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| Etc. -- J. Lorne Campbell |
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An unedited transcription of a page 4 article from the 20 Apr 1893 Norfolk Reformer. Presentation
to Ex-Mayor Campbell We doubt if it would be possible to name any citizen whose departure would call for more hearty expressions of deep regret than has Mr. J. Lorne Campbell's removal to Toronto, which took place on Monday last. We are positive he takes with him the good wishes of every resident of Simcoe and for that matter of Norfolk County as well. He served the town with ability in every position to which [he] was called. He was progressive, liberal and prodigal of his talents on behalf of the town. It was no more than proper therefore that his fellow citizens should not allow him to go away from their midst without some mark of appreciation of his services. On Thursday evening a meeting was held in the Council Chamber with this object in view. A large number of representative citizens were in attendance. Mayor McCall was the chair and called upon His Honor Judge Robb, who had been deputed to be the spokesman of the committee in charge. He spoke as follows. Mr. Campbell, you have been asked to come here, and we have assembled to meet you, in order that some expression might be given to the universal feeling of regret that is entertained, with reference to your approaching departure. We all feel that when you and Mrs. Campbell have gone away a blank will be left that cannot be filled; and I whish on behalf of those who are present to tell you how very deeply and sincerely we all lament that you are leaving Simcoe. I also desire to convey to you the very best wishes for your complete success in the calling in which you are about to embark. Knowing, as we do, your business ability, experience and tact we regard you are fully equipped for taking a prominent and in time a foremost place in the business you have chosen. We also hope that Mrs. Campbell and you may derive much happiness from the larger and broader social life of the city, which you are so well fitted to adorn. [It] was not however only to express own regrets at your department and our good wishes for your future that we come together. We as citizens feel that we owe you a great debt. One that we cannot repay but that none the less we desire to acknowledge. In this democratic community there is no office in the gift of the people for which candidates are not plentiful. There are always people who are willing to serve their country, their Province and their town. The candidate, like the poor, we have always with us. Notwithstanding this it frequently happens that the electors have only a choice of evils and elect a man with not a single qualification to fit him for the position to which he aspires and whose ignorance of his own incapacity makes it impossible for him to acquire even an elementary knowledge of his duties. A very different result may however be confidently looked for when, to use an American phrase, "The office seeks the man." When a man of affairs is sought out by his fellow citizens and asked to act for them in the conduct of their public business and he, content "to scorn delights and live laborous [sic] days" for the public weal, brings to the discharge of his duties the same prudent forethought, the same close attention and the same unremitting toil that are deemed to be essential in order to secure success in any private undertaking. When such a man has been found and installed into a public office, I hold that the people who benefit by his services owe him a great debt of gratitude and that is the debt to which I have referred that we as citizens of Simcoe owe to you. The manner in which you discharged the duties of Reeve and Mayor is fresh in the minds of us all. The very fact that you are going away and that we are cut off from the hope that at some future day you might again be induced to assume the burdens of the Chief Magistracy, has no doubt served to quicken our sense of the value of which we have lost. I might, if it were not in your presence, say much more upon this theme but I will only now on behalf of those present, and some who are unavoidably absent ask your acceptance of his testimonial as a slight taken that your labors for the public good have been appreciated by us and I hope that it may serve to remind you in your new home of the friends you left behind you in Simcoe and that they were not insensible to the services you rendered to your native town as Mayor and citizen. The testimonial which the Judge uncovered as he concluded his address consisted of a very beautiful Jardiners set of three pieces. It is massive in appearance, of artistic design, made of plat[is]ized silver and bore a suitable inscription. It is now on exhibition in the window of Hayes & Co. and has been greatly admired. Mr. Campbell at the conclusion of the Judge's remarks was visibly affected, emotion chocked his utterance and for a few moments he was unable to express the appreciation he felt for the generous recognition of his past services to the town. However he quickly regained his self control and made a most appropriate and feeling response. After
short and pertinent addresses from E.
Cowdrey, Esq., |
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