The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-04-22

D. M, the marCn was resunlSuj anu pnoo.
ING in review before the President and
suite, the procession was dismissed, and
q grand raid was made upon the NAM
moth dinner tent. Owing to the lateness
of the hour at which the procession dis
banded the tent was not thrown open to
ticket holders until three o'clock, and
even then 30 dense was the crowd sur
it on all sides that all those en-
titled TO admission did not succeed in ef-
fecting an entrance before four o'clock.
The programme contemplated thirty-tour
regular toasts, but the lateness of the
hour and the very chilly weather me-
cessitated a serious Curtailment. The ta-
BILE assigned to the President and other |
distinguished guests, including members |
of the Cabinet, Generals Banks, Burnside,
and Benham, Governor CASTOR and stat,
and others, to the number of about one |
hundred, were ranged along the side OF
the tent upon a raised dais. Hon. Thomas
Merriman Stetson, President OF the occa.
SION, occupied seat in the center, and
announced IN brief speech the expected
literary banquet. The toasts as given
were "The President of the United
State" responded to by His Excellency.
"The Dead of Lexington" responded to
by General Banks. "The Orator OF the
day. Richard II. Dana, Jr. "The State
OF South Carolina. Never will Massa-
chussetts forget the proud response OF
South Carolina the very night she heard
the war-note from Lexington. Governor
Chamberlain may veto everything he
wishes, but he must not veto our earnest
respect for voice from the Palmetto
State to the Pine" Governor Chamber
lam, who responded, was received with
much applause, as were also his sentl..
ments OF earnest desire for complete and
early restoration of true fraternal feel
ings between the two great Common
wealths. "The Commonwealth of Mass"
Governor CASTOR believed that on the
10Th of April, and on the historic grounds
of Concord and Lexington, Massachu-
sets needed none to speak for her
England and the United States" No
regular response was given to this toast,
but in lieu letter was read from the ex-
Premier of England, Mr.. Gladstone, as
follows:
lONDONy uul AO'O'
GENTLEMEN have the honor to re-
ceive the letter in which you convey to
me a very warm and courteous invitation
to attend the banquet which it is pro-
posed to hold at Lexington, in commem-
oration of the attainment of independ-
ence of the United States of America.
The circumstances of the war which
Welded that result, the principles 1t IL
iuslrates, and the remarkable powers and
characters of the principal men who took
part, whether as soldiers or civilians, IN
the struggle, have always invested it with
peculiar interest in my eyes, quite IN
dependently of the intimate concern OF
this country in the events themselves,
On account of these features that war and
its Accomplishments seemed to me to
constitute one of the most instructive
chapters of odern history, and | have
repeatedly recommended them to young
er men as subjects of especial study,
With these views ! need not say now
far am from regarding the approaching
celebration with Indifference. 1t IS en-
tirely beyond my power to cross the sea,
even with the present admirable com
munications, for the purpose of attend
ance. The present time happens to be
for me, even independently ofmy attend
ance in Parliament, one OF very urgent
occupation, which am not at liberty to
put aside, but | earnestly hope, and can
not doubt, that the celebration will be
worthy of the occasion. In retrospect
| i've view of the eventful period my, coun-
try can now contemplate its incidents
with impartiality. do not think they
should severely blame their ancestors,
whose struggle to maintain the unity OF
the British empire is one that must. l
think, after the late great war of the
North and South, be viewed in America
with some sympathy and indulgence
We can hardly be expected to. rate very
highly the motives Of those otner powers
who threw tEeir weight into the other
scale, and who sensibly contributed to-
ward aCcelerating, if not indeed toward
| determining, the issues of the war. Yet
for one | can most truly say that whatev-
er the motives and however painful the
process, they, while seeking to do an in
| Jury conferred upon us Il great benehC,
by releasing us from efforts the contlnu-
alton of which would have been an un-
mixed evil. AS regards the fathers OF
the American Constitution themselves, L
believe we can and GO now contemplate
their great qualities and achievements
with an admiration as pure as American
citizens themselves, and can rejoice no
less heartily that, in the cOunsels OF Prov
idence they were made the instruments
of purpose most beneficial to the world.
| The circumstances under which the Uni
ted States began their national existence,
and theirunexampled rapidity OF advance
in wealth and population, enterprise and
power, have imposed on their people an
enormous responsibility. They will be
tried, as we shall. at the bar of history,
but on a great scale. They will be com
pared with the men, not only of other
countries, but of other times. They can
not escape from the liabilities and bur
dens which their greatness imposes on
them. No one desires more tervently
than | do that they may be enabled to
realize the highest hopes and anticipa-
tions that belong to their great position
in the family of man.
| | have the honor to be, gentlemen,
your Obliged and faithfulservant
w. +. GLADSTONE.
"The Bench and Bar was responded
to by Chief Justice Gray, of Massachu,
setts "The Colleges and Universities,
responded to by Major General Joshua l..
Chamberlain, Ex-Governor of Maine, and
President of Bowdoin College. "The
commerce of the United States" respond
ed to by Elliott C. Cowden, of New York.
"The North and South" In response to
a complimentary call of the President,
General William G. Bartlett, of Massa-
chusetts, made speech. Referring to
the Southern soldiers he said in conclu-
sion: GAS an American l am as proud OF
the men VINO charged so bravely with
Pickett's Division on our lines at Gettys-
burg, as 1 am of the men who bravely
met and repulsed them there. Men can
not always choose the right cause, but
when, having chosen that which theil
| consrience dictated. they are ready to die