The Portland daily press., 1872-12-07
Testimonial to Minister Washburne.

The extended dispatches relative to the fun
eral of Mr.. Greeley precluded an extended no.
tice of the magnificent reception given to Min
lister Washburne Wednesday night The Union
League Theatre was tastefully decorated with
flowers and evergreens, and the walls were
hung with floral decorations bearing the words,
"Washburne, our heroic Minister Crank
lin, Dix and Washburne. "Our successful
mediator" Sc. President Grant and suite
were to have been in attendance, but as
mark of respect to the memory of Mr.. Horace
Greeley they absented themselves. Among
the distinguished gentlemen present were VIM.
NJ. Evarts Gen. Mcdowell and Staff, Gen.
Shaler and staff Gov. Jewell and staff, Gen.
Arthur, Jackson s. Shultz, Henry Clews, Geo.
Jones, Parke Goodwin, Moses Taylor, w. E.
Dodge, Sinclair TouceyJ. Edwards Pierrepont
Isaac Fl. Bailey, j. M. Bundy. A. B. Cornell.
E, G. Cowdn, and many other distinguished
gentlemen from all parts of the country. Hon.
VIM. NJ Evarts made the Introductory speech
which was one of his happiest efforts.
On being presented, Minister Washburne
was received with hearty applause, after which
he addressed the meeting at length We are
only able to present the following abstract:
/ should be unnindful of what is due to this
presence, did not hasten to tender to all the
gentlemen present my profound and grateful
acknowledgements for this kind and cordial re-
ception. And to you, Mr.. President are my
sincerest thanks due for your but too kind and
complimentary introduction. As it has been so
often observed, no reward can be more grateful
to public servant than the appreciation of those
whom he has endeavored faithfully to serve
and when such approval is manifested, as it is
here tO-n NIGHT nv those DISTINGUISHED in oil
the walks of life, and who are so fully author
lied to speak, my appreciation of the compli-
ment is heightened and my obligation for the
distinguished honor is enhanced. 1t would
however, be an asumpten for me TO consider
this demonstration as matter merely personal
TO myself, but must regard it rather as
kindly endorsement OF my action while repre-
sentng our country near the French Govern
ment, IN a somewhat extraordinary period in
the history OF the world. fear, however, Mr..
President, that in your great kindness YOU have
been led to far Overestimate the credit am en-
titled to- have no right to claim anything
further than having honestly endeavored to dis
charge my somewhat delicate and RESPONSIBLE
duties, to guard the neutrality, uphold the in
terest the honor, and the dignity of my country
1t so happened that my period of service fell
upon eventful times. During that period. the
world has witnessed some of the most extra
ordinary events of the country. Scenes and in
cidents have been crowded together in such
rapid succession as to almost make the world
stand aghast. The breaking out of the Franco
German war, the rage, din, and the excitement
of the conflict, the crash of the French Empire
and the establishment of the French Republic,
the siege and the Commune of Paris, have
challenged the profoundest interests of man.
kind, The position that was some part of the
time called upon to occupy, was novel one,
and almost without precedent At the time
OF the unlooked-for declaration of war, there
were large numbers of Americans in Paris and
in France, with large interests at stake. There
were also some forty thousand Germans in
France, the most of them settled in Paris, where
they had made their homes for years, md where
centered all their int rests
The breaking out of the war suddenly rup-
tured the diplomatic relations between the two
countries, and it then became necessary, in re-
spect of these interests as well as in the inter-
est of humanity. that the Germans in France
should have other protection for their persons
and their affairs. And it was then that the
government of the North German Confedera-
ton, and the governments of Darmstadt Sax
ony, and the SAKE Coburg Gotha, applied to the