Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-11-20

Alien G. Thurman
throwing his shoulders backward, his
eyes sweeping the great throng that
had gathered to do him homage, he
spoke as follows:
MI FRIsNDs:-Let me say to you, in all
sincerity and without the least mental res
ervation, tina t am not, nor shall be again
candidate for office.
The stiffness which for Il couple OF
moments followed this declaration was
intense. 1t seemed as though every
one of the thousand or more on
whom the words had fallen felt that
he had lost a friend. Then as, with
trembling tones, the speaker went on to
say thai he felt that he had been suffi-
GENTLY honored by his party, there was a
reversion of feeling-the vast audience
could no longer restrain itself, every man
arose to his feet, napkins were waved,
and there went forth cheer after cheer
which might have been heard like the
reverberations of cannon for blocks
away. And amid the enthusiasm the
statesman who had practically said
goodbye sank into his seat.
The banquet itself was a magnificent
affair. Nothing like it has ever before
been attempted in the Buckeye State.
The Fourteenth Regiment Armory had
been transformed into fairy land. The
uafters of its ceiling and it's white
washed walls were hidden from view
by thousands of yards of bright colored
bunting and silken flags and banners
ennUmerable. Around the floor rising
sier above tier, were the choicest pro-
ducts of the dollhouse, while above all
lowered ma jestic palms and fragrant
exotics The orchestra was hidden
from Wow in a mass of foliage which in
turn was surrounded with curtain of
zsmilax. At the southern end of the hall,
upon a platform heaped with palms and
roses In bloom were crayon pcrtraiture
statues of ex-President Cleveland and
The especial guest of the evening.
The table of honor rested upon
fplatform running half the length of the
hall L longitudinal with this there
sWcre six seen tables, each with accom-
fmodations for eighty guests, seated Wis
Avis. Every chair had its occupant,
: while there were hundreds more who,
finding it impossible to gain place
! upon tho main floor, were content to
..,Riew the proceedings from the gallery.
1t was shortly after eight o'clock when
the cheering from the large crowd which
had gathered on the outside announced
tho arrival of the distinguished guests,
and when the ex-senator, arm in arm
with President John j. Lentz of the
Thurman Club appeared upon the
scene, clio sUly followed by ex-President
Cleveland and ex-senator Jos. Mcdonald
sthe cheering was hearty and prolonged.
Mr.. Thurman sat on the right of the
9x-President, his son, Allen w. being
next to him, and then in succession ex-
Senator Mcdonald, Don Nj. Dickinson,
w. c. p. Breckenridge, General Thos.
Ewing and Governor Boyd. To the left
of the chair were seated Grover Cleve-
land. General r. A. Harrison, Bishop
John A. Watterson, Daniel Lamont and
Governor jackson.
Nearly two hours were occupied in
= discussing the elaborate menu, and it
was after ten o'clock when President
LENT raped for order and in few
well-chosen words proposed the toast of
tSOur Guest" Mr.. Thurman, on arising
to respond. was greeted with uproari-
-'ous applause which lasted several
minutes. Silence having been re-
stored, he spoke as follows:
. Iamnot here to- ght to make an elaborate
speech. / am here to express in n few SEN
: fences my heartfelt appreciation of the
honor you have so kindly seen fit to do me |;
to thank with rny whole soul my neighbors,
my fellow citizens of Ohio and the distin
zguished gentle men from other States for
their mad K of friendship and esteem / am
here at the age OF seventy seven TO repeat
auy testimony so often given. of my conf
dence in the bcnefcent effects of free insti-
buttons and my firm belief of their duration
on this continent and their gradual, but
certain extension over other and larger
IS tt,n lob hnr hot
III is not presumptuous in me to
say that link that L have
some of the necessary qualifications of n
witness this subject As short as my
life has been. in comparison with the lives
of nations, It has been long enough for me
ito see my native land, under free institu-
.fions, Increase in population more than
seven-fold; in wealth in far, very far,
greater ratio; in extent of territory more
rthsa double its area; in the general WELL
ysring and prosperity of its people, and in
their educational advantages and religious
privileges. without rival in the world;
rzyhie in its magnificent works of internal
Improvement, its wonderful agriculture, Its
great mines and manufactures and its
marvellous means of communication, the
creations of science and skill, sur
pass any thing before known by
the human race. And in these Same
seyenty- seven years the constitution of
nearly every government in Europe has
been ameliorated by the introduction OF
more liberal principles. Centfai ana south
America have become q congerieS OF re-
nubIics: Canada and Australia are SUBJ
stantiaIiy republican without the name,
and even In the Far East oriental Japan be-
comes more free and liberal with every re-
voiving year. And, more marvellous, iight
seems to be breaking over benighted Africa,
and men of philosophic disposition are
predicting without exciting ridicule her re-
-iemption from her barbaric sleep of cent
snries In a word. freedom seems to De
a uiuat globe. al.
nroud thought for US, the polar star of che
navigator Is cur OWL republic Ct the United
A4tateA