Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-03-28
CRAhP CLARK 5 LETTER
General Harrison, Patriot
and Statesman.
THE GREATEST OF ELS RACE.
Grew Steadily Stronger In the
Public Esteem.
- - -xr-r x-~ ~ r1 ~ --,rrx,
THE GREATEST OF Els RACE

Public Esteem.
LEARNED AND OF GREAT TALENT.
His Tame Increased With Years and
Experience-Genera1 Diaz. Presi-
dent of Mexico. Creator of the Re-
pubIic-Senator Marcus A. Hanna's
Great virtue-Eminent Republicans
Who Have Raised Their Presiden-
tiaI Lightning Rods--Rinny Willin
Barkises-Hannn the Logical Cam
didate - Are College Presidents
Played Outs
Especial Washington Lettcr.1
If the spirits of the mighty dead take
any cognizance of happenings in this
lower world, General Benjamin Harri-
son must be happy in the universal ex-
preston of high esteem from the peo-
pie of America, irrespective of party
affiliations. Ii there is any difference,
Democrats pay him higher tributes
than Republicans. This is remarkable
when we consider the facts that it IS
only eight years since he closed his
presidential term, that he was a
thoroughgoing partisan and had no
squeamishness whatever about ex
pressing his opinions and in having
those opinions placed upon the statute
books in the form of laws SO far as in
him lay. 1t is generally taken and ac-
cepted that one of his ancestors was
one of the regicide judges who sent
Charles to the block. Whether that
be true, General Harrison, though of
Virginia extraction, was of the stern
Puritan spirit of the old Cromwellians
and had he lived in the days of the
civil wars in England would have
fought as valiantly under mighty Oil
yer as he did from 1861 to 1865 under
"Old Pap Thomas.
There can be no doubt that had he
been one of the judges of Charles
Stuart he would have grimly and con-
scientiously voted for his decapitation
and would have always stood ready to
give reason for his action. His great
grandfather. congressman and govern
or of Virginia. "Bluff Ben" as he was
popularity called. was one of the lead
ing patriots of the Revolutionary Pc
riod and was the bosom friend of
Washington. Jefferson and all that glo-
~fo, u,,6 81 Il ybo
rendered the name of Virginia immor-
tai. bluff Ben" was of the stuff out
of which martyrs are made. While the
members of the glorious Continental
congress of 1876 We're signing the great
Declaration he slyly punched little Ell
bridge Gerry in the ribs and playfully
remarked. when the day for hanging
comes, will have one vast advantage
over you my greater weight will
cause E,e 70 die the quicker" grim
joke surely. but Illustrative of the spir-
1t of the men who made us free.
General BENJAMIN Harrison.
General William Henry Harrison, son
of Bluff Ben rendered his country
valuable services in congress and in
the field and received the highest hon
ors of the republic He has not re-
ceived from historians his due need of
praise because the campaign which
landed him in the White House was
the most ludicrous in American annals
and had tendency to render ridicu-
lous all the prominent actors therein.
John Scott Harrison, son of William
Henry and father of ex- President Ben
jamin. served single term in the ma
tional house of representatives and is
dim. uncertain figure in history.
1t is simple truth to say that General
Benjamin Harrison. who has just died.
is the greatest of his illustrious race
and justifies the doctrine of heredity.
Ridicule is the most powerful weap-
on In the mental armory of man, and
that General Harrison not only sur
vived the ridicule of being ''the grand
son of his grandfather" and "the
grandfather hat'' literature and car
toons-not only survived it. but con-
stantly grew stronger in public esteem
lis proof positive that he was "a man
for a that"
In every situation in which he was
placed he became greater figure. He
grew while a candidate for the presi-
dency In 1883. His gS speeches. de-
liyered in that campaign. are a splen-
did monument to his memory and
amply attest his varied learning and
great talents. He grew while in the
White House feat accomplished by
few who have reached the chief mag
istracy of the republic. His defeat
Mckinley tariff bill and to the Home
stead riots. His reputation for cold
ness and austerity of manner also had
something to do with the result.
He grew continuously while an ex-
president up to the hour of his death
and really held a greater place in pub
lie estimation in March. 1901. than in
March. 1899 Only two other ex -presi-
dents increased their fame after quit
ting the White House. Thomas .Jeffer-
son and John Quincy Adams. the for
mer by founding the University of Vir-
6ihtA anu tht iNttSt ~ ui' - sNAtSS
service in the house of representa-
tives. General Harrison does not need
the charity contained In the old Latin
dictum. DE mortuis nj. nisi bonum."
In his case the simple truth is his best
eulogy..
General Diaz.
h While this great republic is in mourn
ing for General Harrison our sister re-
public on the south regards with many
misgivings the failing health of Cen
eral Porfirio Diaz, president of Mexico.
He is as truly the father of his coun-
try" as George Washington is of
this. 1t is hardly stating the case too
strong to say that General D:az created
the Mexican republic. Most assuredly
il ne did not create it literally he has
preserved it and has lifted it to high
PLACE among the nations of the earth.
He is one of the very few men in the
entire history of the human race who.
seizing the chief Office by main
strength and by revolutionary meth
DDS, have administered it for the bene-
fit of the people. True, his has been
the strong grip of the eagles claw and
lions paw. but the Mexicans are far
better off that they otherwise would
have been but for the rule of General
T.e q = = r