The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-18
CIlRTIN.


Ills Departure for Russia His Parting speech
Glowing Tribute 60 Peunsylvnnia aud PhiIa-
delphi1.
Minister Curtin, with his suite and family. left
the Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York, yesterday.
morning, at IL o'clock, for the steamer Donau
Before the departure, the Philadelphians who
accompaniedhim paid their respects TO the ladies
of the party. The Minister was escorted to the
Battery by the Councilmen and personal friends
and the party embarked on n revenue cutter
which had been rendered for the occasion by
Surveyor Cornell of New York.
At one o'clock the cutter left the piersand
proceeded to the lower bay. When on the trip
The visitors organized upon the deck, and the
following proceedings took place:-
Hon. Rufus Andrews of New York. said that
this day to him was one of mingled pleasure aud
sadness OF pleasure, because the President
had selected true friend of the country to
represent the United States; and of sadness, on
account of the departure of personal friend.
Mr.. Andrews continued at length in a strain
highly eulogistic of Minister Curtin.
In response TO an address from William B.
Mann, Esq., Minister Curtin said-
SPEECH OF MINISTER CURTIN.
would have been perfectly satisfied with the
commission / bear from my country, without
any such evidence of affection as l receive to-
day at the hands of the people of my State. The
honor of my place would have been compen-
sation, without all that it has pleased the elo-
quent gentleman and my devoted personal friend
to say to me, for any services | may have rem
dered the country; but the evidences of affection
and regard which have received at the hands
of the people of Pennsylvania, of all classes and
of all shades of political opinion, overpower me-
b A life of some experience has satisfied me that
the cold calculations of the head, in the moment
of separation of joy distress, fall far short of
the feelings which flow up direct from the heart
In my experience, in public or private, | have
found that when the head fails to form proper
conclusion, il is safe to rely upon the heart and
leave that to determine what is right and what is
wrong. / could not but feel honored that Pha-
IL Il AI.zN ,,,I1, IA ,l,. a.I Al.
action of its local government to regard me as
of sufficient consequence to tender q public
reception, and that, too, in the classic Hall of
Independence. l could not but feel grateful
from my heart for that magnificent demonstra-
ton in the Academy of Music on the evening of
the same day.
l would be insensible indeed to the dictates of
my better nature If failed to realize and appre-
cate the compliment conveyed by the people of
the great metropolis of Pennsylvania in sending
their delegation here to take me by the hand and
say farewell. My friends, forget that / am the
Minister to Russia, and that | bear great
commission from my Government, and think
that am but man, and your friend. Let all
ambition sink under that great principle of
human nature implanted in the breast by the
great Creator Himself, and which binds man to
man in holy brotherhood. 1t is not the Minis
ter to Russia, it is one of this brotherhood only
that speaks.
And now, as the moment comes upon which
embark to leave my cou9try, my, heart goes
who for long years gave me such confidence
above my merits. And L thank my God that
leave friends who stand by me. Here, on this
vessel, are some of the earliest associates of my
life, who are faithful now as then. OF al the
friends who came when the people chose to
elevate me to office, not one has turned from me
or from them. am obliged to the City Coun-
ellis and to those of opposite political sentiments
who have come to bid me adieu. glory in the
great Keystone State, and go abroad to say with
pride that am an American citizen.
This pride is largely increased, and elevates
both you and myself, when | add that am
native Pennsylvania, and thank the gentlemen
of New York who have thought me of sufficient
consequence to come and bid adieu. fit should
happen that | never return to Pennsylvania my.
conscience acquits me of having ever Intention
ally committed any act TO the injury of the peo-
Pile to whom / bid an affectionate farewell.
Above all, it is the glory of my life, nay consoa-
tion in death, and | thank my Master that the
soldier of the Republic called me his friend
(Applause.)
In response to an address from the COM
mittee of our Councils, which then followed, Mr..
Curtin again, responded in these words:-
What more can | say? You surprise me
with the resolution rendering me the high COM
pliment in Philadelphia; with greater surprise
| found you had resolved to accompany me to
New York. Your courtesy is not simply to me-
but must be regarded as the tribute of Pennsyl-
vania to one of her humble citizens / owe much
to Philadelphia; 1 have had much intercourse
with her people, and know them WELL and take
this action of the City Councils as an evidence
that they know me well. 1t may be year, it
may be two or four, before return to my coun-
try, but L shall not forget the past, and | beg
you to say to the Councils of Philadelphia,
when you return, that am sensible of the COM
pliment, and again give them kind thanks.
1t is true, as has been remarked here, that
go to n friendly people, and it is u strange
anomaly in the history of these two nations that
Russia should have been our fast friend. Here,
we govern ourselves-there is the reign of a
monarchy. Here, we have mixture of power
there the will of the sovereign is law. Yet
these two nations, and people of such opposite
usages and FORMS now and hereafter shall re-
main, If it is in my power to accomplish it., the
warmest of friends. No single act of mine shall
break the tie. And now / bid you all an affec-
tionate farewell. God bless this great country
and her people. May it be His pleasure that the
noble Union shall remain perpetual and that
ere long the trials and vicisstudes of shall
be forgotten; that as our Notifications moulder
all angry passions will moulder with them, and
that upon my return | will find you a happy
people full with the grand principle of frater-
nifty in force-North, South, East, and West
Most of all do desire that war shall never
again invade our peaceful life, but that our pride
and glory shall be the development of our vast
resources and that we shall be respected abroad
law and uphold the dignity of our institutions.
God will prosper our cause and our nation.
Farewell.
THE PARTING.
At the conclusion of the address the entire
company united in singing ''Auld Lang Syne,
and on the arrival at the steamship the minister
and suite were received with salute, and while
standing on the deck were given a series OF
parting cheers. The steamship then proceeded
on her course, and the revenue cutter, with the
Philadelphians on board, returned TO the Battery.