The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-14

generation. But, knowing him pest III prl-
vate life. they have been best acquainted
with the qualities which made his great
ness. They saw him. when a young man.,
lay down his law books. take leave of his
family. and go to fight his country's bat
ties. Many thousands of other men did the
same; the action proved only in his case.
as in theirs, that a sentiment of patriotism
was strong within him.. They saw this
man, when he returned after doing gallant
service, take up his profession again. and
devote himself to it with earnestness and
industry. Those who were closest to him
know that his professional supremacy, final
ly reached, was only attained by plodding.
slavish study. Absolute t~horoughness was
his watchword and his practice; nothing
that he could provide for in the preparation
of his cases was left to chance. And the
patience. the perseverance. the plodding,
backed by a mind that constantly expand
ed because fed on strong food. finally won
what was doubtless a greater reward than
was dreamed of by him.. These friends
and %neighbors saw this quiet. unassuming
4iAoAAs nv 49, BONNAo 49,
guessed. reach front rank in his profess
sion; they saw him suddenly come into
prominence as a political quantity; it
dawned upon them and the people of the
State that he, of all others, could repre-
sent them most acceptably in the Senate
of the United States. While there the fact
became impressed upon shrewd managers
of political movements that here was a
force to be ~reckoned with. and when a
candidate for the presidency was needed
later hey called him. AS President of the
United States he served so acceptably that
his high rank as a statesman was swiftly
recognized, even in foreign lands, and his
standing as one of the clearest thinkers and
most fOrceful intellects of the time was
everywhere acknowledged. When he was
nominated to this highest office he was
practically an unknown quantity to the
public at large, for his career in the Senate
had not been of the spectacular sort that
attracts general attention.; yet before cleo
ton day, by the speeches made to the del
e~gations from all parts of the country Wis
iting him at his own home, he had con-
WINGED the questioning. intelligent voters
that here was a man with clear, we'll
defined, broad ideas on all public topics
a man of high ideals and lofty purpose.
This expression of himself. through his
little unprecedented daily addresses, was
a revelation even to his fellow-townsmen
of his grasp of affairs, his breadth of cul-
- II - f--o n,g1+ rotfr;-- ~af
icent, he had moved among them. giving
them, until this occasion arose, only
glimpses of his quality.
Nothing in his career was more remark
able than the way in which he impressed
himself upon the public and brought opin-
ion to accord with his own after he became
President. Entirely lacking in the quality
called personal magnetism, this result was
due wholly TO sheer intellectual force and
the confidence he inspired in his probity
of purpose. Since his retirement his pre-em-
inent ability in the presidential chair has
been universally acknowledged, even by his
! political opponents. and it is merely an as
sertion of a widely accepted fact to say
that during this period the opinions of no
| ether man in private life nave carried such
| weight as his. In his quiet home, taking
| no part in affairs. yet keeping a keen eye
on events as they progressed. he was a
| center of interest and influence. 1t is no
| exaggeration to say that he was by far the
| greatest individual force in the country.
| There was a general feeling that his opin-
| ions might be needed in emergencies, and a
| certainty that his words when spoken
| would be wise and we'll considered. Emer-
gencies are imminent in these days. and
| the siiencing of the voice of this sage and
| statesman will be felt as a very real ma
| tional loss.
He was a man of great and varied
gifts and attainments. and in every
| way in which he was called to
| serve he did his part well. As citizen,
| as soldier. as lawyer. as statesman,
as public officer, as patriot, he did his duty
| thoroughly and conscientiously. AS pa
triot. indeed. he would, perhaps. most wish
TO be mentioned and remembered. for with
him patriotism was a passion, a religion. 1t
| speaks through his public addresses,
through his state papers. through his con-
| tributions to literary periodicals.. Even in
| the delirium of his last illness he talked
| only of public affairs. unconsciously proving
how close TO his heart these were. He loved
| his country truly. as few men love il. and
| thought only Of its highest good.
General Benjamin Harrison's life was in
| deed well lived and well rounded. OF
s~trictest personal integrity. faithful To his
duties as neighbOr and citizen and church
man. he was a man whom 1t is well to have
had in a community: equal TO all demands
I'm the larger public life. the country is
better that he was born. Benjamin Harri-
son was a good man and a great man, and
there is grief that he is dead.
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Enforcement Of the new pure-food law
Will work great Improvement in the condi-
tons and methods pursued in many baker
les and confectfoneries. II reports are true