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Keystone Gazette February 24 1899, page 1
GOV. HASTINGS HOME-COMING
As Celebrated in the Court House on Saturday Evening
IT WAS A GREAT RECEPTION
Addresses Delivered by Col. Coburn, Dr. Atherton, Ellis L. Orvis, John Blanchard, W. E. Gray, and Col. J. L. Spangler, to which the Governor Responds in a Broad, Manly, Friendly Address which is Highly Commended.
"Saturday, Feby. 18th, was a great day in Bellefonte, and the occasion of Governor Hastings' home-coming will add another leaf to the laurel wreath of Bellefonte's liberality, breadth of thought, and energy.
That a reception was due to our distinguished townsman was a matter conceded by all, but his ill health upon his arrival home prevented any action being taken until it was thought he was fully well enough to enjoy it himself. This condition, it was thought had arrived the latter part of last week, and his many friends, regardless of party affiliation, at once set to work, and the prumptitude and success which attended their efforts were remarkable and proved that though Bellefonte may not be as flourishing in a business sense as it was of yore, its citizens lack none of their old-time energy and push.
Early in the evening the people began to flock into town from every quarter, the bands began to play and the diamond became one living mass of humanity. The Central R. R. of Pennsylvania and Bellefonte Central ran special trains and many people were brought from State College and intervening stations, while the Central train was crowded at Mill Hall so that none could be taken along its line and hundreds of people were left at every station through Nittany valley for want of transportation. This has been severely criticised by the people residing along the line, but it was one of those things which was unexpected and could not be remedied.
At a little after 8 o'clock the people began to crowd into the court house and soon standing room was at a premium. The arrival of Mrs. Hastings, escorted by a number of her lady friends, was a signal for loud applause, and when the Governor arrived a few minutes later there was such a demonstration as would warm the cockles in the heart of any man.
Col. Coburn called the assemblage to order by one of his characteristic speeches, in which he welcomed Governor Hastings home to the hearts of his people. He spoke of his services, public and private, and assured him that the same good feeling which bade him farewell four years ago when he went to assume the grave responsibilities as Chief Executive of this great Commonwealth, welcomed his return.
He was followed by Ellis L. Orvis, who endorsed the sentiments of the chairman and spoke of the beneficent laws which received the sanction of his executive pen during his incumbency in office, and complimented the vigor with which he wielded the veto axe to the death of vicious legislation - blazing the way of justice and right not only for his successors in this State but for those in every State in the Union. Dr. Atherton followed with a most complimentary address - devoting his remarks principally to the social side of the occasion, and as was proper, declared such a demonstration non-political but as reflecting much credit not only to the individual - honored but to the town itself. Governor Hastings then arose and proceeded to respond. He showed evidence of great physical discomfort. He was still suffering with an attack of the grip, and declared that the Hebernian was right when he said that the time he felt worse when he had the grip was "about three weeks after he was over it." He spoke in a conversational tone and made no attempt at oratory, but his address was so broad, so generous, and so gentle, so full of love and friendship that the fragrance of his words permeated into every heart and met with a warm response. We would like to print it in full but time and space forbid, and we must content ourselves with a few excerpts. He said in substance:
MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS: If I were not somewhat accustomed to public speaking I fear I would be unable even to tell you in plainest - words how much appreciate this welcome to my family and myself upon our home-coming.
I shall never forget the great meeting of my friends and neighbors four years ago on the eve of our departure for the State Capitol. We were sure then that we were followed by the good wishes and kindliest sentiments of the people of Bellefonte and Centre county, without any regard what- ever to parties and polities. That meeting, those expressions of good will and confidence have been ever present with us during my term of office. In every emergency, in the decision of every important question that arose, and in the of my course toward the people of the State, I constantly in mind the hope that when I laid aside the cares of office and returned once more to live again with the people among whom I have spent most life, and who sent me away with so many good wishes and expressions of confidence, that, when I returned, they should at lest be satisfied that the controlling aim and purpose of my official life should be such as not to disappoint them.
The presence of this great concourse of people from all parts of the county assures me that notwithstanding my manifold mistakes and shortcomings, I still have a place in your hearts, and still retain a measure of your confidence.
Bellefonte has been called the "home of Governors," and it is true that the partiality of the people of the State has been more frequently turned to this community in the selection of Chief Executives than any other place in the State. I have been often asked the reason of this. And my answer has invariably been that it is because that the people of Bellefonte and of Centre county, when they find an opportunity for advancement, or for honor for her citizens, they invariably rally to their support and give him, or them, the most loyal and generous measure of assistance. This was true in a marked degree with both Governors Curtin and Beaver.
I shall never forget when I returned with my Chief after the riots of seventy-seven what a warm and generous public greeting you gave him, and I was then filled with the hope and ambition that some day the opportunity might come to me to win a measure of your confidence and esteem. I remember too, the public reception which was accorded me on my return from the disaster in the valley of the Conemaugh and how in 1890 after my return from Harrisburg as a defeated candidate for the office of Governor, you gave me a generous welcome, which very much allayed the sting of disappointment and defeat.
Again in 1893 after spending the summer in Europe and returning home, a mere private citizen, the generosity of your public welcome which was entirely eliminated from polities, was as hearty and kindly as over. When I returned from the convention in 1894, which gave me the unanimous nomination of my party for governor, the public reception which awaited me was almost bewildering in its numbers and warmth of sympathy and the election which followed gave me a vote of confidence unparalleled in the history of the county for a candidate of the Republican party.
This reception to-night, this vast concourse of people, this display of sympathy and good will toward my family and my-self touches use more than all else.
Being now a private citizen, with no further desire for public office or honors ; returned to private life ; possessing no other intention or desire than to live out the remainder of my life among you ; to take my place in the old, accustomed and ordinary walks of life to be as good a citizen as I can ; to be useful as a neighbor to aid where I may ; to be useful to -my friends, and to this end to use every -opportunity as the years go by; to manifest and repay the obligation and debt of gratitude which I owe to you, my neighbors, will satisfy the full measure of my ambition.
I cannot express to you the gratification, and tranquility which I feel in laying aside the cares of public office. There is a marked difference in the innumerable relations of life between the public official and the private citizen. The official acts of the former are and should be the subject of the closest scrutiny, and for his official acts the newspaper press of his own party are disposed to be generous and kindly, while that of the opposition is equally disposed to be critical and fault-finding. This is not so much the case now as in the past, because the whole tone of the newspaper press in the present day, of whatever party, is just as willing to find fault as to praise the wrong or the right of official conduct.
Then, too, in later years, a more generous and less bitter temper is continually growing throughout the country. Coarse vituperation, assault upon personal character, misrepresentation of the truth, and the desire to pull down and destroy find much less favor now then in the past. This is in line with the better, sentiment of American progress. Many men shrink from the opportunities which official station would give them to render the public valuable services from fear of the pain -which unjust criticism would bring to themselves and their families. Happily this disposition on the part of the press and political parties is dying out, and at the same time the higher standards demanded by the people find healthy expression in vigorous and relentless condemnation of official wrong, as well as generous praise for well doing.
The office of Governor, of such an imperial Commonwealth as Pennsylvania, is one of the greatest honors that can come to an American citizen. Her wealth of history, of patriotism, of devotion to what is represented by this flag ; her untold native wealth ; her teaming population, diversified thronghout her myriad towns and cities ; her fields, her farms, and forest-clad mountains ; her mines, her mills and factories ; her schools and her girls and boys; her homes and her hospitality; her churches, her charity and liberality her battlefields, and soldiers' graves; her quick and sturdy response to every demand where this flag was in peril, and her splendid Americanism have made our beloved Commonwealth the first State in the American Union - in all else excepting population.
And now with a heart filled with gratitude for this manifestation of your confidence and good will, and bespeaking for my successor, Governor Stone, that same measure of support and loyalty which say friends have always shown to see, and again thanking you, I bid you good night,
He was followed by John Blanchard, who added lustre to the words already spoken by referring to the appropriateness of the occasion, the manliness of the man whom they had met to honor, and the friendship and helping hand he had always extended to his fellows - the struggling young lawyers of the bar. W. E. Gray, who was a law-pupil under Governor Hastings, spoke of his kindliness as an instructor and readiness to assist the struggling. Col. J. L. Spangler followed with an address full of expressions of appreciation of Governor Hastings as a public and private citizen, a business partner and a friend. The Colonel showed that he loved the subject of his oration and he did it justice.
This concluded the programme for the evening, after which a public reception was held, during which great numbers availed themselves of the opportunity extended to grasp the hand of the Governor and personally welcome him home again."
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