Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1896-11-19
SAM B. COOK HoNoRED.
Serenaded by Number Of His Friends
and Presented With q Handsome
Gift as Token of Their
Esteem.

Hon. Sam B. Cook, chairman of the
Democratic State Central Committee,
whose vigorous work during the cam
paign just closed won for Missouri the
title of the banner Democratic State
of the Union, was highly honored by
a large number of his friends on
Wednesday evening, November IL.
The crowd gathered at the Court
House about half past seven
and, headed by the Bryan and Sewall
drum corps, marched to Mr.. Cooks
residence and surrounded the house.
Hearing the noise Mr.. Cook stepped
out on the porch to see what was
causing it, and at once found himself
the center of attraction. His appear
ance was the signal for a volley of
cheers, which ended with three rous-
ing ones proposed by someone in the
crowd for "Sam Cook" and when
the last echoes had died away Hon.
P. Ell. Cullen stepped forward and, in
neat speech, presented the chair
man of the State Committee with a
handsome set of solid silver knives,
forks and spoons, ornamented with
pearl.
Mr.. Cullen spoke as follows:
"Mr. Cook-We come not as dis
turbers, but as citizens to show You
our great respect and to congratulate
you on the splendid service you have
rendered our State and county. In
this hour, when the lowering clouds
of disappointment darken for a day
the political armament, the imperial
State of Missouri, like the sun in
heaven, shines full and refulgent, fill
ing the hearts of the patriotic with
great cheer and courage.
"This splendid victory for Democ-
racy in Missouri is largely due to
your energy, foresight and Judgment.
In the days of overwhelming anxiety
and thick gloom when dissension ran
riot and the leaders needed not the
voice of the people, when the legions
of the Missouri Democracy were
vacillating and wavering between q
positive and a negative position, we
know that you, forgetting conse-
quences, defyipg the insolence of
place and power and wealth, led the
fight for positive political platform
one that embodied and unbosomed
justice. By that fight we secured the
Pertle Springs platform, then the
regular State platform, then the
great Chicago platform, the superb
constitution and bylaws of modern
Democracy, which will eventually
bring national victory to the party
and blessings to our people. We see
your power and influence in all this
and we are here to publicly thank you
for it.
HHaving been thus Instrumental in
framing party policies, you were called
to direct and wage the battle in this
State for the supremacy of these
policies. Though the legions oppos-
ing these principles had triumphed
two years before; though leaders of
other days deserted the cause of DEM
ocracy and set up idols of their own;
though wealth withheld its lavish
hand; though great corporations
banded together and hurled anathe-
mas against Democracy with ven
geance that hath no parallel in polit-
ical warfare; though Republicanism,
flushed with recent victory, filled
with hope of another, and encourag-
ed by the siren song of those to
whom Democracy had turned a deaf
ear, fought as 1t never fought before
still, under ali these difficulties
amidst all this whirling, changing, be-
wildering activity-you fought the
fight for the plain people, resoIutely,
uncomplainingly and with determi-
nation born of conscious right. You
organized under one banner the 'un-
numbered throng that gave to the
Democratic party a name;' you mar
shaled them as general would mar
shal soldiers; you made the school
house the camping ground, and mus
tered there the army that is to con-
troll the Republic. At your command
the 'railying drum beat of Democ-
racy rolled over field and meadow
and the Spartan Democrats of Mis-
souri, heard its call and answered with
a majority 10000 strong, winning for
pure Jefferson Democracy the great
est victory won in Missouri since the
war. You, the captain general of this
great contest, we, your neighbors,
come to render unto you the things
that are yours.
"But heartier still do We congratu-
late you and respect you for another
reason: You emerged from that
great conflict with your personal
character not sullied, but brighter.
Though in the heat of the fight,
though up to the front of the hattie
where the steel glistened brightest
yet neither friend nor foe has charged
you with any word or deed that i'll
becomes gentleman. If We rely up
on press reports, trickery, bribery,
fraud and all the sins of the decalogue