Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-11-20

What have said may seem to some like
e1travagant optimlsm-if so, have only to
reply that / have always preferred optfm-
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 it is seventy lone years since.
at six years of age. became a 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 a
grateful duty on my part, to speak or the
uniform Kindness that 1 have received.
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
moment or. remembered without emotion;
of the distinguished men of Ohio whom L
have seen ana with many of whom was IN
timately acquainted; and of the just pride
with which have witnessed the wonderful
growth OF the State until her name is known
and commands respect throughout the
whole civilized wo i'd. But Ohio is the
theme upon which you viii hear from your
distinguished Governor, and no one is bet
ter qualiie ed to do justice to it than he. ]
shall, therefore, confine myself to few
personal "reminiscences, which,f they serve
no other purpose, viii prove to you that il
Is an old, old man whom you honor so
highly to might,
The speaker then went on to saw that he
had seen and talked with the first Governor
of the State, Edward Griffin; that he had
known it's first United States Senator,
Thomas Worthington; that he had been
private secretary of Governor Lucas, had
seen and spoken to General William Henry
harrison, ana had been intimately ac-
quaintcd with many other ilIustrious
Ohioans now dead and gone. He paid an
eloquent tribute to Rufus Z. 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, Il few days ago, 1 my
name suggested as that OF proper canui-
date for the Presidency or Vice Presidency
in 1882. 1 regretted very much to 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 it was
inspired or at least approved by me. But
such was not the fact l had no idea that
such suggestion would be made until
saw it in this paper. My frienls, let me
say to you in all sincerity ana without
the lea mental reservation that 1 am
not nor ,hall L ever again be candidate
for offit 1 have been sufficiently honored
by my trty, and neither ask or desire any
further honor than continued friendship
enough more, indeed, than L expected to
say. o &C more, let me return you my
sincere t thanks. You have 'gladdened tho
heart . I'd frightened the footsteps of an
old M ,, your devoted friend, in his descent
of the hill of life when he has almost
reachc its foot. May God bless you all is
mis- ear iest prayer.
The announcement of the next toast
'CitiZ 1nship in America" and the pre-
senta on of exPreSident Cleveland to
respond was the signal Tor another out
burst Of enthusiasm.
Oti.2r toasts were re responded to by
ex-Sc lator Nc Donald, General Thomas
Ewin :, Hon. w. c. P. Breckenridge and
Hon. Don Dickinson, and the speaking
was sill in progress at midnight. The
abserce of Henry Watterson, who was
TO hare responded tc toast was due to
the ct that the theme he had selected
conf cted with the one assigned Mr..
Dick .pson. He therefore withdrew his
acceN lance.