The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-03-21
GEN. BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Interesting Sketch of HE Life
and Character by q Southerner.

and Character by q Southerner.
+. H. Richardson in Atlanta Journal.
1t may be snid of benjamin Harri
son that he gave as much to his famil.
fame as he derived from it, if no
more. The campaign joke that h'
wore "his grandfalher's hat" wle1
he first ran for President was evidence
either Of ignorance or malice on the
part of those who made it. The grand
father was good Old Virginia gentle
man, who became an accidental Pres
ident, and by the mercy of God was
transferred to another sphere of nc.
tion month after his inauguration
Benjamin Harrison was as much able1
man than his grandfather as the great
Napoleon was ADLER than his nephew,
who mesmerized Europe with his name.
benjamin Harrison certainly was one
of tho ablest men of the Republican
party for fifteen yeals before his dca,h,
and that period Tapped over into the
careers Of C0nkling, Blaine and Shcr.
man. He was as great lawyer as
Conkling, "a good debater as Blaine
and better all-round political leader
than John Sherman ever was. AS to
his legal ability, l heard Daniel w.
Voorhees, declare, eff you do not think
Ben Harrison ls lawyer, pick out a
man to meet HIM either before a jury
or the supreme court Of the United
States. have tackled him in both
places, and have had enough Of him."
AS deb ater he proved himself the
peer of any in The Senate, aud lie was
there when Ben Hill, Allen G. Thur.
man. Matt Carpenter and William NJ.
EvarJs adorned that body. His Re-
publican colleagues had sense enough
to put him IN the lead of their assault
upon President Cleveland in 1886,
when the Senate demanded the reasons
for the removal of Presidential ap-
pointees. Of course, Cleveland did
not comply with tho demand, but the
incident led to one Of the most in.
teresting and most brilliant debates
ever heard III the upper house Of Con-
gress. Harrison closed for the pros
eculion Of the then administration.
His speech was full of eioqucncc and
power. lie surpassed Edmunds, he
distanced Sherman, he made Hawley
seem insignificant.
That speech made Harrison Presi-
dent. He went into the Republican
convention of 1888 with vote smaller
than of two other candidates, bat was
the second choice Of ma jority OF
both the Blaine and the Sherman men.
The cool.headed men of his party re-
garded him as the strongest candidate
they could present. He had all i'm
measurable advantage Of Blaine in the
cleanness of both his public and private
life. He was never a gusher, but lie
appealed to the masses far more than
Siberian. 1t is now an open secret
that the nomination Of Harrison in
1888 was an alarm 10 the Democratic
leaders. They realized that the wicked
Republicans had put up their most
available man. They have mean
habit of doing that.
Harrison's election to the Presi-
dency was duo TO the advanced stand
President Cleveland took on the tariff.
The Harrison administration was clean
and strong. When he left the Presi-
dency General Harrison returned tv the
practice Of law and has followed it ever
since with great success. His practice
is said to have been one of the most
General Harrison had highly sue
cessful career as a soldier, entering
the Union Amy as second lieutenant
of Indiana volunteers; served through
the war, receiving the brevet of bri.
gadier general January 90, 1865. He
was fighting officer. He took con-
spicuCus part in the campaign about
Atlanta. He always had turn for
politics, and soon after the war became
leader Of the Republican party in his
State.
He was first brought into national
prominence by his nomination for
Governor Of Indiana in 1876. God
love 8. Orth was the original nominee
of the Republicans for the office that
year, but some Objectionable things in
his record were brought out and he
withdrew. Harrison was then put
against "Blue Jeans'' Williams, and
was defeated by 1000 votes.
In 1880 he was elected Unite,l States
Senator, and soon became one of the
foremost men in the Senate. During
tho six years he was there no man in
the Senate took more active part in
the debates of that body, or was held
in higher respect by both sides of the
chamber.
Personally General HARRISON was
admired by all who knew him. His
character was above reproach and few
men had more devoted friends. In
indianapolis, where he lived almost all
Of his mature life, he was honored and
beloved by his fellow citizens of al
parties.
The somewhat general notion tha,
General Harrison was an austcre, cold
natured man was far from correct. Ht
possessed great dignity and despisc,
pretense and gush But he was Away:
appronchable and his nature was cor
dial. He loved society anil was one OF
the best table takers in the country. III
had keen sense of humor, which
ofton displayed itself in very attrac
tive manner. He was, in fact, a yer,
companion able, sympathetic man, whe
won the affection as well as the con
fidenco and esteem OF those who knew
y;