Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-22

honor of having graduated young Harlan
and launched him upon his remarkable
career. 1t was in 1850 that he received his
degree from the Kentucky seat Of learning.
He was then seventeen years of age. He
at once delved into study of the law,
which was henceforth to occupy his at
tention to a greater degree than any other
phase of activity, and, in fact, to be. almost
his one field of labor. He began the prac-
tice of his profession in Frankfort. In
1858, when twenty-five years Of age, he
occupied the position of county judge.
Without effort on his part he was at that
time drawn into politics In an active way.
He was widely known in his state, although
quite young man, and in the succeeding
year all the elements opposed to the demo-
cratic party fixed upon him as their leader
in contesting the election in his district for
a seat In the House of Representatives.
His election could only have followed a
severe contest of strength In which his
personality figured in a very important
manner against the strong democratic or
ganization. Over 10000 votes were cast,
and he fell short but siXty-seven of an
election. This nomination, although not
figure in the political affairs of his state.
The next year he was a Bell and Everett
elector upon the state ticket Following
that election he moved to Louisville and
associated himself with Mr.. w. +. Bullock,
a leading practitioner of the state.
1t required no little courage to espouse
the cause of the Union in kentucky in
those days. Such a course would never
have been adopted by a mere time server.
But he was fearless in expressing his opin-
ion and in his devotion to the Union.
His Arm, Career.
When 1t was assured that there was to be
a civil struggle to determine whether or
not the Union should be preserved Harlan
promptly abandoned law, and in the fall Of
1861 raised the 10th kentucky Volunteer
Infantry, which formed a portion of Gen.
George II. Thomas division The death
of his father in the spring of 1868 brought
his military career to end. as he then
felt compelled to resign although at that
time his name was before the Senate for
confirmation brigadier general Of
volunteers. He sent his resignation, ad-
dressed to Gen. Garfield, chief of staff to
Gen. Rosecrans, and expressed his deep
regret that he was compelled to retire to
civil life.
ut was my fixed purpose. he wrote, ito
remain in the federal army until it had
effectually suppressed the existing armed
rebellion and restored the authority of
the national government over every part
of the nation. No ordinary considerations
would have induced me to depart from
this purpose. Even the private interests
to which l have alluded would be regarded
as nothing, in my estimation if l felt that
my continuance in or retirement from the
service would. in any material extent, af-
feet the great struggle through which the
country is now passing.
He expressed his confidence in the ulti-
mate triumph of the cause of the Union.
Political Honors.
Upon his retirement from the army he
accepted a unanimous nomination of the
Union party of Kentucky for the Office of
attorney general. and his election fol-
lowed.
He had been an earnest supporter of
Grant and Colfax. and in 1871 he felt COM
PEELED to accept the unanimous nomina-
ton of the republican party for the Of
tire state and received vote nearly 80
per cent greater than the aggregate re-
publican congressional vote in the state
in the previous wear. In the following year
his name was presented by the republican
convention of Kentucky as candidate for
the vice presidency, and in 1875 he still
further increased the republican vote in
renewed canvass for governor.
He was chairman of the Kentucky delega
ton at the republican convention that nom
mated Mr.. Hayes for President. Later he
declined to accept from Mr.. Hayes a diplo-
matte position a substitute for the at
reached this city, Mr.. Hayes intended to
assign him. He served as a member of the
Louisiana commission appointed by Mr..
Hayes.
an Appreciated Compliment.
The compliment paid to Justice Harlan
by his old friends and neighbors in Ken
lucky, in requesting him to return there
and stand for governor next year, comes
at a time when the recipient Is best pre-
pared to appreciate it's high and unusual
character. His thoughts at the close of
the fftieth golden year of his marriage
must largely be Of MY Old Kentucky
Home" and of those who for twenty of
those years made up his social and pro-
fessional and political world 1t was to
he took his Indiana bride, and 1t
was there his children were born Absence
has not cost him his place in the admiration
and affections of those whom he then knew
in his daily walk; and surely nothing can
give man more happiness than to be SO
remembered after so long separation.
1t is Judge Harlan by decree of the po-
litical complexion of his native state, which
not even his strenuous efforts and superior
gifts could change. Had the state at that
period been debatable. we should probably
have hailed Gov. Harlan. and then Sem
ator Harlan. and some of his friends be-
lieve that had he been an Indianan, or a
New Yorker. at the time those two COM
national contests, we might have hailed
President Harlan.
Orator of Unusual Power.
III lHOSe DAYS he was an orator OF eX-
ceptional power. and possessed the Ken
lucky temperament for politics. He filled
the eye as well the ear on the stump.
OF commanding figure and handsome face,
with voice of fine and far-carrying quail
ity and a free and graceful delivery, he
easily took his place as his partys most
effective public speaker, and therefore it's
leader. For in the bluegrass country, until
very recent date, political prominence
depended in large measure upon the tell
ing exercise of the art of public address.
The people loved discussion and f1ocked to
hear it. and. while the democratic majority
was anywhere from thirty to fifty thousand,
a republican candidate. with the knack of
presenting his case clearly and attrac-
lively, was always assured of hearing
citation.
Judge Harlan was at home in his cam
paigns in every sense Of the word. He
took to the stump duck takes to
water, and in addressing Kentucky au-
diences was looking into the eyes of his
fellow citizens. His forebears had long
been prominent in the state. and he was
the product of her schools Nor was he
a mere seeker of office. He represented
policies which he had carefully thought
out, and was able to explain and defend
in any company. And how clearly he did
on a number of occasions when con-
fronted by the strongest men the opposi-
ton found available is a portion of the
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