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feet three or four inches in height, and looked for all the world like a strong, rugged and determined western farmer. He began his address in a manner that at once attracted the attention of all. What he said left a lasting impression upon me and I think upon all who heard him. Knowing as he did the feeling that existed on account of the war, he began by saying in substance the following, "I came here in the interest of education, in the interest of your University at Columbia, Boone County, Missouri, where I at present reside. I am aware of the prejudice that exists among you against the people of Boone County, growing out of the recent war, a war that has so gloriously ended in the preservation of the Union.

"I stand before you this evening, a branchless trunk, without a sprig or green leaf to adorn it. I had a son, upon whom I expected to lean in my old age for support and comfort, but I gave him with all my heart to the service of the country to assist in keeping in the sky the flag of our fathers. He was a gallant boy and rode with Sheridan through the valleys and over the mountains of Virginia until he lost his life while fighting before Richmond. I have a right to speak to you, you his friends and comrades, and I beg your attention while I raise my voice in behalf of liberal education in the State that suffered as much as any other during the war."

These words were electrical and won the fight for the University. The State had up to that time never made an appropriation for the University. Ten thousand dollars opened the way for larger amounts later on.

Today the State University is one of which every

Missourian feels proud and the faithful services of Lathrop, Reed and Rollins in the interest of a better and higher education should be forever gratefully remembered by the people. During my life time the educational developments in the State have been slow but great and wonderful. In 1841, when my father came to Missouri, the State had done but little toward building up the public school system. Today we point with pride to the common schools and to the magnificent school fund that is distributed annually among the counties and cities of the State, to the splendid normal schools at Kirksville, Warrensburg and Cape Girardeau, and to the University at Columbia.

Thus far I have mentioned only the schools fostered by the State. With pride and approval we point also to Washington and St. Louis Universities and other colleges and seminaries of learning that are supported and sustained by church and voluntary contributions. It is hard for the present generation to understand or realize what difficulties the youth encountered seventy-five years ago in order to get an education. The opportunities now are great and no child should be permitted to grow up without attending school. Laws of a compulsory character should be enacted in every State of the Union requiring parents to send their children to school. Heavy penalties should be imposed for failure or neglect to do so. If the parents are illiterate they should not be permitted to fasten that illiteracy upon their offspring for the peace, good order and happiness of the people are dependent upon their education and intelligence. The social features at the State Capital were much

the same during the winters that I was Secretary as those of the winters when I was a member of the House. After the adjournment of the legislature in the spring of 1868, I returned to my home in Louisiana, and took up again the practice of law. In August, at Montgomery City, I was nominated by a republican convention for a seat in the Forty-first Congress.

At the election in Missouri in November, 1868, the democratic candidate for Governor was General Thomas L. Price, a tall finely proportioned man, and the republican candidate was Joseph W. McClurg, a man very short and physically insignificant in

appearance.

Kentuckians are a very proud people and are always boastful of the blooded stock that is raised in the blue grass region of that State, and of the fact that they come from the home of the "Mill-boy" Henry Clay.

McClurg, to the great mortification and chagrin of his opponent was elected Governor of the State.

Price when asked how he felt about the election said, "Very much like the old Kentucky farmer who, in great physical agony, was about to die. While rolling from one side of the bed to the other and calling loudly on his Maker, the family minister came in to the room and said to him, in a soothing tone, 'Don't be afraid, Brother, you will find on the other side a friendly hand that will guide you safely to a place of peaceful rest.'

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""H-1' said the sick man, 'I am not afraid to die, but it is the cause of my death that troubles me. If I had been gored by a fine Kentucky bull or kicked by

a blooded Kentucky horse, I would not mind, but to be butted to death by a dd little billy goat is more than I can stand!'"

Political excitement never ran higher in the State of Missouri than it did in the year 1868. I was a delegate from the Ninth District to the National Republican Convention at Chicago. That convention nominated U. S. Grant for President and Schuyler Colfax of Indiana for Vice-President. The Democratic National Convention nominated Seymour of New York for President, and Frank P. Blair, jun., of Missouri for Vice-President.

The republicans of Missouri nominated Joseph W. McClurg for Governor, and the democrats named Thomas L. Price. Erastus Wells of St. Louis was the democratic candidate for Congress in one of the two St. Louis districts, and C. A. Newcombe was the republican candidate in the other. Both were elected. John F. Benjamin, Samuel S. Burdette, both republicans, were elected from other districts. I was nominated over the Honorable George W. Anderson by the republicans in the Ninth District. William F. Switzler of Boone County was my opponent.

The contest in the State was very bitter, made so particularly by the restrictive and disfranchising provisions of the Constitution. The fact that General Blair was on the National Democratic ticket for VicePresident, made the contest particularly interesting. He had been the leader in Missouri of the Union forces during the Civil War, and probably did more than any other man to hold the State to its moorings in the Union. In 1868 he espoused the cause of the disfranchised rebels in Missouri and waged a fierce

and unflagging war in their behalf. His well known ability and courage gave to the opposition its greatest support and to the republicans their greatest concern.

In the Ninth District, the contest between Colonel Switzler and myself for Congress was hard fought. The disfranchising clauses of the constititution were the chief questions of dispute. I was declared elected by a majority of the qualified voters of the district and a certificate of election was duly issued by the Secretary of State to me. My seat in Congress was contested without avail, by Colonel Switzler, as the House decided in my favor. I entered the Fortyfirst Congress as a member from the Ninth District of Missouri in March 1869, a called session.

Grant was elected President; Colfax made VicePresident of the United States; McClurg was at the same election made Governor of Missouri. I was present on the fourth of March, 1869, in Washington and witnessed the inauguration.

I voted for Honorable James G. Blaine for Speaker of the House for the Forty-first Congress. This position had been held by Colfax. His election as Vice-President took him to the Senate. I doubt if any greater or abler men ever sat in the Lower House of Congress than sat in the Forty-first. James G. Blaine of Maine, James A. Garfield of Ohio, Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania, John A. Bingham of Ohio, Benjamin F. Butler of Massachusetts, John A. Logan of Illinois, Henry L. Dawes of Massachusetts, Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia, William B. Allison of Iowa, Thomas W. Ferry of Michigan, Robert C. Schenck of Ohio, Fernando Wood of New York, Luke Poland of Vermont, Samuel Randall of Pennsyl

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