The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1901-07-13
TRIBUTE TO HENRY CLAY.


Kentucky, speaking of Henry
Clay:
To tell the people of all the
orators who have made Kentucky
renowned in song and story, as
the land of soul-stirring, raptur-
Gus eloqusnce, would be like
counting the glittering constella-
tions of the starry armament;
like gathering the myriad shells
laved by the loud resembling
waves of ocean tides. The eli
mate, the soil, the race, has made
nearly every Kentuckian a nat
ural born public speaker, endowed
with the rapturous impulses of
heaven-born oratory. Almost
every hoy, in every country school
house, is endowed by nature with
the gift of eloquence. 1t comes
as natural to him as the eagle to
sweep the skies with his half
plumed wings.
On this occasion we rejoice to
enjoy the distinguished honor to
memorable some of the orators
of Kentucky, whose eloquence,
1.-THE applause of listening senates
to commend. "
1t was the proud Romans boast
to be born in an empire whose
victorious banners foated in
majestic triumph from the gates
of Hercules to the far-off Orient,
where the blushing Venus star,
decked with a gorgeous halo of
crimson light, arises from the
early depths of Omar's green
waters.
With no less patriotic pride we
rejoice to declare that we hail
from the heathery hills around
the Capital of Kentucky, the land
renowned for beautiful women,
fine horses, the land of orators,
the land of heroes. In the hazy
hours of the early morning, when
the crimson rays Of the rising sun
in gorgeous beauty decks the long
line of green hills that begirt the
Capital City of the State, from
our country home afar can be seen
glistening in the bright sunshine
a lofty column of marble dedi-
Gated to Kentucky's heroes, rising
in sublime majesty among the
sun-lit clouds. A few miles away.
across the velvety blue grass pas
lures, almost in sight, there is
another lofty architectural de-
sign erected by the admiring and
loving people of Kentucky to
Henry Clay, the most illustrious
statesman and most eloquent
orator that ever crossed the
threshold of our National Capitol.
Thus breathing this classic atmos-
phere and spending our youth
almost in sight of these grand
Cenotaphs to Kentucky s renowned
dead, our heart was ever full of
admiration for the illustrious
Kentuckians whom to-day, we en-
Joy the distinguished honor to
memorable.
In 1847 we heard Mr.. Clay at
Lexington make his famous speech
on the Mexican War. John G.
Breckenridge. the rising star of
Kentucky, introduced him to the
audience. Turning from that
vast, surging crowd of eager lis
teners TO the young orator with
the grace of Apollo and God-like
grandeur, he said: when a poor
boy, from the slashes of Hanover,
/ came to Lexington, thy distin-
guished father took my hand and
led me through the thorny path
way of life. He was my honored
friend in youth and manhood.
Now, in memory of thy illustrious
father, in gratitude for unpaid
kindness, upon thy broad brow,
beaming with the genius Of thy
race, / place my hand in holy
blessing, May the spotless Toga
of thy noble sire, grace thy young
shoulders. May it be a glory to
thy country, an honor to thy
family. May it be blessing
from thy God"
The Apolio-like form of Mr..
Clay; his majestic gestures, his
articulation from lips divinely
moulded TO coin golden words of