The New York herald., 1875-12-23
FOREFATHERs' DAY.

CENTRAL sHERMAN's SPEECH.
The ainnerof the New England Society spread al
Delmoncos last night before about 800 guests Among
them we're the President of The United States and Gen
eral william r sherman. Preparatory 70 the dinner
presiaont Grant held a levee In the front par
lor on the second floor and the mem
bers aud the distinguished invited guests were
presented "a His Excellency by Commissioner Bailey
the President Or the society The introduction being
over the party repaired 70 the dining hall where a
sumptuous repast spread-one 10 strange contrast
as many Of the speakers observed, with the frugal
meals of tie pilgrim fathers
THE GUESTS
Among the distinguished guests President T. ).
Grant General William r sherman, Ex-Governor +. D.
Morgan, Cyrus W. Field Yoshda Kionari the Japanese
Minister: Hon. William 7. Davis President OF the Ply
mouth Rock Society; George W. Warren, President Of
The Bunker Hill Association; John K Hackett,
Res J. Ludlow, Professor Hitchcock, General
T. C. Cowdin, W. T Bartlett, Pi,tshed,
Mass General Horace Porter, A. D. White,
Hon Joseph Howley, Dennis Mcmahon. Chauncy NJ.
Depew Colonel Borden President elect OF the society,"
Stewart l. woodford, David Dows District Attorney
Phelps Collector Arthur Thomas Murphy, William
Darling, Rev Or. Bellows Mr.. Griswood Smith NJ
Weed Colonel Gildcrseeye and many others
DINNER
The guests being seated the President raped 10 or
with the gave and announced lhat the proceedings
would be inaugurated with prayer oy the Rev. Dr.
Ludlow The Doctor invoked divine blessing
the country her industries her magistrates and her
institutions and grace over In due season
the courses followed in regular succession until the
cigar and coffee epoch was hand Here the Presi-
dent rose and after short address, announced the
first regular toast OF the evening" 1.-The Day We Cele
brate"
Bearing their birihrishts proudly On their backs
Y MAKE ha.ara s. q new II io5sGns mere
Than now the knglish bottoms have alt
-Kf0 John. at g. scene l.
The sentiment sesponded TO by Mr.. Joseph H.
Choate
MR. cHoATE's RESPONSE.
Mr. Choate said he was aware OF how il came to
pass that be was called upon answer the first
leading toast OF the evening, unless the honor
offered him for the faithful in which, for
twenty years. he bad listened to the responses
the sentiment which he called upon to
enlarge He dwelt upon the careful manner in
which, during those long years, he had
patrotically contemplated New England dinners as
prepared by ste,son and Delmonico He declared that
mans education complete until he had partaken
OF frugal New England dinner thus prepared. Even
The august President OF the United States knew this
fact and though he was famous in war and the Chief
Magistrate Of 40, 600 900 OF ireemen, he might learn
something Of the former IRON the descendants Of Miles
Siandish and little Of the peaceful arts from Winthrop
and Bradford.
He was greved that the President should end in the
assembly Of which he was the honored guest much
opposition 10 his ftvore views recently and elo
qrently expounded. This last remark created wild
merrlment, and President Grant looked up at Mr.
Choate in inquiring way II only
aJoke however, as Mr. Choae by subtle after dinner
sophstry proved that all the gentlemen present
veritable nhaton.sts whose barren plates bore test
mony 10 the truth Of the assertion
Wishing 10 return to the serious consideration OF the
toast and the memories Of Plymouth Rock, Mr. Choate
ln exrtra knAf sHn
nations had their rocks The Romans had their
Tarpelan Rock, the English their 6ibra-
tar Rock, the Yankees their Plymouth Rock
and Ireland (who always must have something)
has her shamrock. AT this stage Of his remarks Mr..
Choate suddenly remembered that Hugh Mller's study
OF rocks SAID 10 have been the OF his death
Lest his choates study should have fatal consequences
among the members he would say no more, save
tootbsome morsel which he would present in the form
nterrogative toast was there not now and then
a little sham about the Rock Of Pymouths"
PRESIDENT.
The next toast announced was The President Of the
United states; speak plainly and the pur-
pose, like an honest man and a soldiern
NOTHING.
Contrary 10 anticipation the President did speak,
and Mr. Burley said :-"He the golden Ian
Faage Of silence, and s consistent With his record
in.deeds not words. ,"
.rHE STATE or NEW YORK"
Mr. Bailey said II expected that Governor Tlden
would respond 10 this toast but, the canals being
frozen, il was fair to suppose that he could not come
'rHE CITY or xEw YORK"
Mayor Wickhan, according 20 Mr. Bailey, was study
ing The sentiment accompanying the toast know you
that blamed for Il alike with us Of TINS taxation"
and consequently could not disturb his medtations by
good dinner
THE GrEsrs
The next regular sour Guests. - Hon.
William r. DAVIS President Of the Pilgrim Society OF
plymouth, Mass, responded and after thanking the
Chair for the compliment the society which he rep
resented, The course Of a most graceful speech
landaton Of the founders Of American liberty, said
Like some secluded mountain spring, which finds Its
way by devious from rock 10 rock through
gorge and glen, and over sandy plain, now with boast
fui leaps, and now through unseen channels running
its destined race ever deepening and widening as II
runs until at last overcoming every barrier. II sweeps
on "a majestic river into the open sea;
compact Of the Mayfower through the hardened
crusts Of empires and dynasties became living
stream pouring its inyigoratng flow INTO the hearts Of
generation after generation until IT. so permeaicd
the civil governments OF the colonies that
neither kings councils could check ITS
career and ii flowed on with an irresistible
tide into the great ocean Of national freedom trust
that may not be wanting in reverence Tor those noble
men who, during protrscted and bloody war, saer
hced HE and estate in resisting the aggressons Of des
potic power, when claim that tue revolution
would seek its true nativity like the
porer OF the Nile who searches for its origin
and source far beyond the lake which supplies its
waters n the remotest recesses Of an almost nacccss
bic wilderness. must look beyond the or the
Revolutionary period back the lessons deeds Of
fathers, Of whicn they the legitimate develop
ment and growth. The Revolution not the
fancy but the manhood Of the Republic aud the
riaton formed for self-goyernment IN the cabin
oi the MayhOwer necessarily involved the Declaration
OF Independence a. the brth OF the child followed by
his freedom from parental restraint when he has
reached tho mature years of Like the life.givng
stream which, starting from the root, flows on
through the unseen channels OF trunk and branch
never beraying its existence unless brought 10 the
surface by blow or bruse until reaches perects
ne flower and fruit OF the ful, crown tree
The sentrpent OF freedom sprngng from that compact
pursued It's inevitable course through the mysterious
channels ;of popular thought only revealing It's pres
under the attacks and menaces Of despotc hands
until burst the gaze OF the world in the perennial
bloom Of national independence. have read
Ibe history Of my country In vain II / fail to
along repeated exhibitions Of this sent-
ment Of fathers. II In the FIRST steps OF its
moulding and shaping the colony OF Plymouth
into Commonwealth perfect IN essence and const
tuition a Massachusetts, to-day, after two centu
and half OF discipline and experience.
Universal suffrage, the election Of Governor and his
assistants by tue popular voice, general court com
posed Of delegates from the various towns Of the
colony and thaenactment OF laws without royal inter-
ference, the distinguishing features 81 this
Liz .k.L INN. ~ q = IA MN