Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-15
THEH OLD ROMAN.
Grand Celebration of His Sew
enty-Seventh Birthday.
Great Gathering Of the Leaders
Of the Democracy

&hp 0AtA NtNDcAAoASr Ot inc ldAAg AACHtuES
One of the Pleasant Places III His Long
Journey Through Life-speechos OF the
Honored Gnest of the Evening and Ex-
President Cleveland.
COLUMBUS, O., Nov. IA. Allen G..
Thurman's nth birthday was celebrated
here in grand style by the Democracy Of
the country Thursday night, by ban
quet in the armory Of the Fourteenth
regiment, which was elaborately deco
rated the banquet hall contained six
teen tables, each to accommodate eighty
guests, and not seat was vacant
Many congratulatory kilograms and let
ters We're received from distinguished
statesmen OF both parties.
Program.
The following was the program:
Introductory Address-Mr John ].
Lentz.
Toastlnaster-Hon. Joseph H, Outh-
waite.
"our Guest Hon, Allen g. Thur
man.
Citizenship in America y Grover
Cleveland.
1.-The Democratic Party in Relation to
Future Public Economy Gen Thomas
Ewing.
The Senate Hon. Joseph d
Mcdonald
The Early Ohio Bar rn-Hon. r. A.
Harrison.
/" Democracy in America Hon. w,
G. Z, Breckenridge
The House Of Representatives Hon.
William L. Wilson,
The Democracy of the Future Hon.
Don M Dickinson.
Responses were also expected from
Governor Campbell, Senator Voorhees,,
John q. Carlisle, Senator Brce and
Henry Watterson The first three
named were unable to be present on ac-
count of sickness. Mr.. Watterson de-
clined to come ON account of q misunder-
standing with the program committee.
Thurman's speech.
am not here tonight to make an elabo-
rate speech am here to express in few
sentences my heartfelt appreciation of the
honor you have 50 kindly seen fit to do me;
to thank with my whole soul my neigh
bors, fellow-cltizens of OHIO, and the dis
tingushed gentlemen Of other states for
their mark Of friendship and esteem
am here, at the age of II, to repeat my tes-
timony 50 often given of my confidence in
the benefcent effects of free institutions
and my firm belief of their duration on
this continent and their gradual, but GER
tain, extension over other and larger por-
tions of the globe. ] hope that it is not
in me to say that ! think
that | have some of the necessary qualili
cations of a witness on this subject
Short as my life has been, in comparison
with the lives Of nations, it has been long
enough for me To see my native land, un
der free institutions, increase in popula-
tion more than sevenfold, in wealth in a
far, very far, greater degree, in extent Of
territory more than double its area, in the
general well being and prosperity Of its
people and in their educational advantages
and relig ious privileges without a rival
in the world while its magnificent works
of internal Improvements its wonderful
agriculture, the great mines and manufae-
lures, and its marvellous means of COM
munication, the creations Of science and
skill, surpass anything before known by
the human race And in these same sew
enty-seyen years the constitution Of nearly
every government in Europe has been
by the introduction OF more
liberal principles Central and South
America have become congress Of repub
lies Canada and Australia are substan-
TALLY republics without the name, and
even in far east oriental Japan becomes
more free and liberal with every revolving
year. And more marvellous yet, light
seems to be breaking over benighted
Africa and men of a sanguine and
philosophic disposition are predicting with
exciting ridicule her redemption from her
barbarie sleep Of centuries. In a word,
freedom seems to be gradually circum-
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
optimism--if so, ! have
always preferred optimism to pessfmism
and common sense to both, and that
don't think that in what have said have
departed from the teachings of my guide.
My friends, it is seyenty-one years since,
at years of age, / became citizen of
Ohio and / have been one of her citizens
from that day to this; and win no doubt
remain one Of her people until shall be
laid in my final resting place on earth
under her sod. 1t would be the perform.
speak Of the uniform kindness that have
received, from boyhood to old age, from the
Of this state, of the honors they have
conferred upon me beyond my deserts, Of
the numerous and dear friends / have
made and whose attachment can never be
forgotten for a moment or remembered
without emotion, of the distinguished men
of Ohio whom / have seen and with many
a4..Trf fsH
of the just pride with which | have wit.
messed the wonderful 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 il better qualified TO
dc justice to it than he. ! shall therefore
c0nfine myself to few personal rsmis
which if they serve no other purs
pose viii prove to you that it is an old old,
man whom you honor Sc highly tonight,
The speaker then referred to the early
history Of the state and closed his re-
sponse with;
Before conclude, there is one statement
that feel it my duty ts make In one Of
our town papers. few days ago, saw my
name suggested as that OF q proper candi-
date for the presidency or vice presidency
in 1902. I regretted very much TO see the
suggestion, for appearing in o paper
known 20 be very friendly TO me and pub
liahsd in the place OF my residence, II
ili4Lt naturally be suspected by strangers
that ID was inspired, or at least approved,
by me But such WIS not the fact had
no idea thai snch a suggestion would be
made until I saw It in this paper. Ny
friends, let me say 70 you in all sincerity
and without the ieaat mental reservation
that / am not nor shall ever again be a
candidate for eaaee. ! have been suii
afanflr hos,nr,ad nv s4,,st+ and f,effftr