The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-01-13
THE RURAL ROOSTER.
RESPONSE OF JOHN G. HARMONY
OF THIS CITY
At the Great Banquet In Columbus
Saturday Night-A Bird That is
Destined TO Play a Great Part
iu the Nations Politics.

IN inc Natton's POLITICS.
One of the most elaborate and enthu-
siastic political and social events was the
jackson day banquet at Columbus Satur-
day night. It was splendid affair and
the spirit Of true Democracy pervaded 1t.
MIR, John c. Harmony, of Canton, was
the only speaker selected from Stark
county aud this section of Ohio, and re-
sponded to q toast. At the request of
numerous Democrats and other friends
he has consented to It's publication in
full
1t was 2 o'clock In the morning when
he was called upon, and he suggested,
by way of PREDATORY, that it was about
time for the cock to crow. Mr.. Harmony
said, in response to the toast
THE RURAL ROOSTER"
Mr.. Toastmaster, Gentlemen and Fell
low Roos sters:-When / heard that the
Rural Rooster" was to be toasted on this
occasion, l rejoiced and was exceeding
glad, and in my gladness shouted,
A new order of things has come. In the
future, this faithful though ungainly
bird shall perch higher on the roost in
the councils of the party to which he
has been so loyal, and for which he
has been growing so Justify for many
years, and that, too, without debating
policies or demanding preferment. {"
And said, "Nevermore, nevermore,
shall he be spurned with contempt;
nevermore shall he be looked upon as
either beast or devil" That is why
was glad.
But am told that the Rooster was sad
and hid his head under his wing, be-
cause so poor a specimen Of his tribe
had been selected to extol his virtues
at the celebration of his patron saint.
Gentlemen, l shall enter on no
encomium upon the Rural Rooster. He
needs none. There he is. Behold him
and judge for yourselves. Sinewy,
tough, brawny and elastic; brave, de-
flant, stubborn and honest; magnani-
nous and gentle; wide-mouthed, clear
eyed, clarion voiced, he is the cock of
the dunghill, the monarch of the barn
yard.
Confined within the narrow limits of
his own roost, living aloof from the
sordid occurrences of life he is un-
schooled in the art Of political knavery
and has but little knowledge of the
ways of modern statesmen. Yet, not
entirely ignorant of impending danger,
with the cluck of appeal he calls his
flock about him to warn them of the
approach of thieving hawks, prowling
cats and skulking dogs.
Ths Rural Rooster is the scion of no
urban game who schemes to boss the
crowd with exhibitions Of superiority
or bloody gaffs of st, ell. The noble
offspring of an ancestry who proclaimed
the creed of liberty throughout the
land, he is eternally vigilant in defense
of his rights and he exercises an ever
watchful care over his own. His stur-
diness and independence makes him
the bitter enemy of shams and pretense
and his clarion voice is ever raised
against any foe, in whatever guise, who
seeks the overthrow of our free in
stitutions and the establishment of u
moneyed goldocracy.
A true Democrat in every fiber of his
being he has always defended and al
ways will Defend with all his pristine
v igor, the true principles Of his party.
But when the party forgets its early
training, loses its courage, forsakes the
right, refuses to protect its own, and
discourages the { achings of first princi-
pies, then will he rise in his righteuos
Indignation and say, "Devil, depart
from ME; know you mott
Engaged as he is from dewy morn till
dark of night in scratching gravel to
keep himself and family from starving,
he has but little time for the affairs of
politics. But dishonesty, hypocrisy,
treachery and deceit on the part of
those in whom he reposed confidence,
have forced upon him the necessity of
of state and nation than simply cast
ing a ballot on election day. With him
rests the power to crush out of ex-
istence the evils that rob him and you
from prosperity and happiness. viii he
use that powerY Yes, YES. In the
future you will find him in your county
conventions. You will find him in your
state conventions. He will bs in your
national conventions. He will be there
with the true spirit of patriotism not to
ask for special privileges for himself,
but to demand that simple justice, the
true principle of Democracy, be main
tainPd. Inspired with the spirit of rs, it
was his power that drove the Wall
street gamblers and their hired Hessians
out of the Chicago convention in '96,
and gave us new hope in that intre-
pid leader, William j. Bryan. He was
In your state convention that gave us
that honest and fearless candidate for
governor, Horace l.. Chapman. He will
be in your conventions in '95, in 80
and in 1900, not to boss but to demand
that no backward st p be taken.
Gentlemen, 1t is late and will not
detain you longer. But in closing, as
one of the Rural Roosters, ] appeal to
you; in the name Of true Democracy l
appeal to you, to be vigilant, to be brave
to be active Let US not forget In
action now is crime. The old earth
reels inebriate with guilt, and vice
grown bold laughs innocence to scorn.
The thirst for gold hath mand men
demons, till the heart that feels the
impulse OF impartial love nor kneels in