SENATOR WOOLLEN.
Senator Woollen said: I desire to add my humble testimony to the great worth of our deceased Governor. That he was honest and discharged page: 96[View Page 96] faithfully every official duty imposed upon him, is denied by none. That he was moral and upright before God and man is conceded by all. That his educational advantages were limited, and that many of the accomplishments of the world were unknown to him, is admitted by every one. If his views of state policy were narrow and contracted by reason of his limited education and humble surroundings, it is true that those narrow views, if such indeed they were, tended to promote economy and retrenchment in the State's expenditures, and to conserve the interests of the people of the State. Therefore, as a citizen of this State, I am thankful that such a man once lived and governed Indiana. If ever the institutions of this country shall be overthrown; if ever the people shall lose a part of the liberty they now so happily enjoy (which God forbid), it will not be because capable honest men, though of limited eduction, have held positions of trust and power in the Government; but rather because power has been entrusted to those who, having all the advantages of collegiate education, of travel and of association with th upper crust of society, let their ambition overleap their patriotism, and who, in their desire to grasp at power, forget the people who made them. In the last interview I had with Governor Williams his conversation was confined almost entirely to the subject of how best to promote the welfare of the people of the State. He spoked of great demoralizing effect of the corrupt uso of money to influence elections, and said he should recommend in his last message that steps be taken to break up the practice, and asked me to support such measures. Indeed, sir, I think that the welfare of the people of this State was the one thing nearest his heart, an that dying, he humbly prayed that the glory andi prosperity of Indiana should be perpetual.
The highest ambition of a man should be to so live and act in this world that when the end comes, one may be able, in the language of one of America's greatest statesmen, to say, "This is the end of the earth, I am content." I have no doubt bnt that such was the case with Governor Williams. He died full of years and honors, and when the messenger of death came to summon him to cross the "dark river" he was prepared, and "wrapping the drapery of his couch about him, he laid down to pleasant dreams."
His body rests in the bosom of Indiana; his spirit has ascended to its maker; his fame is recorded in the history of his beloved State, and the future historian in writing of him will say that he was one of the best and purest of Indiana's chief executives.
