The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-07-01

the Democrats small majority IN the
Legislature. There were number Of
candidates for Senator. An Eighth of
January supper; with speeches, came
of, at which all the candidates were
present and delivered addresses. That
of William Allen took the Assembly
by storm, and he was nominated and
elected oyer Thomas Ewing, who was
then in the Senate. He reached WASH
ington on the evening of March 3,
1887, to witness the inauguration of
President Van Buren,, and to take his
seat in the Senate the next day. Late
at night he went to the White House,
where he was cordially welcomed and
agreeably entertained by Andeew
Jackson, the retiring President, who
was his fast friend and ardent admirer.
Before the end of his first term he
was reelected by a very handsome
majority; and he remained in the
United States Senate until the 4th Of
March, lS49, being then, at his retire.
ment, one of the youngest members
of that body.
During tho twelve eventful ye: r he
represented the State of Ohio in the
Senate of the United States, he took
q prominent part in all the discussions
upon the great questions that Congress
had to deal with. Most of the time,
and until he Voluntarily retired, he
was chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Relations, being entitled to
that elevated position ON account of
his eminent ability. He had just
reached the meridian of his splendid
powers. Tall. of majestic and 'cem-
manding figure. with a magnificent
voice, an sppulence of diction seldom
equaled, vigorous and bold imag gina
ton, with much fervor of feeling and
graceful and digniffed action witbal,
he combined all the qualities of q
great orator in that memorable era
when the Senate was full of great Or
ators-in the day Of its greatest intel
lectual magnifcence. And in all tile
years he was there he never uttered a
word or gave q vote that he would
now recall or change saif;o-;soi ,ssui1
While Governor Allen was mem
Der of the United States Senate, he
married Mrs. Effie Macarthur Coons,
the beautiful and accomplished daugh-
ter of General Duncan Macarthur
his early, true, and only love. She
inherited the old homestead and farm
where Allen, having added many
acres to the latter, still, with his daugh-
ter, Mrs. Scott, her husband and their
childred and his grandchildren resides
Prior to her first marriage she and
Allen were devoted to each other, and
while her father, Governor Macarthur,
was not personally unfriendly to him
yet opposition in politics, and strong
positive qualities, caused him to think
that their connection would cause
them to antagonize, and ultimately to
produce discord between them, and he
therefore, disapproved of their: unicn
Mrs. Allen died shortly. after the
birth of their daughter and only child,
Mrs. Scott. In health and in sickness
William Allen was most devoted
and aifectienate husband, and after the
death of his wife he rode Oh horse
back with the remains from Washing
ton city to Chillicothe. He has never
thought of marrying since; and it i,
almost certain that if he had not mar
rled her. his only love, he never would
have married at all.
Governor Allen has always possess
ed unyielding integrity, and has eyer
set his face against corruption and ex-
travagance in any form. When he en-
tered public life, he had the Post-mas-
ter General certify in miles, the short
est maiI-route between Chillicethe and
Washington City, and always drew
pay for mileage according to that cer-
tificate. He refused constructive
mileage, and after his retirement from
the Senate, the Whig Congressman
from his District offered to procure
and forward to him $1,000 due him
on that score, but he would have none
of it. William Allen and John A.
Dix alone refused it. No man was
ever more true and faithful in his
friendships than William Allen; and
few public men have gone as far as he
to maintain straightforward consist
ency in this respect. He virtually de-
clined the Presidency of the United
States rather than seem to be unfaith-
full to an illustrious statesman whom
he loved and supported. ....-..t
Since his retirement from public life
at Washington, Governor Allen. has
greatly improved by study. He is a
more profound man, than. he was at
any time during his career in the SEN
ate. He is great historian, is deeply
versed in philosophy and; the sciences,
and is better acquainted with rare
books than almost any scholar one can
eet. His home is the home. of hos
pitality, and to visit him there is to
receive hearty welcome and a rare
treat. His farm, is not
surpassed in any respect BY any other
farm iii the magnificent valley Of the
Scioto and, as q thrifty and success
full farmer, no man in the State is his
superior. Younger by several years
than the great statesmen and generals
who to-day shape and control the des
tinies of the Old World, his most IL
lustrious public services will undoubt-
edly crown the years that are to come
of noble and useful life. ~
In August, 1878, William Allen con-
scnted to take the Democratic nomi-
natien for Governor Of Ohio. He be-
came satisfied that it was a duty he