Telegram-herald., 1890-09-22


EFF his Eiow % s2Ee h.s country
sane eo9alrY that vas once before
saved % some eackl.ng geese killott
/ saeD4rc's R3mz. ne story Gem
pete was never tod, however, Until
Or. II. c. Potter, Michigan man gave
q 70 The world. jus as be rescued is
fgom oblivion on the very spot. lie
presided al the banquet Of the Stale
Banker Association At saginaw recent
N and told the bankers ali about the
great Roman farmer, who followed IA
The footsteps Of the illuslr.Oas geese
and saved his country. This : the
story:
Gentlemen, il becomes my duty TO
introduce this evening the nFst regular
toast, whsch .. The State OF Michigan
and u would hardly do for nae % IN
troduce that toast without coupling u
in some way with agriculture. A man
would Dc bind 10 the Signs OF the times
"a tail 70 see that this year the farmers
have got 4. lLsughter.l 1t Is not =
new idea. IL Is an ldea that has been
very taking 10 the American publle.
Gen. Putnam LETT his plOw for the SCI
vice OF his country; George Washing
ton was farmer; but the great original
OF farmers who are saving their country
MAS Cinclnnatus, VINO WAS called from
the piow AZ a critical period 10 the de-
tense OF Rome when u WAS attacked by
two Northern tribes, and that has been
so taking picture ever since
from 500 years before Christ
10 the year of our Lord 1890,
that no political picture was per-
feet unless 10 was composed of man
and a plow aud bleeding country.
Applause and laughter.l Now, 10
properly estimate the value OF that PIC
ture II Is material 10 know whether Il
was true that Cincinuatus was indeed q
farmer, and whether be was surprised
at his work and answered his country
call IN the spirit of a patriot, or whether
his plow was a part Ol the game. pro-
pose 10 give YOU little bit OF informa-
ton upon that subject. Within a few
months | stood upon the Captoline NIL
IN Rome. | WAS pointed out the farm
where Clncinnatus was plowing when
he was called TO the service of his coun-
try. | had supposed that Il was some
point remote from Rome as Lansing or
JOldwater are from Us. Laughter.
Gentlemen, where do you suppose IL
was? AS ! stood upon the CapltOllne
hill, looking down across the yellow
Ilher right at my feet, a stream not
much wider than the Saginaw, the farm
of Clnclnnatus was IN sight Just upon
the other side of the Tlber IN Etrurla,
not far from where the castle of st. An
gelo now is. The whole thing was
transparent. Ii was Just as clear TO me
as il must be to you. The State Gen.
| tral Committee met IN the forum, right
behind the CapitoiIne hill. They sent
word TO Cincinnatus: Get out your
mules and your old wooden plow'
about such a tlme-on the 'Ides OF
March-and plow for all there Is IN It,
IN full sight of the people. and you will
hear something drop The State con-
ven.ion was held IN the forum, CIncin-
natus was chosen dictator, and q mes
senger was sent TO notify him that the
state wanted him TO come and save 1t.
Now, quick footed messenger, il
he could have run across the bridge
which HoratIus kept so WELL IN the
| brave DAYS of DID, would have
reached that farm of Cincinnatus' IN
thirty minutes. think even a Roman
hack horse would have gone in an
hour; and they found Cinclnnatus
plowlng just as they expected. He did
IT splendldly. lie went over to the
city, and raised an army, and defeated
the two tribes IN twenty-four hours, and
from that day to this there has been no
picture SO taking as That OF the farmer
I called from the plow 10 save his cOun-
/ try. This fable teaches, gentlemen, and
/ | want you to lay the lesson to heart,
| tor it Is one very dear to the hearts OF
| all patriots, that whenever a state needs
I saving there IS always q farmer con-
venientiy near TO save 1t. Applause
and laughter.l had invited, as chair
man of the committee, gentleman
who IS candidate for the highest Of
fee in our state, 10 be present with MS
tonight. | received his regrets today.
! The letter head on which he writes con-
taius tins address: Farm on Michigan
avenue, between the Capitol and State
| farm Tlaughterl and is adorned with
n picture OF Clydesdale horse, some
short-horned cattle, a sheep and Here
1 ford COW. That IS the Cinclnnatus who
will probably save the state. Long
continued lsughterl."