The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-14
THE DEAD EX=PRESIDENT
The Record of a Life Filled with Civic, Military and
Political Usefulness.

ants commission ne had gathered together
ana taken 10 the field in Kentucky loo men
1the nrst regiment sent into the field under
that particular call. He did not enter ac-
tive military service as second lieutenant.
however, but was made colonel of the regi-
ment. In 1854, while still doing military
duty OF the most brilliant kind, ne was
honored by his fellow-citizens at home
with reelection as reporter of the Supreme
out with the title of brevet brigadier gem
eral, conferred upon him for gallant serv-
ices.
A POWERFUL LAW FIRM.
In 1865 the new law firm of Porter. Harri-
son & Fishback. one of the most powerful
in the State in its day. was created by the
association of Benjamin Harrison with AL
bert G. Porter and William p. Fishback.
This partnership continued until 1876, when
it was Interrupted by General Harrison be-
ing unanimously chosen as the Republican
candidate for Governor TO succeed the late
Godlove S. Orth, who withdrew from the
race very suddenly late in the campaign.
The withdrawal of Mr.. Orth made it i'm
possible for the Republicans to win. but the
great popularity of General Harrison was
demonstrated by the fact that he forged
ahead of his ticket by 1000 votes. Late in
the year of 1879 President Hayes appointed
General Harrison a member of the MiSsis-
sippi River Commission, which position he
~ 0hNAA AVA LII OCJ CS NLt>AA AAesA@ Nf~
Indiana delegation in the Republican ma
tional convention he cast nearly the entire
vote of his State for James A. Garfield for
President of the United States. President
Garfield desired TO honor General Harrison
with a place in his Cabinet, but the latter
declined, preferring TO accept the honor or
selection as United States senator from In
diana. He was in the Senate the full term
OF six years. General Harrison was allowed
to spend only a few months at home and
In the practice of the law after the expira-
ton OF his term as senator in 1871.
In 1888 he was nominated for President of
the United States in the Republican ma
tional convention at Chicago on the eighth
ballot. His triumphant election by 23S cleo
toral votes against les cast for Mr.. Cleve-
land followed in November of the same year.
His admirable administration made him the
logical candidate for denomination in 1897
at Minneapolis, but by a strange whim OF
the people afterwards keenly regretted) he
was defeated at the polls in November of
that year and his former opponent, Grover
Cleveland, elected in his stead.
RETURNED TO THIS CITY.
Soon after the close OF his term as Pres
ident in March, 1893, he returned to his
home city of indianapolis and began again
the practice of law in the most simple and
unostentatiou manner. Although General
Harrison never in the least sought notorie-
ty, his reputation as a brilliant attorney
and profound constitutional lawyer hal
| op1 III hC Woo III bhC 6ACotCol iiid
ia important litigation, not only in this
country, but abroad. Perhaps the most
notable case in which he figured after his
retirement from the presidency was thai
which involved a dispute between Great
Britain and Venezuela concerning the To-
ca alton of the latter's northern boundary
line. General Harrison was given a large
retaining fee as counsel for Venezuela, and
in the noteworthy legal battle before the
international tribunal at Paris was a lum-
nous figure. He was chief counsel in the
celebrated suits brought by the city of In
d~lanapolis against the Citizens Street-rall-
read Company, which were on his advice
transferred to the Federal Circuit Court.
One of his most memorable legal adj
dresses was delivered in the hearing OF
these suits before Judge Woods and
Baker, Of the United States Circuit ano
District courts. General Harrison's mas.
terly argument in this case was taker
\ down verbatim and printed, and has been
iE great demand ever since by corporation
attorneys and courts all over the country
| Such, in brief. is the career of one of the
/ most remarkable men this country ever
| produced. A conspicuous feature and one
from which young men just entering upor
the struggle of life may well gather en-
enlargement is that General Harrison
achieved eminence through his own un.
aided efforts-unaided except, perhaps, by
\ The Influence of heredity