The Portland daily press., 1883-12-24
FoRRFATHERs, DAY.
sts Observance by New England Societies
i'm EhTladeIphia and New York.


PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 22.-The aDnual dinner
Of the New England Society of Pennsylvania
was held in this city this evening at the Conti-
mental Hotel President Arthuf, Hon. Will
liam E. Chandler, Secretary of the Navy,
Hon. Thomas B. Reed of Maine, Hon. Joseph
R. Hawley of Connecticut, and Rev. DR..
Leonard Woolsey Bacon, were among the
guests who sat around the festive board
In response to the toast, "The President Of
the United States,'' President Arthur said:
"I confess, Mr.. Chairman, that my enjoy
ment of this annual dinner has been somewhat
marred by the knowledge that should be at
this moment with my own chapter of this
New England Society, and that ii has been an
act Of abandoning my brethren of the New
York branch of the society which has brought
me within the reach of your generous hospi-
talitY. Bh6 what difference can it make
whether dine in Philadelphia or New York?
The President cannot be in both places at
once. Indeed, have heard it said that il is
only relic that can be in more than one place
at time, and surely no President could be
classel as relic until he has given place to
his successor Last evening dined with the
New England Society OF Brooklyn, and the
hearty welcome there extended me SO COM
pletely bereft mo of the thanks and exnres-
sions OF pleasure that this fresh draft upcn my
powers finds me utterly bankrupt | thank
you very much for the welcome vop have giy-
en- ne, and can only say that / wish long life
TO your society and its promoters. (Appaase)
In response to the toast Of "Army and Ma
vy,D Hon. William u. Chandler, Secretary of
the Navy, paid tribute to Gems. Grant Sher-
man and Sheridan, and expressed the hone
that a grateful Congress and a willing Presi-
dent would restore the former soldier to tile
rolls OF the army. In reference to the navy,
he spoke strongly in favor of what he termed
complete restoration" with doing away with
old wooden ships and smooth bore guns and
the substitution of steel ships and high power
cannon, of which we have not one single speci-
men to show. In the course Of his remarks he
spoke in praise of the steamers of the Ameri.
can Steamboat Company, as being the only
line OF foreign going steamships flying the
American flag
Whereupon Mr.. N. Parker Shortridge, a di-
rector Of the American Steamship Company,
arose and said that the mpauy was negotiat-
ing for the sale OF their ships, as they could
not be made to pay while run under the Amer
lean flag, but could be under the ensign Of
Great Britain.
This statement vas net received with as
much applause as the Honorable Secrelary's
remarks received.
The President and several others of Tho dis
tingnished guests left the dinner soon after 10
o'clock, and Went 10 the Satar lay Climb party,
given By William B. Bemeis. The President
duO Parry 4g1J bAb Guy SD8ibly &iL6F ulIdN1plt.
on special train for Washington.
New York, Dec. 22.-Some $50 nnombers Of
the New England Society OF New York, sat
down to their annu al dinner this evening at
Delmonico's. Marville w. Cooper, president
OF tho society, occupied the chair. At his
right sat William NJ. Eyarts, and on his left
Gen. Graut Among others at the table were
Geo VIM. Curtis, Mayors Low of Brooklyn,
and Edison of New York, Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher, Chauncey M. Depew, Commodore
Upther of the United States Navy, and repre-
sentatiyes of Sister societies. Among others
present were ex-Judge Horace Russell, Surro-
gate Rollins, Chief Justice Noah Davis, ex-
Judge Arnoux, John Ell. Starin, Judges Fame
bar, Hawes, Russell and Sage.
After brief address of welcome by Pres-
dent Cooper, loud calls then were made for
ex-President Grant, who finally arose and said,
good humoredly, that he had only accepted
the invitation on condition that he should not
be called upon to make speech, and excused
himself in his usual graceful manner.
The first regular toast was "Forefathers'
Day." which was responded to by Mr. EVarts
In the course of his remarks, the speaker ad-
vocated suppression of the Mormon religion
by the strong arm of the law As an institu-
tion it had for its object the ensavement of
women and the subsection of suffrage to an
ecclesiastical hierarchy, which, in country of
liberty and freedom like America, no man
could afford to look upon with indifference
1t must yield to the power OF the government
He closed with some remarks on the temper
ance question and pointed out the influence
that the New England doctrine and teachings
of our forefathers would have in accomplish
ing good results in both these cases.
Geo. VIM. Curtis responded eloquenty to
the toast New England Principles and New
England Plack," and pointed out the results
which these two forces, working in combina-
tion since the founding OF the nation, had pro-
duced in shaping the conduct of the govern
ment
Gen. Horace Porter responded to the toast
of Woman" He said, "that according to
the popular idea this should have been re-
sponded 20 by bachelor at the present time.
OF female proprietorship and female emapci-
patton it was only married man who would
have the courage to speak in public on the
subject 1t was not strange that the first
meeting Of man and woman in the Garden of
Ellen suggested to Milton the idea of Paradise
Lost, for mans first step in that case became
his last repoSe. According to the theory of
the Jews, woman was created from the crook
edest part of man, which explained, perhaps,
some OF her idiosyncracies. But the Brah-
minis had different theory. They said that
man, originally was like woman and had
sort of Darwiuian tail 1t was from this eau
dal appendage, they said, that woman was cre-
atsd. The theory was worthy OF considera-
ton, since it explains the long yexed question
of the origin of the "Caudls lectures" and al
so furnished solution to the question as to
why man, when he went anywhere, was in
the habit of leaving his wife behind. Allu-
sion was made to the sad land of Utah, where
one death might make dozen widows.
Other toasts responded to were: "The New
England Clergy" by Rev Henry Ward
Beecher; New England Townships" by
Mayor Low; "New Amsterdaln," by Mayor
Edsoni and "Benedicite," by Chauncey M.
Depew