Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-03-21
Number 49,
CLOSING SCENES.
Death of Former President Harrison
Quiet and Painless.

CLOSING SCENES.
Death of Former President Harrison
Quiet and Painless.
INDIANAPOLIS, March 14-General
Benjamin Harrison died at 4.45 o'clock
yesterday afternoon without regainine
consciousness. His death was quiet and
painless, there being a gradual sinking
until the end came. which was marked by
single gasp for breath as life departed
from the body of the great statesman.
The relatives, with few exceptions, and
Aeveral Of his old and tried friends were
at the former presidents bedside when
he passed away.
News of the death spread quickly
through the city, and several of the more
intimate friends at once hurried to the
Harrison residence. The word was fash
ed from the bulletins of all the newspa-
pers and thus communicated to the peo.
pie on their way home in the evening.
The announcement produced the greatest
sorrow. Within few moments the Rags
on all the public buildings and most Of
the down town business blocks were
hoisted at half mast and other outward
manifestations of mourning were made.
General Harrison had been unconscious
for hours before his death. the exact
time when he passed into comat0se
state being difficult to determine.
In one Of the last public speeches which
the late Benjamin Harrison made he
said:
This country Of ours is worthy of our
love. 1t should be before everything else
but God. Wife, children, mother lover
all these men have put aside for it,
These words Of Mr.. Harrison were the
sincere convictions of his heart and the
sentiment they contain is that of good
patriotism. The future historian. in esti-
mating the character Of this remote sue
cessor of George Washington, will not
judge Benjamin Harrison by what he has
said, but what he has done, and he will
find no paucity of deeds in his search fol
material
1t was one warm June day nearly 81
years ago when Harrison gave his first
and greatest proof of devotion to his
country. Governor Oliver r. Morton of
Indiana met him in the street and said
Ben, l want you to raise q regiment"
Ben did not hesitate moment. He rails
ed the regiment and went to the front
with il. AS a gallant. intelligent soldier
he stood in the first rank.
Benjamin Harrison was likewise Il poll
tician. But that fact did not interfere
with his patriotism. He came Of stock
about whose devotion to country there
could be no question. Ii was in his blood
to stand firmly by the cause which he
espoused and which he believed to be the
right7Nre One { his ancestors in di.
rect line was an sdherent Of Oliver
Cromwell in the great revolution for CON
stitutional liberties.
Relatives of the i'll fated Cromwellian
Harrison, believing that liberty was dead
in England emigrated to America and
settled in Virginia. From this stock was
descended the ninth president OF the
United States. and the son of this ninth
president was John Scott Harrison, Ia
ther of the former president who lies
dead in Indianapolis today.
History shows us q Benjamin Harrison
as a member of the Virginia house OF
burgesses in Revolutionary times, as n
signer Of the Declaration OF Intcpend
ence, three times governor of Virginia
and a member Of the constitutional con
vcntion that ratified the federal constitu-
ton. He was the grcat-grandfsther OF
the man who is now mourned all over
the country
In Indiana Harrison was always ia
vorite, although he was born in Ohio at
North Bend in the year 1888. He was
years old when his grandfather was elect
ed president of the United States. His
energy was noticed in his early years at
school, He learned his A b C's at a
country school not far from the Ohio
homestead. Then he went to Miami
university. where he graduated at the
age of Is and very soon after married
n f.atb
before he was 21.
He elected to study law md entered
the Office of Judge Bellam.i Storer in
Cincinnati. He forged ahead so rapidly
in his studies that he was admitted to
the bar before he was Of age to vote.
He laid the foundation for his greatest
honor. however, in 1876. when he en,erg
ed from private life to take again an
active part in politics -" became the
candidate for governo, was defeat
cd. but In the campa.. .hade hosts OF
friends by his intrepidity, and four years
after. in 1880, he received the reward ot
party fealty by being elected to the
United States senate. He served the
full term.
Sir, Harrison was nominated for the
presidency In 1855 and was elected after
an unusually exciting campaign against
Grover Cleveland. The tariff wac the
great issue Of the election. Mr.. Harrison
was president of the United States from
March 1. 1889. to March 4. 1898. In the
course of his administration there were
many important achievements. \ large
increase in the navy was one OF these.
In 1896 Mr.. Harrison married Mrs.
Mary Lord Dimmick. niece Of the late
wife of the Indiana statesman.
Mr. Harrison was defeated for rc-eicc-
ton by Mr.. Cleveland in 1894 aud re
tired from public life thereafter. writing
occasional maeazine articles and rcsum,-
Ing the practice ef law.
4 Mirage In Ohio.
TOIEDO. March III. Montpelier ,O.i