The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-15
SENATOR FAIRBANKs.s TRIBUTE.
He Came on from Washington After
Hearing of Gen. HarrfsOn's Illness.

Senator Fairbanks arrived at his home
Park avenue late yesterday afternoon, hav-
ing come direct from New York. Senator
Fairbanks left Washington a day earlier
than he had intended. This was occasioned
by the alarming information received by
him concerning the condition of General
Harrison. He Came to Indianapolis by way
of New York leaving the metropolis
Wednesday night Not until his train
reached Columbus, o., yesterday morning,
did the senator hear of the fatal termina-
tion of General Harrison's illness. The
news was a great shock to him, since he
and General Harrison were the closest of
personal friends.
II can scarcely realize that General Har-
shortly after his arrival HE was one of
the last persons L saw before leaving for
Washington on New Years day. spent an
hour or more with him in his library and
went direct from his home to the station.
The general was, at that time, apparently,
in robust health and full of his accustomed
intellectual vigor. He touched upon person
al and political matters in his usual inter-
esting manner. 1 shall never forget his
pleasant farewell at the door / little real
Il.
thought fills me with deep grief.
General Harrison was one of the truly
great men the country has produced. We
are too near the open grave to realize the
full measure of his greatness Although he
inherited great name, his career was es-
sentially self-wrought. He met the respon-
sibilities of life from the beginning in
manly, courageous and noble way AL
gifts, he did not rely upon them alone, but
labored conscientiously and INCREASINGLY.
He was good student, good lawyer,
good soldier, good senator a good Presi-
dent, good citizen, neighbor and friend
He was an intense American in love with
the institutions of our country and always
sought TO inculcate in the hearts of the
people a love for them.
mo unworthy act detracts from the
good name of General Harrison. His pir-
poses were exalted, his aims high. he ab-
horred the base and unworthy with an in
tense hatred. He not only professed. but
rracticed the precepts of Christianity. In
short. he was a model citizen.
'He was not exalted by place. He
adorned every position TO which he was
called by his countrymen. No place ever
overtaxed his capacity. He was a man of
tremendous reserve strength.
General Harrison was an orator of nm
common power He was always heard with
attention, whether before the jury, before
the Supreme Bench, in the Senate of the
United States, hefore the international tri-
Iunal at Paris. upon the hustings or be-
fore the multitudes on his famous trip
across the country as President of the
United States. His speeches were models
fit for the public press as they fell from his
lips.
General Harrison possessed the conf
dence OF the American people IN an unusual
degree The people knew that his opinions
were rot carelessly formed or lightly held
Whatever he SAID enlisted public atten-
zion in an unusual degree Those who diff
fered with him politically listened to him
With profound respect There was much In
the life of General Harrison to inspire.
much worthy 10 be emulated. All parties
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