Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-05-09
Grant Dax in Is4O.

In the life of her father, the late John
J. Crittenden, Just issued from the press,
Mrs. Coleman publishes. letter written
to her by Archbishop Spalding, about a
year before his death, in which he gives
an interesting account of Mr.. Critten-
den's reception at great political meet
ing here in 1910. The following is an
extract from the letter:
Gas l am not civilian, but clergy
man, / feel some reluctance in comply
ing with your request to write out the
substance of what related at the ele-
CANT breakfast of our mutual friend, DIR.
Samuel D. Gross, in Philadelphia, on the
9th of August, in regard to your vener-
able father, John j. Crittenden. | re-
called that reminiscence as Kentuckian
whose State pride was all aglow when
remembering an incident among the
popular forensic efforts of one of Ken
tucky's most eloquent sons The facts,
briefly referred to on that occasion, were
in substance as follows; Finding my
self accidentally in Nashville, in Au-
gust, 1910, whittier went for purposes
of recreation, l was induced by my
friends to attend the great Southwest
Wing Convention. Mr.. Crittenden was
to be the chief orator of the day, Mr..
Clay having spoke the day before. ]
went, not as a politician, for | took no
interest in politics, but as a Kentuckian,
anxious to hear Kentuckian speak,
and was well repaid. Though thirty
years have elapsed have not forgotten
the deep impression produced upon my
mind by one of the most brilliant and
impassioned bursts of oratory it has
ever been my privilege to listen to either
in Europe or America. The whole
scene is before me now, fresh and vivid
as on that morning when stood enrap-
tured by your fathers eloquence. | still
hear his silvery voice; / still hear the
acclamations of thirty thousand people,
whose very souls he commanded and
bore along with him throughout his mas
terly grafton. Mr.. Crittenden had taken
low stand upon the platform, and |
still hear the cry, Higher, higher, Mr..
Crittendenl Go up; we wish to see
your whole staturel' And as he as
cended higher upon the stand, he rose
higher and higher in eloquence. He
took up every cry OF that vast audience
las. when he was about to close, they
threw to him first one and then another
of the great political questions of the
day. and rang the changes upon it, be-
coming more and more grand in elo-
quence at every step of his physical and
moral elevation, showing that he and his
audience were one. | particularly re-
member his comparing the outcry Of the
people for a political change to the ava
lanche rushing down from the summit OF
the Alleghanies to the East and to the
West, and bearing all before it. The
brilliant figure was carried out till the
immense multitude made the welkin
ring with their applauding shouts. Sell
dom haveI Witnessed such success.
/ we'll remember, also the acclamations
with which Mr.. Clay and himself were
greeted by the multitude on their de-
parture from Nashville. Mr.. Clay spoke
first, from the guard of the steamer, with
his usual grace and eloquence; then the
cry was, Crittendenl Crittendenl
Your father stepped forward, and in his
most happy manner, he said, (smiling
and bowing to Mr.. Clay / suppose this
fiattering greeting is chiefly owing to the
qood company in which ] have the priv
ilege to be fouad? Not at all
shouted the multitude. Not at all; it
is for yourself Come again-come
alone next time, and we will prove 1t to
you. rEf -fH .u