The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-03-16
Welcome Home.

!
ford and Scott and Lucy Cook, ar
rived here at Z O'Clock this evening
from Cieyeland, and were met at the
depot, which was finely decorated,
bv over thousand citizens, who
cheered .ae party enthusiastically
as they ssed beneath the motto,
"Fremon welcomes the return of
ex-p -presid at and Mrs. Hayes A
reception committee Of ten promi-
nent citizen met the ex-President at
Clyde, and escorted him from his
special car to carriage, which was
surrounded by nearly 200 torch
bearers The large concourse of
people them formed a procession.
All the residences, public buildings,
lawns and parks along the line Of
march were brilliantly illuminated
The procession halted before the
Hayes residence. Mr.. and Mrs.
Hayes stood in the doorway and
acknowledged the applause Of the
assembly. Hon. Homer Everett
then delivered the address of well
come.
Ex-President Hayes stepped for
ward to reply, amid enthusiastic
cheering. He thanked his neigh
bors and friends for their hearty
welcome, and went on to say that it
was with pleasure that he and his
family returned from an agreeable
residence in Columbus and Wash
ington to rest in his home at Free
mont. Continuing he said: "Itstrikes
me that this is good place to find
an answer to the question that is
often heard, what is to become of
the man-what is ne TO do-where
is his place, who, having been chief
magistrate of the republic, retires
at the end of his term to private
life? II seems to me the answer is
near at hand and sufficient. Let
him, like every other good Ameri.
can citizen, be willing to bear his
part in every useful work that will
promote the welfare. the happiness
and the progress of his family, his
town, his state and his country.
With this disposition he will have
work enough to do, and that sort Of
work which yields more individual
contentment and qualification than
the more conspicuous employment
of public life from which he has
just retired. We all recognize, in n
general way, that our institutions
rest upon the character of the pri-
vate citizens. What the people are,
our government will. be. Character
is formed at home; the family and
the home are the unit and the
foundation of our free society, OF
our American civilization.
Il prefer not to speak of the ad-
ministration which has just closed.
| will say only these few things 1t
has been from the beginning to the
end of my term, my earnest desire
and purpose to so do my duty that
every section of our country and all
descriptions of our people would
have the benefit of an honest, liberal,
patriotic and just administration OF
the general government. If, III any
marked degree, my administration
has been blessed with success, it is
largely due to the able statesmen to
whom have been cOniided the great
departments OF the government, aud
who have been the official counsel
lors of the President. | am happy
TO know that this welcome is in no
wise partisan. 1t is one OF the
agreeable features of the occasion,
that all parties are here represented.
Something of the same good fortune
has followed me throughout my adj
ministration in Congress, and
among the people, from the South
as well as from the North, | have
received encouragement. | have
received support from men whose
political affiliations are opposed to
my own. For all this | am and
forever viii be profoundly grateful.
All eyes are now turned to the new
administration which has Just as
sumed the responsibility Of the
national government. To those who
agree with its principles and have
confidence in its head and in his
advisers, as | have, | would say
Let us give it a heaaty and gener-
Gus support To those who would
not have chosen the new admins
tratioh let me say. Initiate your
gallant and patriotic leader, General
Hancock, who, by his presence and
cordiality at all the ceremonies of
the Inauguration, said to his fellow
citizens, let US give to President
Garfield a fair hearing and fair
play"
After the speech the greater por-
ton of the assembly attended an
informal reception. All the mem
bers of the Hayes family were pres
ent.