MR. NEFF.
MR. SPEAKER--I feel, sir, that I would not be doing my duty if I did not, in some small degree participate in the ceremones of this hour. I am like the gentlemen who has just taken his seat whose remarks I think were fitly made. I was not only the political friend of the late deceased Governor Williams, but I was also his warm personal friend, and had his confidence for more than twenby years much of the time he was my adviser. It has been said here to-day that he was not a great man. The question sometimes arises in my mind, "Who are the great men?" I undertake to say that Governor Williams was great in goodness; great in practical goodness; great in what makes a man worthy, and great in what brings comfort to the suffering. He sympathized with the lowly. Governor Williams, it has been truly said, was one of the pioneers. His schooling and education was acquired in the school of experience. He moved, as it were, into the unbroken forest and became a citizen of the State of Indiana when the wolves might yet be heard howling near the pioneers' cabin, and the savage was not far in the distance. He commenced his career, as was said by the gentleman from Knox [Mr. Cauthorne], more than fifty years ago, in our State felled the forest and was in advance of almost any other man of his time and experience. He fought the battles of life, and I may here his honesty was never suspected. His name has never been tarnished. The stigma of corruption was never upon his garments and I say this of a man who has held the highest office in the gift of more than 2,000,000 of people. In his political life, he has had for his opponents such men as the page: 103[View Page 103] late deceased Governor Morton, a leader in his party and the distinguished gentleman (General Harrison) who has been so recently honored by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana with a seat in the United States Senate, being the successful competitor of the latter gentleman in the race for Governor. Governor Williams,I may say here to-day, was a man who did not outlive his usefulness. It has often been said of men that they live too long. Why? Because they had made such mistakes that the judgement of the people was against them. Governor Williams commenced in the humble position as Township Justice; was afterward elected to a seat in the Legislature; then elevated in to a seat in the State Senate from his adopted county. He was elected to the Congress of the United States, and while performing the duties of his office as Congressman from his District, and by the unanimaus voice of the party in Convention assembled, he was called to become the standard-bearer of the great Democratic party in a Gubernatorial race. He responded modestly, accepted the position, took the banner in his and marched to victory. Yet it may be said he was not great as some men consider greatness. I can say, Mr. Speaker, he was great in that which makes a man great. He was honest; he was frugal; he looked to the interest of the people; he sympathized with the lowly; he was opposed to monopolies. In legislation he opposed all classes of monopolies, and was one of the men who believed we had too much legislation.
Gentlemen; I have a word of tribute on this occasion; I can only say that his example is worthy of emulation. His chief delight was in agriculture and in the encouragement of agriculture, and he was elevated to the highest office in the gift of the people of his State, and, as it has been said by the gentleman who has just taken his seat, no has reason to blush that James D. Williams was the Governor of Indiana in the great centennial year.
