The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-04-13

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the testimonial of their mere presence,
and hence herein present the sentiments
that they could not in public assembly
Individually convey to you. They desire
to express to you their approval of your
public career and hearty Endorsement Of
the honors that have to their complete
satisfaction been conferred upon you. We
herewith record our admiration and ap-
preciatiop of the various distinguished
! services you have rendered during the
eleven consecutive years of membership
in the House of Assembly and Senate of
New Jersey. We bear testimony to your
clean record in both Houses No stain
mars the magnificent achievements in
delibly impressed upon the history of
legislation of the State, and no one has
ever endeavored to cast blot upon your
public acts or private character. In your
contests with political opponents you
have ever borne yourself with the high
est dignity and untarnished honor, so
that, while exciting the sinere adrnirs-
tion of your political friends, you have
always compelled the profound respect
of those opposed to you in political sem
timent We view the close of your Legis-
lative career with sincere regret, and
while rendering to you our heartiest con-
gratulations upon the recent splendid
appointment which has come to you
as proper and well-deserved recog-
milton of the invaluable services you
have rendered, yet we shall miss you as
our representative in the Senate as our
standing and stalwart advocate in ehap-
ing and determining the laws by which
we are to be governed In closing this
address we desire to say to you that we
by no means regard this as your with
drawal from active political life for it is
inevitable that you are still to be the re-
cipient of still higher honors and to oc-
cupy broader fields of usefulness We
expect your valuable counsel at all times
and such active participation in the af-
fairs of the county as you will undoubt-
edly exercise in the councils of the State"
When the enthusiasm which greeted
him had subsided, Senator Stokes said
after all that has been said about me
tonight you must not be surprised if
appear to lack the quality of modesty
would be less than human if l was not
gratified at this evidence of the appre-
citation and kindly feeling on the part of
my constituents. The fact that I am able
to end my Senatorial career with the
commendation of those whom have tried
to serve renders me happy. The
greatest prize that can come to
public man is the commenda-
ton of his neighbors. 1 have heard the
applause of great crowds, the congratu-
lations of distinguished men and have felt
the warm handgrasps of my colleagues
in the Legislature, but all that cannot
compare with this tribute from my own
people.
No man can lift the veil of the future
or foretell the events of years to come,
but so far as can now see shall always
remain citizen of Cumberland county
and my home shall remain in Millville,
among the people who lifted me out of
obscurity, with those whom l shall al
ways be proud to call my friends
i hate to leave the Senate. There is no
office | know of where there iss greater
opportunity Of doing good work for the
public. Ii could do 80 would continue
to be the Senator from Cumberland. But
there are reasons, personal as well as
public, which make my retirement timely.
There are others who have ambition in
that direction who have stood aside for
to block their way. To paraphrase our
venerable Chief Justice, 1 would rather
retire from the Senate while people Won
der why | do so than to wait until they
wonder why | do not. But 1 do not pro-
pose to rest and resist. shall, of course,
remember that I am no longer Senator.
But l will be still around on occasion
and shall always be pleased to sit in your
councils and will ever be a worker in the
ranks
The audience called for Governor Voor-
hees, who sat behind Mr.. Stokes on the
stage, but the chairman said that the
Governor had consented to be present
only on condition that he should not be
called upon to make a speech.
Colonel Thomas Austin was the prime
mover in the reception and to him and
James E. Mitchell George S. Bacon and
Henry B. Kimble. who formed the com
mittee credit for the success of the affair |
is due.