Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-07-24

most, he made himself distinctly heard bvsv
erybody present, and long afterward it was the
boast OF the Democrats in that part of the
country that their champion, ''Bill' Allen. as
he was Familiarity called by his admirers, could
talk down all the Wing steam whistles in Phil
adelphia.
During all this exciting period in the politi-
cal history of the country, Senator Allen gave
no attention to his own interests, or to the
campaign in his own State. His wife. to
wnom he was fondly attached, died toward
the END OF his second term in the Senate, She
was the daughter Of the Governor Macarthur
against whom he made his first political race
for Congress from the Chillicothe district. He
mourned her with all the depth and sincerity
OF his strong earnest nature, and was so.shaken
0y her loss that he was unable to take any part
IN the Ohio canvass for members of the Legis-
lature The Wings, meanwhile, saw their op-
portunlty, worked increasingly, secured large
majority in the Assembly. and elected MI.
Chase to the National Senate. Mr.. Allen re-
tired to his beautiful farm near Chillicothe.
called 'Fruit Hill, where he passed twenty
nve years in seclusion from politics and the
world, farming with great success, and deyo-
ting much time to the study OF historical. Do
litical and philosophical subjects. He was n
contented man in his library and on his farm.
until, in 1878, the Democrats summoned him
TO the field as their candidate for Cove NOR
de responded to the call, and made a eharac-
teristic canvass; his speeches were a. vigorous
As ever, as Senator Morton found out to his
sorrow, when he twitted Allen about his mfr
mites. He was elected by 817 majority. but
two years after Hayes defeated him by the Aid
OF Wall street money by q small majority. On
his retirement from the Governorship. he re-
turned to his old homestead, where be lived A
life OF cheerful retirement, dispensing q gener-
Gus hospitality. He leaves married dsngb-
ter and grandchildren.
just prior TO the breaking out of the war.
Mr.. Allen was bitterly opposed to Abraham
Lincoln and all the doctrines Of the party
which supported him. He was always oppos-
ed to secession, however, and is firmly con-
vinced that il he had been in the Senate in 1859
and 1860, the Southern States would never
have left the Union. Although Democrat.
first and last, he has never faltereG in his de-
votion to that Union, and when the war broke
out be advocated its vigorous prosecution u5-
I'll every wandering State had been brought
back into the Republican family.
AN OHIO sUNsET-rHE END.
Seated on the broad door step Of his hospita-
Bile mansion on the top of Fruit Hill, near
Chillicothe, Governor Allen related to me
these incidents Of his eventful life. He is still
a strong man-particularly strong in mind
His clear, blue eyes have lost none of their
wonderful magnetism, and his sonorous voice
| but little OF its old-time volume. His tall
frame has bent somewhat under the weight OF
passing years, but, like the old stone dwelling
place he loves so weh-a house which shelter
ed Governor Of Ohio fifty years ago-he as
yet gives no indications that he will not be
able to withstand the blasts Of many a winter
to come. The sun was setting in hank of
glorious summer clouds as the great old man
\ finished the story OF his life Mt. Logan in the
distance was yet bright in the golden light,
but in the valley of the Scioto, down below,
the shadows were falling rapidly. Through
the thick green trees the old white stone hou-
ses of Governors Tiffln and Worthington ap-
peared as monuments to the memory of men
dead long ago. The shadows from the valley
crept slowly up Fruit Hill, the brightness was
: fading on the summit Of Mount Logan and
l then
Governor, why do you refuse to enter pub
lie life againf' / asked, and he, after q long
pause, replied:
because am one of the few old men who,
unlike Harry Clay, know when have reached
my highest point, when it is time fol me to
give up the power which / am no longer
strong enough to uss for the good Of the
people,
And then, with his face turned to the rich
light of the setting sun, with the shadow all
behind him. ripe with age and full of honors,
/ bade farewell to William Allen, the some
times bitter but always faithful partisan, the
honest politician, the statesman of the olden
school.