The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-17

cere. God-fearing, man-ioving character
We can say ii of more men. but We cam
not. after all. say more OF any man
than that he was a coed man. To his
learning. his eloquence, his skill as an
advocate, his greatness as a lawyer was
added the crowning excellence OF a pure
and noble life and an unspotted charac-
ter:
our tribute to the memory of the lawyer
who has passed from us scant justice
will be done If we attempt TO circum-
scribe MS Iaine or CONNIE MS memory
TO the narrow and restricted field of the
practicing lawyer.
A GREAT LAWYER.
General Harrison was a lawyer. a
great lawyer, but he was much more
than a lawyer. In the heydey of his
youth. when for him life was young and
sweet, when his little children were play
ing around his knee and his wife of his
youth was by his side, there came to him.
as there came to all in those dark but
glorious days, the cry of his distressed
country, and he denied not the call.
His training, his education, his ambl-
lions, were all for peace, and the prizes
that 1t offered TO him, but turning his back
upon them and the enticement and the
sweet serenity of home and ~freside, ne
buckled on his sword and rode forth at the
head of the Seventeen Indiana, never TO
return until peace and honor came, with
ms happy feet 10 his long deserted home,
AdfHiS- boiHe wei MS part III the iiiliIlOi
struggle for freedom and a restored coun-
try.
He Immediately resumed the active
practice of the law and speedily forged to
the front, flrst OF his county, then OF MS
state and finally of the Nation, and there,
with the many qualities that have been
mentioned, easily held a front rank until
the voice, first of his own State. then of all
the people of all the States, called him to
the supreme position in the Nation.
his one term in the Senate was not
acnleVements but rather as were his career
IN the army and his service at the bar, a
great preparation for the greater career he
was required to fill as President.
From 1881 TO 1887 was not an eventful Pc
ROD in the history of the country. The
great questions that had come up by the
war and that had grown out of the condi-
ton of unrest that followed in it's wake
mad been, so far as legislation could deter
mine ii, practically disposed of, and the
economic questions that were then coming
10 the front and have since become SO
acute were Just making their appearance.
1t was as President and as an EXPIRES
luent that the greatest luster has been shed
upon his name and fame.
AS a soldier he had learned well the les
son of love for his country. To him who
mas seen them in the. smoke of battle the
stars and stripes have taken on a new
meaning and have awakened love deep as
the heart OF men. His careful training as
a lawyer had cleared his brain. strength
ened MS mind and enabled him to grasp
ana comprehend the intrinsic questions of
the law, national and International, and
constitutional, upon which our political
fabric and our relations with abroad rest,
and his quiet, studious, unostentatious
service in the United States Senate gave
him fitting and perfect training in the cor
relative rights, duties and obligations of
the separated departments of the govern
nent, so that when the 4th of March, 1889,
found him at the head of the executive de-
partment of his country it found him fully
armed and equipped for every duty with
Wnlch ne might be confronted.
FITTED FOR HIGH OFFICE.
I'm the estimate of the great majority
of his countrymen, that date found him
a fairly-equipped country lawyer, whom
the advantage of location in a pivotal CEN
trail State had advanced to the lofty posi-
ton that had been filed by Washington,
Jefferson, Lincoln and Grant.
1.-The 4th of March, 1893, and every day
thenceforward, found him i'm the estimate
of the whole Nation q man fitted TO fill
and grace the place that had been hopored
by his predecessors. For every position in
his Cabinet, secretary of state, secretary of
treasury, attorney general, the President
was as fully equipped and as amply able
TO meet the manifold exegencies as they
arose as though each particular place had
been the duty of his life. He was. in fact.
as well as in name, the President of the
country, and of the whole country. Under
his wise, conservative. courageous states
manship, the country advanced to a de-
served recognition and honor among the
unwilling nations of the earth. At home
and abroad there was peace with honor,
and honor through peace.
When he retired from the White House
il was with the merited plaudit, We'll done,
good and faithful servant
"And his fame on brightest pages.
Penned by poets and by sages,
Shall go sounding down the ages.
From March 4, 1898. to the hour of his
death he grew in wisdom and in stature,
and in favor with God and man. The peo-
pie recognized, as they had not fully COM
pretended whilst he was living>in the midst
of that fierce light that beats upon the
throne, when the struggles and the Bit
terness of partisan rancOr had blinded their
eyes to their great deserts and his great
achievement, what manner of man ne was;
recognized his wise craftsmanship. his pro-
found ability. his intense patriotism and his
devotion TO his country and it's best inter-
ests until as great and embarrassing COM
plicatiOns arose, the desire of all was TO
know what Harrison's views were.
I'm these days when widening boundaries.
increasing territories and added peoples
have laid upon us new responsibilities
when new policies. wise though they may
be, were demanding consideration, the peo-
pie turned instinctlvely to the great man
who is now no more, to catch from his
tongue and pen the inspiration and the
logic that they had learned to trust.
Milton, thou shouldst be living this
hour. England hath need of thee
The venerable head, with it's silvered
crown. shall no more greet our welcome
eyes upon our streets. There is left to
us now naught but the memory of his great
name and his great achievement.
"'All we that are about him bemoan him.
and all We that know his name say, how is
the strong staff broken and the beautiful
rod.