Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-08

never been any question OF republican su-
premacy in the state.
Aside from this he has not actively par
ticipated in the politics of the state, except
in 1885, when he was induced to become a
candidate for the nomination for governor.
In this he was not successful, largely through
the feeling that he was too advanced in
years to bear the burdens of the campaign
and of official life.
Fights His Way to the Top.
The early life of Mr.. Harlan was such as
to be an inspiration to young men of am
bition. He was not born to luxury, but, on
the contrary, was compelled to fight his way
to the top under the most discouraging cir
cumstances. His start in education was Sc
cured in the country schools Of Illinois in
the early '4O's. When he was enabled, by
reason Of his own industry, to enter Asbury
university, he was dressed in homespun
clothes and was minus the grace5 of the
city-bred student. To speak plainly, he was
decidedly green and was the butt of many
a Joke from his more prosperous fellows
|, His home made pants and cowhide boots
did not connect by considerable, but his
, classmates soon discovered that the green
country boy was possessed of a mind which
could connect with an idea as quickly as any
of them, and it was backed up by tireless
industry. Even this early in his career he
gave evidence Of the orator who in after
life was to prove himself capable of meeting
the great Sumner and other giants who sat
in the senate in those days. He graduated
with the highest honors in 1S45, removed to
Iowa City in the following year. and re-
| mained a resident of Iowa UP to the time OF
his death. He was the principal of the Iowa
~ yrhi Vac hnpn ia
| State university.
! In 1S47 he was elected state superintendent
of public instruction, being the first to hold
the office in Iowa. He was reelected on the
face of the returns the following year, but
was counted out by the canvassing board in
| favor of nephew of Thomas H. Benton.
Mr.. Harlan studied law, was admitted to
| the bar and began to practice, when he was
| elected president of the Iowa Wesleyan uni
| yersity at Mount Pleasant. He had in the
| meantime declined a whig nomination for
state senator and for governor, but in 1855
was elected United States senator as whig
He was reelected in 1861 and resigned May
is, 1866 to become secretary of the interior
| in Lincolns cabinet. Senator Harlan had
| long been one of the presidents closest and
most valued friends. He served less than
two years, resigning in 1857 to resume his
place in the senate, to which he had been
elected as a republican in 1866. This was
/ his last term in the senate, as he was de-
feated in 1872 by William B. Allison.
Bitter Political Controversy.
This was one of the most bitter political
fights in the history of the state and was
known as the Harlan-Allson Wilson fight.
The Wilson engaged in it was not the pres
ent secretary OF the interior, but the late
Senator James Wilson Of Fairfield. 1t en-
gendered bitterness which lasted for years,
| though in the later times Mr. Harlan and
Mr.. Allison became friends.
Mr.. Harlans later official career con-
sisted Of five years service as chief justice
of the Court Of Alabama claims, which dis
posed Of the money awarded to the ship
owners Of this country by the Geneva Arbl-
tration commission, and as the head of the
commission which built the Iowa soldiers
monument.
| During his senatorial career he was loked
upon as one Of the strong men Of that body,
which at that particular time was the most
| brilliant taken as whole, OF any in the
nations history. He was always appealed
to in an emergency to stand forth as the
defender of the administration, and in the
latter days of the Grant administration,
when some of the brightest minds and most
powerful debaters in the senate had for
saken it, this was no light task. Among
these were Charles Sumner, and 1t was In
his reply to the senator from Massachusetts,
that Senator Harlan's reputation as an
orator and debater finds its greatest claim
Sumner had assailed the administration
on its policy regarding Santo Domingo. The
speech was one OF the greatest efforts OF
Sumner. Without adequate time for
preparation Senator Harlan was called upon
by his colleagues to reply. He accepted
the task under protest, but so completely
did he fill the expectations of his friends
that he was acknowledged the peer OF any
man in that bright galaxy. 1t was a foren-
sic triumph scarcely second to that of Web.
ster over Hayne.
Since his retirement from public life
while he has not occupied so conspicuous a
place, he has grown, If such thing were
possible in the esteem OF the citizens OF
the state. His last public appearance was
to preside over session of the Methods,
conference at Mt. Pleasant, but the last
time he was conspicuously before the pub
lie was on May II. 1899. when he presided
at the laying OF the cornerstone of the Stat,
! Historical building at Des Moines. His ad
dress at that time was replete with inter,
! est, as was to have been expected, for NJ
one was better qualified to speak OF tn,
history of the state than the man who hat
: done SO much to make 1t.
Home Life at Mt. Pleasant.