Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-10
Written for rhe Evsninx Star
CAMPAIGN SONGS OF isAo.
Some Rscollcctsons 81 IN Interesting Epoch
In Amertcan POllttcs.

Some Recollectsons of I'm Interesting Epoch
In American Pollttcs.
DIFFERENCE TO A NUMBER OF THE.
~ campaign songs OF 1870 in late num-
Der Of TIE EvkSrSe STAR awakened recollec-
6ons OF that eventful period. which come back
to the writer with freshness strangely fascin-
atins TO one who now hsstens with rapid strides
toward the years Of three score and ten The
presidential year Of ls40 was an era Of
poetry and song. Ohio, because Of iss inter
est In old 'Hppecanoe." probably produced
more rustic pocts than any other state OF that
period. The popular song:
when this old hat was new
The people used to say.
The best among the democrats
Was Harrison and Clay.
was composed by n rural songster BY the name
OF Streator, then farmer of Portage county,
Ohio. who WAS n moss active participant in the
conflict FOR whig supremacy in the national
government MIR. Streator was, IL we mistake
not. afterward elected 20 the Ohio legislature
for term or two and did much especially a. a
poet, 10 awaken interest among the people,
| which eliminated in the triumpLs Of his party.
Iorain county Ohio the writer's birth place \.
alc' produced man Of equal poetic predilee-
uoi Mr.. Henry r. KELSEY, che son of a Connec-
ticut emigraLt to the wilderness Of the West
ern Reserve IN its early history. Asabel
Kelsey was q venerable specimen 81 a New
England Yankee. well skilled in mechanics. be-
sides being public teacher OF morals and the
author OF n small work on "Universalism," in
which he discoursed with abiIty on the final
restoration TO happiness of the entire human
Family. His son Henry commenced life rs a
district school teacher two citizens Of WASH
lng'on now living having felt the weight of his
pecagoSue rod in a manner never to be forgot
ten. We refer TO the present coroner OF the
District and the writer. both Of whom received
( instruc ;ion from Mr. Kelsey in the rudimental
sciences of tina: day. Inc poetic talents Of this
gentleman soon brought him into prominence
anu Tor many wears secured hlm a lucrative Of
ice. FOR those early times. in his native county.
his songs were as popular in other states in
his own and helped 10 swell the popular current
/ IN favor of Gen. Harrison. The Log Cabin. -
published about lS40 BY Horace Greeley. gave
wide circulation to the rustic poetry of that
day, while every county newspaper scattered a.
widely as possible every such production that
was likely to answer it's great political end.
The writer recalls the wonderful scenes of
'log cabin and hard cider" times the like of
| which will not likely occur again for a century.
He had the privilege OF hearing the great stump
| speakers OF that campaign-such men as Wilson
shannon, Thomas Corwir, Thomas Ewing. Eli
sha Whittlesey. William Allen. Judge Storer
| (nov In Congress), Gov. BARLEY aud others of
less ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the best ability in
both political parties Among all others Thomas
Corwln excelled, both as an orator and humor-
list. every element entering into his mental CON-
position to make him the lion of his party
Even his gestures often created something like
an electric shock. sometimes 10 the consterna-
ton but oitener to the great amusement Of the
crowds. who would travel miles TO see and hear
him. No speaker in the nation could draw q
larger or more enthusiastic company than
Thomas Corwin. He popularized then a.
having been a teamster boy in the war of 1872
while Gen. Ewing immoria.ized BY carry
ing with him the appelation OF :he old potash
boiler" In carly life. like others in new
/ country, his time was devoted 20 clearing hi.
lands Of timber and making ashes. from which
was manufactured pearl ash" which com
manded a ready sale in the great cities Of the
east.