Year: 1874




IN the West. where the candidate, al


log -rollings, cabin buildings or gen


eral musters, mounted the stump OF


tree and let loose his opinions upon


''the public mind" These are phrases


that adorn the stump speeches inva-


riably. 1t is the currency, without


which there can be no expression OF


principles or exchange of opinion.


As general thing the stump speech


is made up of platitudes solemnly ut


tered, and at times enlivened by fun


ny stories and jests. In these last
the crowd delight 1t makes no diff


ference how foreign the story or jest


may be to the subject under eonsid-
Grafton, so there is a laugh there the
assembled sovereigns are delighted.


HON. TOM CoRwIN.


Probably the most effective pOpu-
lar orator in this line was the Hon.
Thomas Corwin. He was man of
genius in that line. The ease with
which he would convulse his audi
ence with laughter or call up its
tears reminds one of Jefferson in
"Rip Van Wrinkle" Nor was it al
together in the power of his voice
and face. although this was remarka-
BILE, but when subjected to the cold
and cruel process of print the origi-
nal thought and genuine feeling re-
mained. His best specimens left
us are in his famous reply to Crary of
Michigan and his great speech upon
the Mexican war.


When word went out that Tom
Corwin was to ''discuss the issues of
the day the excitement throughout
all the adjacent region within reach
was intense. If at Il country house,
from early dawn till the hour of noon
the roads would be thronged with
people on horseback and on foot, in
all sort of vehicles drawn by all sorts
of animals, from cows and bulls to
antiquated hatracks, and the crowd
would be made up of men, women
and children. Gathered under a
grove, if a fair day, and treated to
music of band that was Il cross be
tween the orchestra of circus and
good deal subordina-
ted by a big drum, the audience
would wait impatiently for their IA
vorite, rs | have seen crowded
theatre looking for the appearance of
a popular actor.


When at last the stout, well-rOund
ed form of their favorite appeared
upon the platform, the shouts and
cheers seemed to be without end.
One who has seen his kind face un
der such circumstances can never for
get it. Generally in his first look at
the audience there was whimsical
of familiar recognition,
that, without being a grimace at all,
was wont to set the audience in a roar
1t seemed to say, "Well, my innocent
friends, here we are again, fighting
the Democrats, for our country, and
we must die in cold blood if neces-
sary.' This'is very like the famous
nod of the English governor in the
Critic, and it is absurd to attempt to
say what the look meant. but the
crowd never failed to take it and re-
spOnd in roars to the mere look of
this famous humOrist. The fun and
the pathos, however, walked hand in
hand, and it was a wonder to note
the change from goOd-natured ridi-
cule to efforts that would draw upon
the finer feelings of our nature-Or
to hear the dignified denunciatiOn of
some wrong done our country.


This man was marvel in other
ways. He came up from rough
in early youth, without the
of education or refined
training. to be not only man of rare
attainments, but to be in
a manner one of the most polished
men of the world. He was no less
the delight of the rough crowd than
the favorite of the best social circles
known to our country. Children
loved him, and among women he had
a courtly Difference, and at the same
time an interest that was exceeding
Iy winning. l never knew so many
a-sided man and so perfect in all his
sides.


A man self-taught into intellectual
power is not an uncommon spectacle,
but one not familiar with the refined
influences of cultivated society in
early youth, who is polished and
easy in his manner, is so rare that
such appears almost miracle. Of
this sort was Thomas COrwin. From
a book called Cincinnati Past and
l quote from page 200 the

& "Said the late Thomas COrwin,
speaking of one of the pioneers In
The volume, / remember him well as
1ne of those heroes of private life
,he world so often fails not only to
reward, but even to recognize.
have the best reasons for such re-
nembrance, for. 1 was one of his
wagoners, employed to carry provi-
,ions to the half-starved army of
Harrison. was in the market space
'Cincinnati) early one morning, !
making preparations to return home
with my wagon, when slender,
sook -nosed, bright-eyed man came
MP, and walking round my wagon
and team, looked knowingly at both
md then hard at me. had about
made up my mind to knock him
down, because of his blue coat and
brass buttons and general get-up, |
when he asked me if l wanted a job,
and if l could engage eight or ten
other wagons to go under my com
mand to the river Rsisin. OF course
consented; he won me at once by
the suggestion of command. In
two hours Ihad all ready and the
next day we we're off,


The expedition thus suddenly
and executed was of the |