The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-01-23
Chnnge Of Time.

seems to be no good reason now
existing for Keeping the time fixed
in January. Eighty years ago,
when a governor elect had to hold
up his horny righ hand and swear
(With mental reservation to
strictly obey the Constitution and
laws in the matter of signing the
Commission of Justices of the
Peace and NOtaries, and to act
"white" in the matter of turning
loose, from the penitentiary, lot
of scoundrels that had been, at no
end of trouble and expense, eXrlud-
ed from society, facilities for travel
were not as they are now.
Then the person in Cincinnati or
Marietta who wanted to close his
digits on soft job for the State,
had t. make the pilgrimage to
Chillicothr overland and by priv
ate conveyance. Think of an emf
nent statesman plodding along, on
horseback, or in Il road wagon,
fighting yellow backed flies and
red hot "muskeeters" while the sun
boiled the Precipitation from every
pore and melted the starch from
the rufIle Of his "biled" shirt.
Such agonies can not be contem-
plated, even at this late day, with
out a shudder; besides it was so
much pleasanter and at the same
time more ariStOcratic to make the
journey in sleigh surrounded by
furs and jingle of bells, while the
crisp pure air lent vigor to body
and mind.
1t was therefore eminently prop
er to have the inauguration cere-
monies occur in cold weather.
Again, the pioneer statesman was
busily engaged during the spring
and summer in planting, cultivat-
ing and storing his crops, and in
autumn in chopping and getting in
Il supply of winter wood, and could
hardly spare time for the onerous
and honorable duty Of standing
around waiting to see governor
take the swear Of office.
But winter was the season of
pleasure, lesure, and gossip and for
these reasons and others our faith
erS were induced TO select January
as the most auspicOus season in
which to attend to small business
of swearing a governor into Office.
But times customs and conditions
have changed since these early
time and we, as Il great State
should hasten to adapt our affairs
of state to the changed conditions.
The Statesmen of today "toil not
neither do they spin," yet old Sol
omen would look like tramp in
comparison to one of them in the
matter of raiment. Like the fowls
of the air, "They SOW not, neither
do they reap, nor gather into barns"
so that in this matter there is no
necessity Of waiting for season
of leisure. Now there is no sad
ding Of paving steeds or harness
ing of horses to slcighs but the
statesman steps into gorgeous
palace car and il whirled away to
his destination without annoyance
from mud, flies, or mosquitoes, and
the days when the forests are COW
cred with verdure and the fields
with waving grain would be much
more pleasant than the chilling
blasts of January blizzard.
But there exists weighler rea-
son than all others for changing
the time, for Pursell declares
"UnIess the date is changed, or the
the seasons flop around and make
December, or rather January as
pleasant as May we shall deprive
these affairs of our brilliant pres
ence."
We call on our legislators to
seriously ponder the import of the
above threat. Have an Inaugural
ton from,which Pursell was alb
sent! Great Jehosephat! How
could it be done?
Everybody knows such an Undue
ton into Office would not be legal.
Pursell means what he says, too
He is not in fun, and Pursell never
lies. 1t somebody else than Pur-
sell, had said it,Ourself for example,
there might be room tor doubt, but
none with Pursell: he means mis-
chief, and the legislature may as
well take notice.
.-s.------
Obituary.