The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-11-27

Dickinson The State Of Ohio
Governor Campbell. y number OF
cxtcmpore #ddre>~e, were also made
In response to the toast Our
Guests Mr.. Thurman spoke 81 To-
lows
.Hr. President and Fcllop-CHizcns-
am not here 10 night to make IN |
elaborate speech. | am here to eN-
press in few sentiments my heartfelt |
appreciation Of the honor you have so !
kindly seen fit to do me: to thank ,
with my whole soul my neighbors, my |
felloW-citizens Of Ohio. and the dis /
tnguished gentlemen from other States !
, for their mark OF friendship and es-
TEEN. [ am here at the age OF -, to
repeat my testimony. so often gwen,
Of nv confidence in the bencticent Ell
fees of free institutions, and my firm
belief in their duration on this CONT
nent, and their gradual but certain
extension over other and larger por-
tons Of the globe.
| | hope it is not presumptIOus IN me
| to say | think | have some Of the nee
essary qualifications Of Il witness on
the subject. Short as my life has been,
| in comparison with the lives Of nations,
it has been long enough for me to see
NV native land under free institutions
increase in population more than sew
enfold in wealth, in far, very far
greater degree in extent Of territory
more than double its area, i'll the gen
eral we'll being and prosperity of its
people. and in their educational advan-
tagcs and religious privileges without
an equal in the world. while its mag
uifcent works Of internal improvement,
its wonderful agriculture, its great
mines and manufactures, and its mar
velOuS means of communication, the
creations of science and skill surpass
anything before known by the human
race.
And in these seventy years the
constitution of nearly every govern
ment in Europe has been ameliorated
by the introduction OF more liberal
principles. Central and South Amer
lea have become congress Of repub-
lies, Canada and Australia are sub
stantially republics without the name,
and even in the far East Oriental ia
pan becomes more free and liberal
with each revolving year, and, more
marvellous vet. light seems to be break
ING over bcnighted Africa, and men of
sanguine and philosophic disposition
are predicting without exciting ridicule
her redemption from her barbaric sleep
Of centuries.
In word, freedom seems to be
gradually Communicating the globe,
and, proud thought for us, the polar
star of navigation is our own republic
of the United States.
, What have said may seem to some
like eXtravagant optimism. If SO. |
am only to reply that | have always
preferred optimism to pessimism and
cOmmOn-sense to both, and that /
don't think that in what | have said
| have departed from the teachings Of
my guide.
Judge Thurman then devoted ten
minutes to personal and political rem
iniscences, and continued
Before l conclude there is one state
ment that feel it my duty to make.
In one of my town papers a few days
ago | saw my name suggested as a
proper candidate for the Presidency
or Vice-presidency in 1899. l regret
very much to see the suggestion, for,
appearing in a paper known to be very
friendly to me and published i'll the
place Of my residence, it might natu-
rally be suspected by strangers that it
was inspired, or at least approved by
me. But such is not the fact. | had
no idea such a suggestion would be
made till | saw it in this paper. My
friends, let me say to you in all sim
certify and without the least mental
reservation that l am not, nor shall l
ever again be, a candidate for office I
have been sufficiently honored by my
party, and neither ask nor desire any
further honor than continued friend
ship and goodwill.
Gentlemen, | have said enough
more, indeed, than | intended to say.
Once more let me return to you my
sincerest thanks. You have gladdened
the heart and lightened the footsteps of
an old man, your devoted friend, and
in the descent of the hill Of life, when
he has almost reached its foot. May
God bless you all is his earnest prayer,