Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-01-25
BROWN AND BLAIR.
what arat. brown said at the Han.
qaet.


st. Louis Republican Reportl
Now gentlemen, in addition, | desire
to say, and to say 10 the citizens of st.
Louis who have rendered this magnifi-
cent banquet, that / have 10 thank them
| in the name Of the General Assembly OF
our State for the courtesy that they have
shown, and to assure them that while
partisan differences may separate thou
and may separate others, that we are all
united tonight in good will and in fell
lowship, and wish success TO the gentle
mar in whose behalf this banquet has
been given. [Cheers. In regard "a
! the gentleman himself, / think il proper
to say that l, for one, have known him
long aud well. i was amongst his earliest
compeers in this State in the light for
| freedom, and ! might almost say in the
language of the poet that We were in
that fight
1.-Two souls with but a single thought,
| Two hearts that beat as one"
| TImmense enthusiasm and cheers. as
We went through that fight together
and brought il to the point OF victory.
When we separated il was on the dividing
line. He took the side Of the vanquished
and of the victorious.
Now. nv friends and fellow-citizens,
merely wish TO say that Il is perfectly
understood that the distinguished gentle
man whom yon have elected 70 one of
the highest Offices in the land--to repre-
sent Missouri in the United States Sem
ate-and myself occupy relatively dis
tinctive positions. He is a member of
the Democratic party, whilel am enrolled
among the Republican party. lCheers.l ]
| desire to say that, whilst the differences
between parties are shading down, and
while some ofmy Republican friends find
il difficult TO determine exactly where
they stand-[applause and laughterl-
intend to 60 up on the high ground on
the other side, and my friend. Mr.. Blair,
will 20 up on the high ground on the side
opposite, where we can view his whole
But apart from that / wish to bear this
testimony, as / have been a colaborer
with the honorable gentleman in many
of his past actions, as / have served
with him in the Legislature and have
been cognizant, to large extent, of his
actions, | wish to bear this distinguished
testimony, that for perfect purity Of char
acter, for perfect courage of character,
he has not an equal in the United States.
During long period of public life that
has tried both of us, he on one side and
| on the other, ! say that his integrity
has stood all the tests, all the political
Vaccinations of political appliances IN
the land. | know that when he goes to
the Senate to represent you there he will
represent you as a faithful man, CON
scientious in his opinions, determined in
his ideas and pure in his character.
Now. so far as mere questions OF diff
ferences are concerned, this is not the
occasion nor the time to enter into
the political controversies that many
separate men. AS | have told you,
have been separated from the honorable
gentleman on political matters. | am
perhaps separate and distinct from him
today on some points and some ques-
tons of political character, but this is
neither here nor there, and | don't wish
to raise them. merely wish to say that
so far as our great State of Missouri
is concerned, so far as our common in
terests apart from politics are concerned,
so matters of Western commerce,
far as those industry and enter
prise are concerned, i do not be-
iieve that in all this broad land, if you
had selected man from the whole scope
Of the Valley of the Mississippi, You
could have selected one who could more
truly, entirely and bravely represent the
West than General Blair. lCheers.I