Speeches of Benjamin Harrison, Twenty-third President of the United StatesHarrison, Benjamin
History
Speeches of Benjamin Harrison, Twenty-third President of the United States
Harrison, Benjamin
Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901; Speeches, addresses, etc., American; United States -- Politics and government
At Cincinnati, Tuesday morning, the party was joined by Archibald Eaton,
the President's nephew; Col. W. B. Shattuc, Col. John C. New, and a
committee of escort from Lawrenceburg, comprising Gen. Thomas J. Lucas,
Archibald Shaw, John O. Cravens, John K. Thompson, and Valentine J.
Koehler. Near North Bend, Ohio, the old Harrison homestead was reached,
and the train came to a stop just abreast the house in which Benjamin
Harrison was born, and but a few yards from the white shaft that marks
the tomb of his illustrious ancestor, President William Henry Harrison.
The occasion was not for words, and as the President passed to the rear
platform he was unaccompanied by the rest of the party, who left him to
the memories that the scenes of his childhood and youth called forth.
Arrived at Lawrenceburg the President was visibly affected at meeting
many old friends and neighbors of years ago. Among the leading citizens
who welcomed him were: John Isherwood, Z. Heustes, Peter Braun, Dr. J.
D. Gatch, Frank R. Dorman, D. W. C. Fitch, J. H. Burkham, W. H. Rucker,
Wm. Probasco, Louis Adler, H. G. Kidd, John S. Dorman, John B. Garnier,
A. D. Cook, Chas. Decker, John F. Cook, Dr. T. C. Craig, C. J. B. Ragin,
J. E. Larimer, D. E. Sparks, and Capt. John Shaw; also, M. C. Garber, of
Madison, Robert Cain, of Brookville, and Alfred Shaw, of Vevay, Ind.
The President addressed the large assembly in a voice heavy with
emotion. He said:
_My Friends_--I want to thank you very cordially for this greeting.
All the scenes about here are very familiar to me. This town of
Lawrenceburg is the first village of my childish recollections,
and as I approached it this morning, past the earliest home of my
recollections, the home in which my childhood and early manhood were
spent, memories crowded in upon me that were very full of interest,
very full of pleasure, and yet full of sadness. They bring back to me
those who once made the old home very dear, the most precious spot
on earth. I have passed with bowed head the place where they rest.
We are here in our generation, with the work of those who have gone
before upon us. Let us see, each of us, that in the family, in the
neighborhood, and in the State, we do at least with equal courage,
and grace, and kindness, the work which was so bravely, kindly, and
graciously done by those who filled our places fifty years ago. Now,
for I must hurry on, to these old friends, and to these new friends
who have come in since Lawrenceburg was familiar to me, I extend again
my hearty thanks for this welcome, and beg, in parting, to introduce
the only member of my Cabinet who accompanies me, General Tracy,
Secretary of the Navy.
NORTH VERNON, INDIANA, OCTOBER 7.
At North Vernon, Jennings County, many old acquaintances greeted the
President, among them J. C. Cope, John Fable, P. C. McGannon, and
others. Acknowledging the repeated cheers of the assembly, the President
said:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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