The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-27
HARRIS()N'S WARM HEART
URGED CHAUNCEY NJ DEPEW TO
ACCEPT PORTFOLIO OF SEC
RETARY OF STATE
LETTER TO THE RAILROAD MAN
Some Interesting Facts About Gen.
HarrisOn's Action in the Mat
ter of Gen. ROsecrans'
Position.

The death of ex-President Harrison
has brought out many stories about his
personality and his life Among the pol
iticians Gen. Harrison was always re
garded as a man of great reserve, quiet
dignity and almost icy demeanOr, says
the New York Tribune. Many stories
have been told of his GOODNESS AMI
brusque methods. Chauncey M Depew,
who was one of the most intimate per-
sonal friends that General Harrison had
either in public or private life, talking
recently about the character and gen
eral personal qualities of Gen Harrison
said:
Gen. Harrison was man of great
dignity and great ability. He was mis-
understood by many, who declared III 1t
he was man of ice. In fact he had q
great big, warm, sympathetic heart,
but he had absolutely no ability to con-
vey cordialitv or radiate a spirit of fell
lowship. He realized this, and retreated
behind an unruffled attitude of dignity
and reticence.
In 1888. when Gen Harrison was fist
nominated for the presidency Mr.. De-
pew was a candidate for president be-
fore the same convention. The hosti ity
toward railroad managers was so great
in the West that Mr.. Depew's friends
advised him that it would be unwise
from party standpoint for him to press
his canvass. They told him that, even
If he was successful in getting the nom
nation it would go hard with the tic, ct
in the West owing to his afiliati n
with great railway interests. Ths y
pointed out that this connection wo I'D
cause bitterness. and many would cut
the ticket. Mr.. Depew saw the wisdom
of this advice and withdrew his name.
He threw his support to Gen. Ha rison
nd to hYin oh MOI i11a
ton. Gen. Harrison was grateful for
this, and frequently spoke of it. While
up to that time the two men had never
more than met, a warm friendsh p
sprang up between them. When James
G. Blaine retired as secretary of state,
close to the end of Gen Harrison's first
term, Mr. Dcpew received an offer Of
the vacant post, but he declined The
reason he described as follows:
knew the hostility that caused me I .
withdraw as a presidential candidate
was undated, and as Gen. Harrison was
about to go into another campaign 1
did not wish to handicap him with that
load and told him so. He said, gener-
ously: I will take the responsibility,
but l declined. Then he said: IF / am
reelected will you take the place? L
told him l would. and we dropped the
subject there. OF course you know he
was not reelected We never spoke
this.
Senator Derew reached into is desk
and pulled out a letter 1t has never
been published before, and e2 emplifes
in an illuminative way that Gen. Hal
rison was not the an of ice that nany
were inclined to believe him. The let
ter is as follows.
LPrivate.] Executive Mansion.
WaShil gton. Dec. Is, 1892,
My Dear Mr.. Depew: Your philosophy
cal mind and the presidency you hold
by q surer tenure thar the breath Of
popular favor will help you to bear the
election esult at least with a fair SHOW
Of calmness. I, too, am able, but for
very different reasons, to look forward to
an early retirement from rublic life
without a share of personal regret But
will however, greft1y regret II at sorne
public policies that have highly promoted
the national prosperity are row to be
abandoned.
I am greatly obliged to you for very
that my offer of the secretaryship Of
state after Mr.. Rlaine's retirement will
stand as an evidence of my gratitude
and appreciation.
With continued esteem ard very high
regard, 1 ana sincerely your friend,
Benjamin Harrison.
Hon. c. M. Derew, New York.
When Gen. Harrison assumed office
Gen. ROsecrans was register of the treas
ury. Gen. Rosecrans was an Uncle of
Mrs. Depew. He was a keen partisan,