The New York herald., 1876-07-17
Fourth Of July Banquet at West
minister Palace Hotel.
Mr.. PIEBREPONT'S SPEECH,
Absence Of the Ladies Of the
Legation.
A M E RICAN INGERS

uis not every nation that has opportunity OF
celebrating its hundredth birthday In fact. when
most nations attained that interesting age they
did not know enough celebrate peaceful an event.
Murder in tho form OF vendetta tho burden
oil their song; hence the United States occupies a
unique position in history That we are great people
there can be little doubt; that with magnificent
opportunities we ought to be greater is equally beyond
question; that we have made as great muddle OF
many things as We possibly could is undenabc, and
that possess all the vices and Weaknesses human
nature is heir TO goes without saying We are gotten
up on no better principles than the rest of creation
The only difference between us and Europe
Is that sweeping with new broom
and Europe is sweeping with very old one
In certain respects tho swcepers in the New World
skilful than those OF the Old World in certain
others they not good We have done all in our
power to compromise republican institutions; our
shameless prostitution oil Office shaken faith of
European democrats, and 1t becomes US to our
Centennial with humility. We do nothing Of the sort,
and yesterdays speech making was undoubtedly
MORE RAMPANT BEFORE KNOWN
Hero we had a banquet. about which the quick web
footed cable has long since told you aud If refer it
do for the purpose Of pointing moral and adorn-
ing tale It is right for Americans to take their
country with them to the ends OF tho earth it IS
proper to celebrate the Glorious Fourth" on English
soil Bygoncs bygones The prosperity Of the
world depends upon hearty friendship between Eng
land and America, and the London journals have de-
voted leaders to the day ceobratc far kindier In
tone than heretofore. The Times is .committa
unusually considering Its recent extreme fairness
in discussing American politics. but the Telegraph is
most generous and the STANDARD. forgetting its
slaught twelve months ago, treats US TO olive
branch, which we should gladly accept IL matters
Itle what others say and do it matters much what
"A rte
yesterday. l am told that the London Fourth of
July banqucis are prOverbialy msmanagcd. That of
last year tho Crystal Palace severely crit
cised by Americans present, hence It is about time
change came DER the spirit Of '76's dream. Tho
names OF the gentlemen who became sponsors for this
years festival were guarantee tnat past shoTcom-
ings would be remembered and reduced TO minimum.
Expectations were fulfilled in many respects, tho
seating OF tho guests inexcusablo confusion.
Ladies placed At the reporters table who should
have been put elsewhere, and gentlemen vino dr.
rived late found great T,. dSay in obtaining
| good such dinners usually are, aud the
absence of distinguished Enslishmcn was
| were invited, but dld not come he only member OF
| Parliament present was Mr.. Richard. formerly a
dissenting minister, now the apostle OF peace. Truth
| compcs Inc to say that he delivered
THE BEST SPEECH or THE EVENING.
| II was short, sensible, Just and TO tho point He
said that the great features OF national character
the same on both sides OF the Atlantic the self-
reliance the same nvincblo energy and perseverance,
the Same reverence Tor law. the regard Tor
stitutional government aud the same unbounded self
| esteem. Everybody laughed at and applaudcd this
nnal incon,rover,'bie statement or course the Lord
Mayor was present, sitting at tho right haLd oil Colonel
sat At his lett The Lord Mayor pcrvades
the atmosphere OF banqnets inevitably does tho
| aroma Of snerry and champagne. Arrayed In black
velvet and lace, with q blue ribbon round his civic
! is gorgeous creature Of whom any city might be
proud. In the year A. d. 1876 Cotton may not be
King, but he is Lord Mayor OF London. Moreover he
has written a book OF poems aud has gwen special
banquets to actors and authors Tho drama and era-
have held up then heads For Shakespeare
to be acknowledged by the Mansion House, and ac-
tors to be received on an equality with Aldermen
marks an era In che history Of England Yet there
are people wild enough to declare that tho world is
going backward! Well the Lord Mayor made
speech and was as good naturcd his good looking
incc which IS saying great deal he
The letter is his mortal enemy He avoids It care.
fully; but then the Lord Mayor is good fellow and
among breakers. Hc said he understood tho
meaning Of the "strpes" on our flag but supposed
they intended TO represent the stripes of the lash
on the back OF the slave ''Ohl ohl" groaned his
dtors, Of whom, more ready witted than discreet
cxczimng you're mistaken They the lasnes ad-
| minstcred TO England! Hero bad taste answered
by bad taste Tho being even again the
| Lord Mayor proceeded to pour oil on the disturbed
waters and Sat down IN blaze OF gas and glory.
| PIERREPoNTs SPEECH
would have boen very good had he lc out two things
Referring to the tendency of British prime ministers
to bookmaking, Mr. Pierrcpont said:-"Anothcr Prime
| Minister OF England lately wrote book which tried
| to read with much care. Its name do not re-
| member. remCmbcr that some OF the sentences
somewhat involved and somewhat parcnthctica and It
| puzzled me little 10 understand them. The English
people being less crude and more polished than the
Americans, may understand what all those phrases
mean. The book has something to say about America.
boeve II relates to the influence OF the religious pic
lures OF tho Vatican the civilization of America
lIaughter)-but IL am mistaken about that no doubt
the nrst time meet the late Prime Minister, Mr. Glad
stone, he Will explain to me what do not now under
stand"
No Prime Minister in Office or out likes to bs ridi
culed; and 1t hardly became tho newly arrived
American Minister at the Court OF St James to indulge
In this sort OF banter nor was 1t In much better taste
to tell England that IN the future she would be prouder
Of her son-meaning the United staies-th,n she
would be of herself. No nation wants to be told, how
indirectly, that IT is doomed to be oustrpped by
a kindred nation II is bad form to flap the
wings Of the American eago Britain
mas face English people resent this sort
Of thing; and !, for Que, don't blanc them.
probably would have suppressed both OF these apsus
tHgur. cannot but consider them unfortunate. 1t
is however, hard TO hold man responsible Tor every
is dragged from Atlantic steamer, brought to Lon
don, conveyed to public dinner and made TO deliver
address Any human being, othcr than an Amcr,-
can, would have broken dow utterly
Mr.. George w. Smacy read Bayard Iaylor's spirited
ode, which was warmly received and printed at
length in todays Times and Telegraph Al about half
past eleven the 200 patriots who had paid thirty sh
jlngs to feed in joyful harmony foreign SOIL folded
their napkins like tho Arabs and quietly walked away.
But would you believe ity Though LADIES' tho
dinner, I beard toast given to them,
any such toast reported Considering the reputation
OF Americans for gaantry to women this slight IS
extraordinary Perhaps 1t due to the lateness OF
the hour. Dr. Thompson made speech on ''rhc Day
We Celebrate that covered amos, AS much time AS
the American Union ITSELF This may have crowded
out later toasts Mr. Pierrcpont also snubbcd tho
female portion OF his audience by beginning his ad.
dress with "Gcntlcmcn and Ladcsl' Altogether.
wondered where American manners were ON this
cventfu occasion. As the dinner was intended 10 be
n national thanksgiving, and rs women were requested
10 be present, II was nttng that the official rcprescn
,ativcs should set good example by bringing their
wives Both gentlemen canfc alone; yet l
noticed fo-day's Tunes that among
those present ut tho state ball given last night
these same gentlemen and their wives. Comment
IS unnecessary. The Hon Hugh Ncculoch proved
tho sanchn"ss or his colors by bringing his air young
daughter. 1.-The infusion OF les bees Amercdres was
lar too small, says the Standard How could any
thing bctcrbe expected when the ladies OF the AmerI
can l&ation conspicuous by their absence Thcro
Ia thing offensive tnan sprcadcagcism-it IS
snobbery. Let hope that twelve months hence
records the celebration Of the Glorious Fourth
will tell different tale.
AMERICAN