Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-04-04

1861, HIS private life was pure, and
his religious belief firm. He was
gifted with fine natural intellect, was
! cultivated, and occupied an excep-
tionaily and deservedly prominent
position as a master of constitutional
and international law. In his ordu.
AIRY and his professional life, he was
cloan-hanGcd, and whatever may have
been his weakness as politician and
president, even in these relations he
!, was .pph!ee:smirched BY anything that
| reflected upoa his private character.
iiis so., calet Minister.
1T was not until after his assump
ton OF the duties Of chief magistrate"
says the New York (rep0. that the
high order of General Harrison S
mind and the stalwart independence
of his character We're generally &C
knowledged. His personal ascen-
dancy was left alike in matters of do
nestle administration and in Ques-
tons of foreign politics. and 1t soon
became patent that, no matter who
might be his secretary of state, Gen
eral Harrison would be his own chief
minister.
1T was said OF Benjamin Harrison
as it had been said of j. q. Adams,
that his manner lacked the magnetism
with which some statesmen have been
credited; that they We're marked by n
M ri "a n A
1t was, doubtless, true of both these
presidents that they sometimes found
it hard TO reconcile the claims of
eager oiiiceseekers with their con
cepton of public duty. and that they
sturdily refused to subordinate the
one to the other.
Whatever may be thought of some
of his views concerning certain pend
ing questions, no doubt is possible re-
garding the motives which led him TO
express them. No more genuine
American, no more devoted lover OF
his countrymcn, has lived In these
latter days. Benjamin Harrison was
brave man. a good man and a
patriot
Most Useful Type.
General Harrison" observes the
New York Tribune trep). gave an
admirable answer to the old question
What shall we do with our oX-prcsi
dents?' None surpassed him and per
haps only two since Washington
equaled him In this regard. For 10
years, in the retirement of Monticello,
Jefferson, occupied with incessant cor
respondence with his successors and
other statesmen, was the sage of
American politics John Quincy
| Adams on the floor Of the House of
Representatives rounded out his ser.
vice of his country and vastly aug.
mented his presidential fame.
General Harrison became neither
an oracle nor a legislator, but he be.
came an active private citizen OF the
NOSE useful type, holding place OF
international distinction In his pro
fession and interesting reserve be
coming his former high Office, in all
the public concerns of the American
/ people. His fellow-citizens listened
/ to him with "A universal respect such
as was accorded TO no other man In
the country by the people, regardless
OF agreement or disagreement with
his wi His eminence was dis.
tincty "A triumph OF intellect ana
chatacte''
Lacked Sympathy With Masses.
1T vas IS learned and convincing
lawyer, says che Philadelphia In
quirer (rep.), that he was chiefly
great 1t is upon lis abilities as a
lawyer that his reputation win chiefly
rest He certainly was no. great
president, and this Is said with a due
recognition OF the fact that under his
administration the country enjoyed a
splendid measure OF prosperity
HE lacked that sympathy with the
masges of the people by which all
truly great men In public life are dis
tinguished He WIS too selfcon-
tanned a man to belong to- the highest
rank because the distinction between
being self-contained and being selfish
is often a distinction without DIFF.
ference, and no man ever did the very
best possible whose heart did not 90
out to others, go out to all But such
as he was he was an able, honest,
patriotic man and Il good American,
who was n credit to the country which
be served"
Right Kind Of dan.
benjamin Harrison says the
Philadelphia Public Ledger trep'
represented one Of the most adm ~
able types of the American citizen,
statesman and patriot which the
country has produced. His whole
career Is a fine example Of the right
kind of man in politics, and his IL
work as a lawyer, soldier, senator ana
chief magistrate was guided By
scrupulous and unwaverisg devotion
to duty.
when he had retired from pubic
pursuits be did not cease to work TO-
his country's good and, great az his
services were to the United State,
during his long of life, It NAV be
a 49, L. al.