New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-24
. FOREPATHERS' DAY.
DINNER OF THE NEw-ENGIAND SOCIETY
SPEECHES BY ELLIOT C. CowDrN, THE REV
HENRY WARD BEEcHER, GEN. w. I. siIER-
% MAN, wM. c.. BRYANT SENATOR HfNhi

besore the members OF the Ne England Society and
their guests never meried handsomer mehiiop than
their annu dinner and reception AT Demonjce's last
evening for White its substantial elements were ar
ranged in the usual enticng style and abundance, Che
literary portion OF the entertainment was never more
felcously selected and the list OF guests never com
| prsed more distinguished men, 81. . .Ia'
The table Of honor raised trfe above The many
presided over by President Elliot C. COwdn, at whose
right aud left were seated the Hon. Henry Wilson, Vice
Presidentelect; Gen. W. 7. sherman, the Rev Henry
Ward Beechor, the Hon. william ". Eyarts William
Cullen Bryaat Gov. Jewell, Gen. Hawey, Judge John
T. Brady representing st. Patrick's Society; A. Nc
Douough, representing ST. Nioholass; John q. Dale.
representing St. Georges James Moir represcntngst
Andrews Gov. Morgan, Isaac II. Bailey, Charles A.
Peabody, Henry Clews, and the Rev. DR.. Taylor.
Selections OF music from the operas interlined with
pleasant effect the wit aud eloquent orstcry and The
oasis comprised the popular illusions 70 patriotic men
and deeds which aroused the enthusiasm Of tho listeners
or compelled revcrent hush OF tho mention q the
honorable dead The responses began after shoIt
duplication by the Row Dr. Taylor, when President
cowdn responded the first toast Of the evening The
Day VIC Celebrate" His speech was quite long and ex-
tracts only are presented below:
'-a SPEECH OF Elliot c. COwDN.
GENTLEMEN OF TIE NEw-ESGLASD SOCIETY: We have
together again 10 celebrate event dear not
only to tho OF NewEngand but TO friends OF civil
and gous liberty all over the world. And am sure
you viii gladly join In bidding cordial welcome to
tho distinguished guests who honor us With their
presence and unto with IN this joyous anniversary
Nv duty however Is to remind you that within the past
year. death has not spared our beloved NewEngahders
aud our own society. In the rpeness OF his years ana
the hight of his fame, Morse, OF Massachusetts,
has passed away native 81 the same commonwealth
the lustrious Franklin drew the lightning from tho
heavens; he whom we honor and lament schooie' ~
taught it every living language. and Mt the touch OF ma
finger annullng time end space, brought Into Instant
communication with each other tho utterinost ends OF
the earth. We miss from ranks tonight 10 Grand
Lockwood, Dr. j. H. Foster, j. Woodward Haven, josiah
| Lane John T. Kensett They too have passed away
hui their large intelligence, their exemplary character
and Christian virtues we hold IN tond
have yet witherod on the grave OF one OF neHEh
glands nobest sons incurred by the entire nsCs o o.
1 name alone Is epitaph ana euloSy. -, A.. o,,..
II Is nov my dGty 20 20 az snSTfne reminder
of frugal living and high thinking OF heroisin IN CON
mon life OF faith realized OF rarest courage ana "a
stubborn sense that has conquered anu enn"D'u W."
! tinent -, A., A.. ,,oo,,
of orr race Is familiar to you all its details. IL -
ErGed throughout the Unon known to the most distant
been knded for tho Pilgrim Fathers in the brief Const
tuition they framed and adopted in the CABIN OF the May
| picable not alone to the needs OF t1er , osn
GSmPS1 eaS 70 suded WITH the open Bible IN their
hands They conquered the wilderness, ,he sasase5'
rbv estabshed flee schools in order that every child
IN The land should learn his duties and his rghfs and
t v6Se gSN the @ane Of the law The Pilgrims
lcios missonares They faitered IN their lait.
co3pIisting the work OF Providence. Servants more
faihful never served cause more hoy. Inc boe, as
they themselves understood H. was their guide regard
! less OF Parliament, hierarchy or King. II they iai
faults and intoenn consider the ngJ IN WHICH
| they lved and the lessons they nad Deen taugu'.
Al tno ruuclusi0u President Cowdin's speech, he
called upon the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher to respond to
the toast of the President Of the United States" Mr.
| Beecher said, in the course Of his response;
SPEECH OF TIE REV. II. W. BEEcHER.
III were to take example from the theme on which
anu to speak my speech would be short 10 IL GER
tanly tack tough enough to speak OF the President OF
the United States. Abstractly Is not difficult but TO
speak of the concrete Just after election when tho
whole country has been discussing aughterl him with
compliments Of both kinds tlaughter aud to speak OF
him IN the presence OF many who rhaps voted for him.
and whom may seem hdter aud in the presence OF
some who In the discharge OF conscientious duty did not
vote for lin to whom may seem therefore as intro
| ducing politics upon festive and social occasion
| To do this Is no easy task. don't know that tao
| American admiration OF magistracy is very great.
Iaughter1 think we have grcat admiration for law
in general and think that all believe in constitu-
lions and 10 the glorious Republeand in all that sort
Of thing aughterl but my impression is that the organ
OF yeneratlon Il we were to be Internationally exam
ined would be found nationally deficient iLauRh9rf
! And we don't look up to any magistrate to God
eyerently) not much to him and when, therefore the
theme IS President the United States we are not In
| the situation in which European nation would be.
| Toasts 20 King or Queen there would bring out IN
bounded enthusiasm there national associations
entwned with peoples Imagination, and their love OF
country and thousand historic elemens w9eh beget
ia them sense OF beauty and dignity ard power IN
chief gisrate, and these entirely deficient M
for our ustrious magistrate is only four old, and
| can only be four years older. -
He takes hold OF nothing back OF him but dirty cleo
tion nothing IN front Of him but rcuracy upon an
| Incompetent livelihood.
office aud has large ineomei Laughterl think that
meaning it 10 be part OF the speech) OF eur chief
magistrates and rulers Is scandalously meaD Applause
| We have no Premier Our President stands as Dsraeii
or any other Prime Minister stands he has H. take ho
whole of criticism; and call your historic memory
10 take notice that have yet had President In
this nation that good for anything during his four
| OF eight years OF Office (Laugherl you 60 back TO
the early newspapers aud discussions, you VIII md that
Washington was VIGOROUSLY incom petent President.
Thousands and tens OF thousands bitterly nveighed
against him. and his Presidential life was Tar from being
ahsppy one.
John Adams was certainly not very popular Presi.
dent. He sat but once. and the political literature OF
place. considered by half the people OF this land
| tendencies aud everything about him was inycghed
against with the utmost lberty-9o lleense-9f the
| Quincy Adams. We are living IN moderate aud tenn
perate times compared with then, for they were alter
| or course, everybody liked Jackson. lLaughtcrl
| There were no opponents to him. He was preeemi-
OF his oins political Van Buren, aushterl and he
was universally popular, was he notI lLaughter Then
need not recall to your minds the sweet times VI that
| four years And then Polk VINO Is James X. Pokf
Laughter Was there ever an Administration Laid open
Then Taylor aud Mr.. Fillmore, and Gen. Taylor
seeing VIVA. there before him retreated Laugh
! teri He knew there was no justice on earth Theu
came Mr.. Pierce. Az an old farmer In New Hampshire
spread him out all over the United States and he would
| spread thlu." lGreat laughterJ