overmastering
and dominant thought of his life was to be
useful to his country and to his country
men.
Il saw Mr.. Lincoln but once. As the time
approached when he was 10 take up the
always stupendous work of the presidency
under conditions not only trying but ap-
palllng, ne, not unwisely, entered upon his
Journey to the capital with such leisure as
to enable him, at many Places to meet and
to address his fellow-citizens. He spent a
night at INDIANAPOLIS. The arrival of his
train was greeted by many thousands Of
those who had supported his candidacy
They welcomed him with huzzas as If they
IL civ p f.4lrr
stars3 by the results declared at the polls
Yet il seemed to me hardly to be a glad
crowd, and he not to be a glad man. There
was no sense OF culpability, either IN their
hearts or in his; no faltering no DISPOSE
ton to turn back; but the hour was shad-
owed with forebodings. There were por-
tents. Men did not shrink; hut there was
that vague sense Of apprehension that un-
located expectancy of evil which fills the
when the unclouded sun is slowly extin-
guished When the column Is once started
in the charge there are cheers: but there
Is moment when, standing at attention,
silence Is king.
THE PEOPLES CHOSEN LEADER
Before us stood our chosen leader; the
man who WAS TO be our pilot through seas
more stormy. and through channels more
perilous than ever the old ship went be-
fore. He had piloted the numbering fat
boat on our Western streams, but he was
new to the helm Of the great ship. His
experience in public office had been brief
and not conspicuous. He had no general
acquaintance with the people OF the whole
country To many of them he stood as the
type of a people thought by the East to be
not only urlcutured but passionate and
reckless. His large angular frame and
face. his broad humor. his homely illustra-
tions and simple ways, seemed to very
many OF his fellow -countrymen 10 portray
man and a mind that while acute ana
powerful. had not that nice balance and
touch Of statecraft that the perilous way
before us demanded.
NO college Of arts had opened to hfm
struggling Youth He had been born Ii S