The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-06
RICHARD w. THOMPSON.

The most notable event at the Republican
State convention, last week, was the ap-
pearance of Col. Richard W. Thompson as
presiding officer. OF course. everybody knew
that General Harrison would be there. and
would have something to say, and that he
would say il in the aptest and most eff
fective way, but the appearance of the old
veteran who had been attending our State
conventions for sixty years-a man eighty
five years old, with his natural force some-
what abated. but with undimmed eye and
his clarion voice ringing clear with its old,
familiar sound-it was his appearance that
gave a charm to the assembly. What a
l%ife.-what a career. How young our Ma
ton seems when we see a man who has
personally known every President of the
Republic excepting Washington and the
elder Adams. Colonel Thompson resided in.
Virginia. and saw jefferson. Madison and
Monroe there after they had retired from
public life. and his active political career
afterwards brought him into personal con-
tact with all their successors. To see him
facing an assembly which packed Tomlin-
son Hall full. and making a speech, every
syllable of which could be distinctly heard
by everyone there without any seeming
effort, was a fine object lesson for those
who wish to know the power and beauty
of a well-trained speakers voice. Wendell
Phillips had the gift, or had acquired the
talent, and by II he won the title bestowed
upon him by Theodore Parker OF prince OF
the platform orators Of the world. 1 feared
that Colonel Thompson would not be strong
enough to bear the excitement Of the &C.
casion, but the sight of the vast assembly
and the enthusiactic welcome he received
put him on his mettle, and he bore him
self grandly. / saw Tom Corwin at Lafay-
cite after he got to be an old man. He
came there TO deliver an address on the
Fourth of July, 1859. The crowd at the
fair ground waited and waited, and finally
grew clamorous. Then word came that Cor
win was i'll and too feeble to come from
his room. The crowd demanded that he
should show himself. at least, and after a
long time a carriage drew up and Albert
s. White. the presiding officer. helped Cor
win to the platform. He could only stand
by supporting himself against one of the
posts. A glass with a suspicious looking
mixture in it was handed to him. He took
a sip, smacked his lips, made one OF his
comical faces at the crowd. and said some
thing by way Of aside to Senator White.
The crowd began to applaud and Corwin
began to make his apology. but the cry of
OS OeAhS " OA GAoCos
and he did go on for two hours in an un-
interrupted flow of ~eloquence which have
never heard surpassed. L have heard Phil
lips. and Lincoln. and Ingersoll, and Caleb
B. Smith, and Sumner, and Kossuth, but
Corwfn, when thoroughly aroused, had
more power over a large assembly than
any Of them. Colonel Thompson never fails
to interest and instruct his hearers, and
that he should retain his oratorical pow
ers at sreh an advanced age is simply mar
velous. Ie is fifty closing his long and
brilliant career by publishing a book en-
titled Personal. Recollections of Sixteen of
Our Presidents" The book is now in press
at the publishing house Of the Bowen-Mer-
rill Company, and will be out during the
coming summer or autumn. 1t was nv
privilege to read the manuscript during
the last winter, and 1 express the opinion
that 1t is the most complete, interesting
and valuable history of the rise and fall
OF the political parties, from the beginning
OF the government down to and including
the administration of Lincoln, that has ever
been or that ever can be written. Every
page is fairly alive with interest-an inter
est that could only be impaired to such a
narrative by one who for over sixty years
has been an active participant In all the
political struggles of our country. Colonel
thompson Is the only man who could write
such a book. and that he has been able to
begin and complete it within the space of
W. or three years is matter of wonder.
Inc style Is pure and lofty, and the tenn
per OF the book is fair and impartial. Age
mas softened the asperities engendered in
the heat of partisan strife, and, If 1 may
except his show of bitterness TO John Tyler.
the recreant Wing President, the volume is
pervaded by a spirit of magnanimity to-
ward the leaders Of the great political par-
ties whom ne once opposed. 1 hope that
heaven may lengthen out his days to en-
aoie MIN to appear once more in Tomlinson
HAL when the Republicans of Indiana shall
assemble to fnaugurate the campaign of
1880 w. P. FISHBACK.