The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-06-24
OHIO POLITICS.
Speech Of HOn, 5, 5, Cox, Of New York.
DELIVERED BEFORE THE YOUNG MEMS
pEH0CRA TIC CL UB or COLUMBUS, IN
TIE CITY HALL, WEDNESDAY
EPENING, JUNE l6, 1875. I.I

n n-NA-'vi " NA'A ANt AN'N'
.D MINI. 4--
When John Randolph, of Roanoke,
was contemplating q return to his con-
stituents, he said; Itr'
al 20 back 10 my old constituents-to
such constituents rs man never had be-
fore; and shall receive from them the
only reward ever looked for-.-but the
highest that man can receive--the ex-
preston of oftheirapprobatlon. Ishall read
It in their beaming faces-l shall feel ii
in their graduating hands. When first
honored by their confidence, was very
young man, and my constituents stood
almost in q parental relation to me- and
| l received from them the indulgence of q
beloved soD, But the old patriarchs of
that day are gathered to their fathers
some admits remain, whom | look upon
as brethren; but far the greater part were
children. I,now stand to them IN tdeO
parentis- receive from them q paren-
tal regard. Shall not invoke on them
the blessings of our common Father! To
them / shall return, when defeated, for
all the consolation which awaits me this
side of the grave"
If tltis incarnation Of political satire
could thus talk Of his constituents, with
all the gentleness and trust of a child,
brother and father--may l not, without
harsh criticism turn my eye to the early
days when twenty years ago, you gave
me my first commission The contests Of
party warfare then were bitter, and the
duties after success were onerous. Yet
left YOU for domestic rGasons--l left with
no i'll will. Your good will remains? :?
For this | devoutly thank the kind Dis
penser of our lives and fortunes. left
you for the whirl and hurry, the tempta-
tons and trials of great metropolis
expecting never again to be in public
life, but to devote myself TO profitable
and honorable pursuit Of the profession
which loved.
Through all the terrible anticipations
before the war, and during it's still more
terrible continuance, was your trustee
al Washington. This city never gave me
an adverse vote. When | left you for
those other scenes and duties, your conf
dence fJllowed. How it cheered me. 1t
was not tie trust that followed the adj
venturer. II led others in my new home
to trust me. What treasury Of language
is rich enough for the language of graft
lude2 Pa.donably | may speak 10 YOU,
t) yor, t,s light, citizens Of the Capital
ofthe other. years; for in their unbroken
round of accountability are not merely
political associations, but friendships in
/, rwc ven with the fbers Of my being, No
separation has severed them. Al mem
ories, all hopes all delights, in foreign
lands and in my present home, cluster
about this my early love. They cluster
how tenderly and cordially, The very
wine of my life is expressed from their
their clusters. On yonder lot where a
church now stands, my grandfather lived
when he was Treasurer of Stale; on yon-
der site where the new State House
stands, my father served asr Senator.
These are associs tions that appeal TO
another emotion. Throughout this city
and county. throughout the adjacent
counties, aye, the State over, there are
personal "reminiscences which few men of
my age have lived to recall, or had the
heart to enjoy.
Yet these are changes here to sadden.
While l marvel at the progress Of the
CAPITAL its eXtension,-its growing
beauty,-its increasing wealth and active
enterprises, there are other changes not
80 gratifying. Many of the old friends
bear bodies marked by the ravages of
time. A half score Of years only; and 10!
the gray hairs, the dimmel eye and halt
ing step; and tAen-then,--l miss old
familiar faces. miss the warm grip of
some friendly hand which used TO vel
come me back from my federal duty.
They are over Jonder. 4 little marble
marks their home; a little greenery and
mound shuts in their forms and shuts out
our sight, But their memory is not con-
cluded. Men and women-ofsll parties
and conditions, who gave me their "God
bless you" and held my honor theirs--
who welcome me TO their healths and to
their hearts, ,--they are gone. But out of
the Inoupd,---out of the past-out OF
gloom, shines their presence and the
promiRe see around me, nov men, cit.
izens, whose fathers were my friends and
supporters, when the children rudged to
school, In their faces, nov and then,
are the old hneaments; and while some
remember,-it is not like the good old
greeting of those who are asleep.
If John. Randolph 1T the end Of his
thirty years of service, at last went home,
as he thought, to die, amidst his constit-
uents; if he could call them his Child
ren :" if this genius with his long contact
with passion and prejudice, riding like a
vessel in q tempestuous sea, could lind
his haven of rest in the sweet consola-
tions Of his confding neighbors, what a
heaven of content may one not lind in
the beatitudes Of old associations, unrip-
pied even by zephyr Of unrest. '..
did not mean by the reference to
Randolph to make comparison between
his splendid career and my humble one.
The first half century Of our national ex-
istence was glorihed by his patriotic ex-
ertion. He had abilities which lifted
him to an exaltationj few even attain in
legislatures. Yet it is two score years
since began my Congressional service ;
and like him in one respect ! can say
that no contact with peculiarly active
life-with the urlybutly and corruptions
Of the Big Ciiy--has ever made me re-
gard corruption or prescription either to.
ward the Federal or State governments,
except with absolute and indignant de-
testation. Like him can invoke on all
the blessings Ola common father. When
returning at last the office of representa-
tive TO my new constituency, As an un-
sullied trust, your benedictiOn, will be
Joined with theirs. For after all, there il
the same feeling and seatiment in the
commercial, as in manufacturing and ag-
ricultural centers. The old human nature
belongs to all and as have found, the
old and pure attachment to Democracy,
as the anchor sure and steadfast for our
Republican guidance. But why should
], here, tonight, under the impulse and
auspices of new generation only be q
Memory The armor is still on. Duties
arise with every year. am still sort OF
watchman on the walls of the political
No., Va, ,,,e HINhat Nf tho rishtpp