The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-15
SEWARD.

Seward, at the farewell dinner given him by
Judge Hastings, in response to the toast,
viz.:-''To California's distinguished friend
and guest, Hon. William II. Seward. We
have been enabled to obtain the speech en-
tire, it having been furnished us by Colonel
A. s. Evans, who, at the request of Mr..
Seward, wrote it down while he dictated it.
sEwARD's LAST SPEECH.
Mr.. Hastings, Ladies, Gentlemen, and
Friends During my travels within the
United States, as we'll as my stay at home, it
has been not less discipline than desire to
be silent Nevertheless, / feel that there
are occasions when speech is duty have
thought, until now, that it was impossible
for the citizens of San Francisco and the
people of California and the mountain States
and Territories to increase the obligations
which, by demonstrative friendship and favor,
they cast upon me last year. l have found
myself mistaken; not to search for health,
already lost, but to anticipate and stay, if
possible, decline of health so long merc
fully vouchsafed to me, is one of the objects
of the journey which, sooner than l could
have expected, brings me again within the
folding doors of the Golden Gate. Abstinence
from excitement, study, and popular gather
ipgs and greetings, is one of the conditions
of such travel. My fellow-citizens here and
throughout my whole progress hitherto, have
manifested all their former friendship and
kindness, but with q delicacy and forbearance
free from ostentation and pressure, which
every one can see is the result of an elective
sympathy. How could it be that l should
not desire that they should know how deeply
this kindness affects me? But ladies aud
gentlemen friends, this egotism l must not
indulge further. Continents on the earth are
like planets in the universe. They have their
material atmosphere, their internal fires and
forces, their attractions and repulsions. They
are influenced by attractions and re-
pulsions of other continents, and exert
a corresponding influence upon them.
The operation of all these forces
tends, beyond doubt, to the establishment
and preservation of a moral, political, and
social equilibrium. The operation, however,
while going on, must produce excitement
disturbance, commotion, and convulsion.
Who, now, can wonder that when this Ameri-
can continent Of ours became for the first
time a theatre of enlightened human activity,
with the object of developing its resources
and making it a social power, the native Iu-
dian races who refused to accept the ditci
pline and the blessings of civilization began
everywhere to decline. Who can wonder tn It
the strong sturdy, impetuous settlers, in the
agony produced by realizing sense of the
magnitude of their labor, and their utter
feebleness to effect it without exterior help,
bought and stole the African, and brought
him away from his native freedom to
work the mines and the fields of this
richer and more expansive continent. Who
now can wonder that the down -trodden and
exhausted peasantry and artisans of Western
Europe, as fast as facilities for their mgra-
ton could be obtained have availed them
selves of the asylum this continent has offered
them? Who can wonder now that the over
crowded population of the Asiatic shores have
rushed by thousands upon thousands to share
in the treasure of our mountains and the
greater wealth of our forests, plains, and
prairies? Who does not see in these several
movements that irresistible force which, ac-
cording to their different sentiments con-
cerning overruling power, men call destiny
or providence? Who does not see that these
forces, which we thus call destiny and provi-
dence, are, after ALL human wants, human
aspirations and ambitions, which will work
out their end whether we know it or not, con-
sent to it or not, favor it or not, by one means
or by another? Under other conditions, the
miners of California would have invaded
China and brought its heather people here,
as their forefathers invaded Africa and
brought its heather inhabitants here. Under
these conditions, Il sturdier but equally neces-
sitous people in China might have invaded
defenceless California and appropriated its
wealth and treasure to themselves. Who now
can wonder that all these strange and horrid
events of the past three hundred years have
produced social and political agitations con
fiicts, and civil wars within the American
continent-throughout all Spanish America,
all British America, all French America, and
even within the United States? Who won iers
now at the eccentricities of Puritan zeal, Of
Catholic bigotry, of Protestant Intolerance,
of Native Americanism, of Nothingism
of slavery, of anti-slavery, of emancipa-
tion, and anti-emancipation Who wonders
now at the effects produced upon the
nations of Western Europe by the establish
ment of society on the American continent ?
Who wonders now at the French Revolution
or successive French revolutions, the restora-
tion Of liberty and nationality in Italy and
in Germany, or the active tendency towards
democracy and self-gevernment everywhere
manifested Who wonders now at the vol
untary annexation of Louisiana, Florida,
Texas, Utah, New Mexico, California, and
Alaska? Who wonders at the accomplished
asdirations of Mexico to initiate and improve
on the example of the United States? Who
wonders at the surrender of Alaska by the
Gear of Russia and at the impatience of the
people of ST. Thomas, San Domingo, Cuba
and, indeed, of all the West Indies, to obtain
the protection of the United States Who
thinks it wonderful that the islands of the
Pacific and the nearer shores of Asia
desire and demand peaceful com
merce, free immigration, and material
moral and social connection with the
United States? Who supposes that this
mighty wheel, which so powerfully and so un
ceasingly disturbs and moves and whir
around the population of three continents il
to be all at once arrested and reversed? Lei
our legislators and constitution makers ant
founders and builders of new States think o.
it! For myself, have long ago accepted it