The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1890-11-21

| pass any tnfn8 before known by
| the human race. And in these same
seventy seven years the constitution of
| nearly every government in Europe has
| been ameliorated by the Introduction of
| more liberal principles. Central and South
/ America have become a congeries of re-
publics; Canada and Australia are SUBJ
stantially republican without the name,
and even In the Far East oriental Japan be-
| comes more free and liberal with every
volving year. And, more marvellous, light
seems to be breaking over benighted Africa,
| and men of a philosophic disposition are
predicting without exciting ridieule her re-
demption from her barbaric sleep of cent
| uries. In word, freedom seems to be
| gradually circumnavigatIng the globe, and,
| proud thought for US, the polar star of the
navigator is our own republic OF the United
States.
What have said may seem to some like
| extravagant optimIsm-ifs so, have only to
| reply that have always preferred optim-
| Ism to pessimism and common sense to
both, and that don't think that in what
have said have departed from the teach.
| ings of my guide.
My friends, 1t is seventy -one years since.
at six years of age, became citizen OF
Ohio, and 1 have been one of her citizens
from that day to this, and will no doubt re-
main one of her people until shall be laid
| In my final resting place-on earth under
her sod. 1t would be the performance OF
grateful duty on my part, to speak of the
| uniform kindness that / have received,
from boyhood to old age, from
the people of this State; of the
honors they have conferred upon me
| beyond my deserts; of the numerous and
dear friends l have made, and whose at
tachment can never be forgotten for a
moment or remembered without emotion;
of the distinguished men of Ohio whom
have seen and with many of whom was in
timately acquainted; and of the just pride
~
growth OF the State until her name is known
and commands respect throughout the
whole civilized world. But Ohio is the
theme upon which you will hear from your
distinguished Governor, and no one Is bet
ter qualified to do justice to 1t than he.
shall, therefore, confine myself to a few
personal "reminiscences, which, If they serve
no other purpose, will prove to you that IL
Is an old, old man whom you honor 50
highly tonight.
The speaker then went on to say that he
had seen and talked with the first Governor
of the State, Edward Griffin; that he had
known its first United States Senator,
Thomas Worthington; that he had been
private secretary of Governor Lucas, had
seen and spoken to General William Henry
Harrison, and had been intimately ac-
quainted with many other illustrious
Ohioans now dead and gone. He paid an
eloquent tribute to Rufus p. Ranney, the
venerable and eminent lawyer, and con.
cluded his response In these words:
Before conclude, there is one statement
that feel it my duty TO make. In one OF
our town papers, a few days ago, saw my
name suggested as that of a proper candi-
date for the Presidency or Vice Presidency
in 1892. / regretted very much to see the
suggestion, for, appearing in paper known
to be very friendly to me, and published In
the place of my residence. it might natur-
ally be suspected by strangers that 1t was
inspired or at least approved by me. But
such was not the fact l had no idea that
such a suggestion would be made until
saw 1t in this paper. My friends, let me
say to you in all sincerity and without
the least mental reservation that am
not nor shall / ever again be candidate
for Office. / have been sufficiently honored
by my party, and neither ask or desire any
further honor than continued friendship
and good will. Gentlemen, 1 have said
enought more, indeed, than 1 expected to
say. Once more, let me return you my
sincerest thanks. You have 'gladdened the
heart and frightened the footsteps of an
old man, your devoted friend, in his descent
of the hill of life when he has almost
reached it's foot. May God bless you all is
his earnest prayer.
The announcement of the next toast
"Citizenship in America" and the pre-
sentation of exPreside1t Cleveland to
respond was the signal for another out
burst of enthusiasm.
Other toasts were responded to oy
ex-senator Mcdonald, General Thomas
Ewing, Hon. w. C. p. Breckinridge aud
Hon. Don Dickinson, and the speaking
was still in progress at midnight The
absence of Henry Watterson, who was
to have responded to toast, was due to
the fact that the theme he had selected
conf1icted with the ono assigned Mr.
Dickinson. He therefore withdrew his