Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-11-14

| aus 1oAt WI ul III " kFL8A Va 9&iC 0Mt-
form kindness have received ffcn boy
SAses Of the honors they have conferred
upon me beyond my desefts; Of the
| numesous and dear friends have made,
utose attachment can never be forgotte
for moment or remembered without emo
| wnom have seen, and with many of whom
VA intimately acquainted. and Of the
| just pride With which l have wit
messed the wonderful growth of the State.
until her name is known and commands re-
specf throughout the whole civilized world
But Ohio 10 the theme upon which you
| will hear from your Distinguished Cover
nor. no one better qualified TO do justice to
/ than he. shall therefore conane my
sslf to . few personal "reminiscences,
which, II they serve no other purpose, will
prove TO you that il 10 an OLD. old man
whom you honor 50 highly tonight Ny
friends. o. say what probably no other
| man in Ii great audience can say, l have
seen and talked with the first gov
vernon Of our State, Edwin 1ifiin, accom-
phshed and most neritous man and patriot I;
! well knew by sight your first United
Sistes Senator and subsequent Governor.
Inomas Worththing have seen Jeremiah
Morrow, your long legged Governor and
Senator; was in my youth acquainted,
might almost say intimately acquainted.
with the distinguished pioneer. brave sol-
dier and experienced legislator, Gen. Dun
can Macarthur; was private secretary to
that grand old man, Governor Robert
Lucas, whose memory will ever be
cherished by those who know him !;
l knew Jacob Burneso. whose name is ia-
separately connected with the history of
our State; have seen Gen. VIM. Henry
Harrison and have heard him speak; per-
nit me to say he was one Of the most ef-
fective speakers ever heard; when was
but a young member Of the bar | had the
good fortune to be honored by the friend
ship of many Of its most eminent members
In one of our town papers few days ago
| saw my name suggested as =
proper candidate for the presidency or vice
Presidency in 1898. regretted very much
to see the suggestion for, appearing in a
paper known TO be very friendly to me and
published in the place of my residence, il
might naturally be suspected by strangers
that it Was inspired, or At least approved,
by me. Such was not the fact. ! had no
idea that such suggestion would be
made until saw it in this paper.
My friends, let me say to you in all SINGER
i;y, without any mental reservation. I am
not, nor shall l ever again be = candidate
for Office. have been sufficiently h,nored
by my parry. and neither ask nor desire any
further honor than continued friendship
and good will. Gentlemen, | have said
enoneh. more indeed than expected to
ssy. Osce more let me return to you my
sincere thanks. You have gladdened the
heart and frightened the footsteps of an
old man and yonr devoted friend in his de-
scent of the hill of life when he has almost
| reached its foot. May God bless you all
in his earnest praises.
At the conclusion of Judge Thurman's
address three cheers were given with good
will. Tosstmaster Cultivate introduced
Ex- President Cleveland as an American
citizen, esteemed of all men regardless of
party, as fine exemp'ar of that which we
most proudly claim is highest of American
citizenship, chief of magistrate who, having
the party forward as far as he could, sub
mitted gracefully to the defeat, cheerfully
left the high office and joined the ranks Of
this country to be sgsin toiler with them.
(Great appiause.) the next toast is the
Citizenship of America and you call for a
respondent"
Grover Cleveland.
The audience took up the suggestion and
loud calls were made for Cleveland. As
the ex-President arose from his seat cheer
after cheer went up srom the multitude
and bandanas waved wildly. Every allusion
the ex-President made to Judge Thurman
was eheered to echo and the sentiments of
MIR. Cleveland in regard to the policy of
the party found hearty echo from those
assembled.
Ex-Pre,ident Cleveland's speech was ss
follows:
MIR. President and Gentlemen:
follow the promI ,inss of heart full
Of devotion and veneration, as | tender
from the democracy of the great state of
New York, her tribute of affection for the
man whom we honor tonight. | am com
missioned to claim for my State her full
share of the glory which has been shed
upon the American name and character, by
one whose career and example cannot be
pre- empted and whose reBown cannot be
limited in ownership to the neighbors and
friends of any locality, We contest every
exclusive pretension u his fame and great
ness, because he is q heighbor to all the
people of the land; because he is the
friend of all who love their country be-
cause bis career splendiIly illustrates the
best and strongest elements of our national
character; and because his example be-
longs to all his countrymen.
1t is fitting that those who have faith in
our destiny AZ = nation, who believe that
there are noble things which belong dis
tinctiveIy to our character As people and
who prize at its true worth pure American
citizenship, should gather here tonight. II
is given us to contemplate the highest
stsiesmanship, the most unyielding and
disinterested devotion to the interests of
the people, and the most valuable achieve
mepts in the cause of our country's vel
fare, all of which have been stimulated
and accomplished through the influence
and impulse of true, unpervcrted, sturdy
Americapism. We rejoice in the exsmple
afforded on this occasion of genuine Amer
ican citizenship, revealed to us ~ safe
and infallibIe interpreter of duty in eli the
emergencies of long and honorable pub
lie career, and a. an unfailing guide to use
fvlness aud fame.
1t cannot be denied that political events
in the past have gone far toward encour-
@ktHk HfiVkAbt phttg hsrubHtivh- ENtiy
thoughtful and patriotic man has at times
been disappointed and depressed by the
apparent Indifference AMI decentralization
Of the people.
But such reflections have no place in the
felicitations of tonight This is time
when faith in our countrymen should De
fully re-estabIished The noise of a recent
political revolution is still heard through
out the land the people have just demon
strated that there is point beyond which
they cannot be led by blind psrtisansbip,
and that they are quite competent TO ex-
anime and correctly decide political ques-
tions concerning their rights and their
welfare.
Nothing could so well accompany the
honoYs We pay our distinguished gnest ~
the celebration on his birthday Of the VIC
tory which has Just been achieved in vindi
cation of American citizenship---for in him
we honor the man who has best illustrated
true American manhood. Our rejoicing
and bis are increased. A. We also celebrate
tosieht the triumph of democratic princi-
pie for which be fought and fell but two
, short years ago; and to complete our JOY
and his NC are permitted to indulge in true
democratic enthusiasm over the steadfast-
meas and devotion to its creed exhibited by
our party, which knowing no discourage
ment, has fought to victory in the peoples
cause.
Who can now doubt our COUNT Y men .
appreciation of that trait, so well illustrated
in the character of Allen g. Thurman.
which prompted him throughout his long
career, at all times and 10 all cifcumstan-
ces, and without regard TO personal con-
sequences. to do the things which his coa-
science and judgment approved, and which
seemed to him to be in the Interests of his
country and in accordance with his demo