Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-03-21
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Philadelphia Press,

all appearances in robust health, with
many years of usefulness before him He
came from long.lived stock and was him.
self of sturdy mould. Until attacked by
the sickness which laid him low with un-
usual swiftness, even for that insidious dis
ease, bis life was active, laborious and
marked by all the energy of unimpaired
vitality His death at 68 is therefore pre-
mature and will cause profound SORROW all
over the land. He had still within him a
capacity for great usefulness, and his death
is national loss-that of great man gone
before his time.
General Harrison is one of the instances
too rare in American life, where the scion
of an historic stock continued to make his
tory and add new luster 10 the name long
ago distinguished. His father was mem
Der of Congress from Ohio from 1858 to
1857 His grandfather was the ninth
President of the United States. His great
grandfather, after whom he was named,
was active and influential in Revolution
airy politics and signer of the Declaration
of independence. For one hundred and
fifty wears before the Revolution the Har-
rison family from father to son, through
five successive generations were prominent
and influential in the colony Of Virginia.
Some of the biographies of Benjamin Har-
rison trace his descent from Thomas Har-
risen, one of Cromwel's major generals,
who persisted on the scaffOld after the
Restoration for having signed the death
warrant of Charles |. This is an error, for
Benjamin Harrison's grandfather, prece-
ded by five greats-Master John Harrison
was settled in Virginia, when Thomas
Harrison the regicide, was still peaceful
subject Of Charles /. 1t is not unlikely,
however, that the first Virginia Harrison
and Major General Harrison, of Marston
Moor and Naseby, were kinsmen.
Before he entered the United States
Senate in 1881 General Harrison was
known only as the leading lawyer and the
Republican leader in the State of Indiana.
He soon made himself felt as an intluen-
tial factor in the Senate. A profound law
yer, a ready debater and man who took
large views of public questions, he was a
valuable addition to that body. The Vi
cissitudes of party change in the close State
of Indiana limited his Senatorial life to
single term. This is a short service for
Senatorial fame, but Harrison had made
himself known, and year after his reti1e'
ment from the Senate he was selected by
the Republican party as its standard bear
er and was chosen President of the United
States. 1t is on the record he made dur
ing his four years occupancy of the White
House on which his permanent reputation
will chiefly rest. He was nominated be-
cause he was stronger than his party III
his own, doubtful State. He was cleo
ted because he was the Republican NOM
inee and 1888 was a Republican year. As
President he won the favor and approval
Of thoughtful men all through his term.
On public questions and in public matters
he rose to the highest demands of the sit
uation and showed himself patriot, a
statesman and wise Executive.
His Administration was strong and eff
cient in its conduct of foreign affairs and
gained, as it deserved, credit tor It's ener'
getic and successful management OF all the
nome departments of government. Pres
iGent Harrison had strong cabinet, but
his was the master mind that dominated
as well as presided He showed extraor
binary capacity in the discharge of exec
utive duty. He held the reins with firm
hand, and the Government under hin
was well administered, free from scanda
and gave great satisfaction to the thought
ful and responsible portion Of the commu
nifty. He, however, lacked that suayity
of manner that enables come men to make
friends even when denying favors. He
often granted favors in such ill grace thai
the recipient was made hostile instead Of
grateful by the gift. He was impOlitic
and by his manner cooled the zeal of many
of his supporters and added daily to his
political enemies. AS a result his renom'
nation was holly contested by members
Of his OWE party, and the lukewarm sup
port given to him by number of inHu
entail Republican leaders contributed TO-
if it did not cause, his defeat in 1892.
Since his retirement he has shown what
can be done with ex-Preeidents. He has
lectured on constitutional law and related
topics to students in educational lnstitu
lions. He has contributed articles of in
terest and weight to the periodical. He
acted as counsel for Venezuela and won
new distinction before the Venezuela
boundary arbitration tribunal in Paris
Hehas borne himself with dignity and
strengthened himself in public esteem.
Latterly he has taken issue with the policy
of the present Administration and of Con-
gress on the questions that have grown out
of the Spanish war. He has been agrees
sive and even appeared little vindictive
in his expression of descent. In this he
WAS reactionary and ultra-conservative,
like most men past sixty who know that
their active political life is about over.
They are not SO sure as they once were
that difficult problems can be solved, so
they would avoid raising any, even though
it involves a serious sacrifice of prestige
and of probable advantage.
In this dissent, however, no one doubts
that General Harrison was entirely honest
and patriotic, for bis whole life was charac'
terzed by lofty patriotism and high pur-
pose. Though he came of Virginia FAM
lily, his character and temperament were
more akin TO the old Puritan and Ana Bap.