The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-17
DAVID TURPIE.

Senator Turpie's public life will close in
ninety days. Let us set down his good and
bad without fear, favor or affectation. No
one knows where he was born, and only by
accident is his age approximately known.
His old neighbors says that he is not of
American, but OF Scotch or Irish birth, and
that he was brought to this country by his
parents when very small boy. For polit-
ical reasons no congressional or other bog-
rephy Of him gives either age or place OF
birth. AS a boy he was reared in a log
house near Delphi, Carroll county. In early
youth he attracted the attention of Rev. DIR.
Johnson, of Lafayette, who. being an Epis-
copal clergyman, helped him to complete
the course at Kenyon College, where he
graduated in 1S49 He studied law, at least
in part with ex-senator Pratt, of Logans-
port, and Immediately after began practice
in the little village Of Monticello, where he
remained eighteen years or more. In 1852
he was elected to the lower house at Indi-
annapolis and reelected in 1856 or 1855. While
there he so distinguished himself by his ora
tory that the Governor appointed him sue
cessively judge of the Common Pleas and
Circuit Court, neither of which positions
he held for any length of time, although the
title of Judge always stuck to him. His
acquaintance in the Legislature easily won
for him, in 1850, the nomination for lieu
tenant governor in OPPOSITION to oliver p.
Morton, who was elected. These were the
days Of joint debates, and Turpie often met
Morton on the stump. Once $50 Turpie re-
lates) after most bitter and Virulent de-
bate in some little village in southern Indi-
ana he and Morton were compelled to share
the same bed.
From the beginning Turpie was distin-
guished by two qualities-a powerful men,
DRY and great vituperative ability. He held
his crowds by sheer individual force, being
totally devoid of wit or oratorical grace.
His political career really began in 1862,
when he was pitted for Congress against
Schuyler Colfax in three successive cleo
tions, in each Of which he was defeated.
His first canvass was his best. It was III
the midst of the war. Turpie was violent
copperhead, and represented the worst ele>
ment in the Democratic party, going so far,
in 1864, as to advocate making peace with
the rebels. He was intellectually more than
a match for Colfax. although the latter
never lost vote by reason of his bouts
with Turpie. While Colfax came off second
best in the argument, Turpie lacked the
power of arousing the patriotism and GOOD
will of his audience. The universal COM
ment was: well, Turpie is the best de-
batter, but Wen vote for CoIfax."
These debates in 1863 made Turpie United
States senator for the short term-six weeks
and fairly established his reputation as one
of the leaders of his party, ranking with
Hendricks, voorhees,, Mcdonald and Eng
lish. After his third congressional defeat by
Colfax Turpie settled down to the practice
of law, moving to Indianapolis in 1870, when
he was for the third time elected to the
II G10{r IN, hn hnn nn1yr %
the lower house A couple of years after
he was appointed one of the commissioners
to revise the statutes of Indiana, the bulk
of the work, however, being done by Judge
Frazer, one of the best lawyers that ever
practiced in Indiana. Up to 1887 Turpie was
singularly unfortunate in politics In 1882 he
was defeated for the nomination for attor-
ney general by Hord. But all the time he
was faithful to his party, and eleven years
ago the Democratic caucus nominated him
United States senator by majority Of less
than half a dozen over Judge VIM r. Nib
lack. After his first term as senator he was
again elected without opposition Meanwhile
all his old associates had died, that had
the State gone Democratic in 1898 he would
have been elected, although .seventy-two
ton and even with enthusiasm.
Turpie is very unusual although not an
memory, and for this reason has the repu-
tation of being master of seven languages.
This acquaintance with foreign languages IS
such a smattering Us he acquired in col
lege and has not forgotten. And the same
is true of his reputation as a profound
scholar AS a matter of fact he seldom or
never reads a book, and his scholarship lies
wholly in his memory He is a man OF very
great originality He ponders over subject
until he develops views that no one but HIM
self ever thought OF. These views are OFTEN
absurd as, for example, that we should
adopt the 16-tO-1 craze because silver is the
coin of Porto Rico.
Turpie as an orator IS a rough diamond;
He has a powerful and logical mind and
a great command of language. But II IS the
oratory of a stump speaker He is bitter
partisan and his political ideas are all ante
diluVian. His methods are those of his party
before the war. Apparently he Is uncon-
scous OF the new nationality that has
sprung up since 1850 and has. made us a
new people. Totally lacking in tact ana
without society-a solitary man and without
warm frends-Turpies success has been
very great. Intellectually the inferior Of
Morton Hendricks or Harrison. he has, all
the same, kept them company as party
leader In many respects he resembles the
late William II. English-a very rough man,
but a born leader In private lie Iurpie IS
stuck to him. / or many years he has been,
and still is a faithful member of the Epis-
copal Church. While cold and distant man
no one has ever accused him or political IN
gratitude or treachery. or double dealing.
His yea has been yea, and his nay, nay
According 10 his light Turpie has served
his party well. He is too much or reasoner
not to be conscious of the unsoundness OF
his silver views But his party has COM
mitted itself, and that is enough for him.
If the gold wing, had prevailed he would
And now that his political career has
closed let us be just to him. From very
poor boy without the ala OF soclal posiIi ei
ffons risen from a country schoolteacher
to double-termed United States senator. This
Is proof enough OF power. Inc youth OF , OUT
State might 20 a great ways without nnding
q better model than David Turpie