Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-01-11


then be has been doing the quaint
features Of speech-makiug at various
places. he has gotten off some very
good things, aud considering that he
has always been regarded as incapable
Of speech making, it must be admitted
that his v~entilations are rather sur
prising. Last Thursday night a press
club banquet came off at the St..
Nicholas hotel, New York, and in
response to THE Republics Honored
ex- President" General Grant turned
off the happiest effort of his career.
1t reads very we'll, and is as follows
Mr.. President and Gentlemen ofthe
Press Club II confess to a little
embarrassment this evening in being
called upon Unexpectedly TO say a word
before a set Of such difident men as
compose not only the press club, but
those associated with the press Of the
country. Thought this was al even
ing that | was going to spend where
ali would be quiet and good order;
Tapplauscl where nobody would have
ANYTHING to say. We all know the
characteristic modesty of the people
associated with the press. Laughter.
THEW never want to inquire into any
body's affairs [laughterl, know where
they arc going [laughter], what they
are going to say when they get there ;
and / really thought you would ex-
cuse me this evening, but
| suppose that you will expect me
to say something about the
press-the press of New York, the
press of the United States and the
press of the world. 1t would take a
good deal to tell what it is possible for
the press to do. | confess, at some
period of my life, when | have read
what you have had to say about me,
that | have lost all faith and all
hope. Laughter and applause. But
since a young editor has spoken for
the press and has fixed a lifetime of
a generation of newspaper men at
about twelve years-Lapplause and
laughter- III have a growing hope
within me that in the future the
press may be able to do some of the
great good which we will admit it is
possible for it to do, Applause and
l have been somewhat of
a reader of newspapers for forty
years. | could read very well
when | was eight years Of age, and it
has given me forty years of observation
Of the press, and there is one peculiar
ity that l have observed and that is in
all the walks Of life, outside Of the
press, people have entirely mistaken
their profession, their occupation
I Laughter. ] never knew a mayor of
a city, or even a councilman of any
.city-any public officer, any govern
ment ofhcial-I never knew a member
Of congress, a senator or a president Of
the United States, who could not be
enlightened in his duties by the
youngest member of the press.
Laughter. never knew a general
to command a brigade, a division, a
corps, an army, who could begin to do
it as well as men far away in their
sanctums, and | often wondered. l
was very glad to hear that the news
paper fraternity were ready to take
with perfect confidence any Office
that might be rendered to them
president to mayor; and | have
often been astonished that the citizens
have not done so, because they know
all these Offices would have been we'll
and properly filled. Laughter
Well, gentlemen, | am very happy to
have been here with you, and | hope
when a new generation, about twelve
years hence, comes up, hat | will
again dine with the Press Club of
New York city. and that / will see
that those of this g~eneretion who are
so we'll fitted to fill all the civil Offices
have all been chosen and that there
will be nothing left then to criticise.
| thank you. gentlemen.
General Grant resumed his seat
amidst shouts Of applause again and
again renewed, mingled with laughter
at the last happy hit he made.