The Portland daily press., 1873-03-15
Virtue INDICATED.

cnSJ "' H"oeoi, mass, on thursday evening
30 affecting an occasion was it that even the
staid old Boston Advertiser goes into report
orial Mysteries over it and makes an accoun
which reads like the history of the triumpha
ing victorious from an hundred well fought
battles, laden with trophies for the honor and
adornment of the seven-hilled Queen of ma
tions and received by the admiring plaudits Of
his fellow citizens, proud and happy to ack-
nowledge him chief
Nature seemed TO sympathize, according to
the Aduertiser, with this modern triumph.
"The night was as beautiful an evening in
spring as could have been hoped for. The
full moon shone brightly, ,uaobsenrNd by even
film of cloud. and the atmosphere, though
n soJfand spring like, was not chilly or uncom-
fortatle." A banquet was spread and the
tables were crowded with brave men and fair
ladies. A grace was said without reference
to the OCCASION" recalling to mind those dis
Greet 'tprayers which have no political signif-
cance." The assembled host then actively
fell 10 and ''put things whsre they would do
the most good" ,, ..7. .--... --.... ..-.-
After the hearts of all were warmed by
food and wine and everything seemed serene,
the verbal jubilation began. DR.. Cogswell,
the Chairman, arose and addressed the hon
ored guest as follows:
Hon Oakes Anaes-Your friends and neigh
bors, feeling that some mark of respect and es-
TEEN is due to you from them, have gotten up
this complimentary reception in honor to
yourself, thereby affording themselves the
qualification of meeting you socially, of extend
ing you feel that "be it ever so humble, there
is no place like home" [Applause.] We meet
you as friends and neighbors, irrespective of
party, that we may show to you that during
your long term of service in the United States
Congress from this district, we have had the most
perfect confidence in your honor and integrity;
that we have always been proud to claim you
as FREUD and fellow townsman. feel con-
every true friend of Mr. Ames here tonight,
when l say, that whilst others have sought
to cast a stigma upon your fair name
and reputation, we havo always looked
upon you as that. "noblest work
of God-an honest man." Loud applause
But see before me here tonight many Of
your friends who are far better able than N.Y.
self to sound Your praise and worth. SO will
close with the following sentiments 1.-The Hon.
Oakes Ames-Like gold from the crucible, he
out brighter and purer" [Applause]
Then the hero of the little memorandum
book arose and was "received with enthusi-
astic cheers" he pulled from his pocket
sheet of manuscript and read:
My Friends and Neighbors.-I should be less
than human not to be gratified and happy
at this great gathering of my constituents to
show their confidence and faith in my honor,
truth and integrity. am not in the habit of
speech-making as y.u wen know. have, as
you are aware, been the principal subject of
abuse for the last six months. The press of the
country has been full cf what is called the
if offence it can be called-is in selling
sixteen thousand dollars of stock to
eleven members of Congress at the
same price I paid for it, and at
And if the parties purchasing the stock had
simply told the truth and said they had right
to purchase it, that would have been the end
of it But from the fact of their denial the
public suspected that there might be some-
thing criminal in the transaction, and to ind
out what the crime was Congress appointed
committee to inquire if Oakes Ames had
bribed any member of Congress. The result
was the appointment of the notorious Poland
committee. That committee was engaged
nearly three months, and the result of all its
labors was to badly damage the character of
some men high in Office, for truth and veracity.
But the object of the committee, to see if Oakes
Ames had bribed any members, was admitted
not proven. But that committee made the
wonderful discovery that I was guilty of
selling stock for less than it was worth, but the
parties taking the stock and keeping it were
very innocent, and that had the ex raordi-
nary ability to give men a bribe without their
knowing it and to do they did not know what
There were more enthusiastic cheers and
the band played "Home, Sweet Home"
Then speech after speech followed, each ora
tor striving to outdo all others in fulsome
laudation of their "honored guest" and in
depreciation of the very culpable conduct of
those fiends in human form who had ruth
lessly assailed this good man. They had
apoem too, an excessively high-toned affair,
from which we cannot forbear to quote one
stanza: 7I7,r-7ssz- 5-..r .r.- r., --..i....
Then let the homo ed name of Ames
To old and young these maxims bring
Heed well your coudtry's lawful claims, M
And to the truth unswerving cling; --
And best of all for peace and health, lz
Is his-now clearly understood
"whate'er you have Of this worlds wealth.
just JUST PLACE IT WHERE TWILL DO MOST GOOD"
This feast of love ceased at about eleven
o'clock and old "Credit Mo-bil-ay' went to
his humble home filed with the cslm happi-
ness engendered by the possession of pure
heart, an upright life and clean conscience
--he knew he had all these because he had
been told so several times during the even
ing. 4...-.. s..-....rt l..-..---,
When the cruel and vindictive Poland who
reported harsh things of this exemplar of all
the christian virtues, shall learn flom these
speeches how virtuous and even saintlike
person he was prosecuting, with what keen
ness and sharpness of stroke will his con-
science smite. Poor Poland! who returns to
his Vermont home unhoralded and unsung,
for whom no tables groan, no corks pop. no
cheers arise, no bands play, no speeches are
made, and no poems( p are recited All Of
which goes to show how much better it is to
plunder The nation of millions of dollars, to
debauch fellow congressman under pretence
of affording good investments, to "pace
things where they will do the mos. god"
and to receive imposing ovations and lauda-
tory addresses, than to unea: tn such practices,
to pass fit condemnation upon them and to
return home without libations Of wine or
prandial petting and caresses. i'@iL
Seriously, these Massachusetts, persons who
indulgedt themselves in such flow of bathos
must feel very silly about it when, removed
from the glare of the gas, the sparkle of the
champagne and the magnetic sympathy Of the
crowd, they read in cold blood what they have
been saying. At all events they ought to be
heartily ashamed OF themselves for their ac-
ton which is practically an attempt to con-
found all moral distinctions, and should be
sternly reprobated. 1t is much as if Benz.
F. Buffers neighbors should assemble them
selves together for congratulatory jubilation
over his '.heroic conduct in connection
with the salary back gay steal.
HE Tree school system in New Brunswick
continues to excite the determined opposition
OF the leading Catholics who claim that some-
thing over one-thiri of the population of the
Province are hostile to the measure. The
Catholic press of the upper provinces Is verv