St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-10-31
Mark Twain.
HIS INTRODUCTION OF GEN. HAwLEY AT
REPUBLICAN MEETING IN ELMIRA. l..

HIS INTRODUCTION OF GEN. HAWLEY AT
A REPUBLICAN MEETING IN ELMIRA. |.
NY.
In introducing to you Gen. Joseph r.
Hawley, member of congress, late presi-
dent of the centennial commission, for
merly general in the army, once a
governor of Connecticut, chairman of
the Chicago convention which nominat-
ed Gen. Grant, head of an excellent
daily newspaper, member of my church
i'll Hartford, and author of Beautiful
Snow" it is not my province to enlarge
upon matters generally. | am here
simply to give him IA character from his
last place. AS afeIlow-townsman and
dutitul citizen, | have high respect fol-
him as personal friend of long stand
ing, have a warm regard for him as
a neighbOr, whose vegetable garden ad
joins my own, well, | watch him.
But that is nothing-we all do that with
any neighbor. Gen. Hawley is man
who keeps his promises; he is a man
who always speaks the truth, and not
only in private life, but IN politics he
is an editor who believes what he says
in his own newspaper; as author of
Beautiful Snow" he has added new
pang to winter. The public honor, pub
lie money, church thing
and all things that are strictly public
are safe in his hands. l have watched
him many time as the contribution
box went by, and / never saw him take
anything out OF it. Would that we had
more such men in politics. Charity,
compassion, benevolence, are inborn in
Gen. Hawley ; he never sends the tramp
empty from his door, but gives him
note of introduction to me. But above
all, and beyond all, it can be said with
entire sincerity that he is square, hon
est man in politics, think of that-and
l will remark here, in confidence, that
he occupies an almighty lonesome posi-
ton. Gen. Hawley's public aspect is as
creditable us his private one. AS "a
member of congress he has upheld our
excellent presidents hands; his voice
and his vote have always been for the
best good of his country cOnsidera-
tiOns of self have never influenced his
policy he has never backed down be-
fore responsibility nor lodged one.
AS citizen of the republic he is with
out reprOach in his faith in her iusti-
tutions, in his pride in her greatness, in
his affection fol- her and belief in her
high destiny, he is an American of the
Americans. AS president of the cen
tennial commission, he carried through
and brought to successful issue, an
enterprise which has borne the fame of
our resources and industries to distant
regions, aud made our country a re-
spected competitor to markets where
her rivalry was of little moment before.
AS governor of his state, he governed
well and righteously as a soldier, he
earned lasting praise and honor. His
public trusts have been many and va
ried his record in them all is wholly
without stain. He is a man against
whose honor and high principle not
word can be spoken. The presence of
such a man in politics is like a vase Of
Ottar of roses in glue factory-it can't
eXtinguish the stencil, but it modifies it
In what have been saying about Gen
Hawley | have not meant to flatter, bul
only to speak the plain and simple
truth. have not said anything about
him which | would not say about my
self.