Daily Republican., 1883-11-28
THIRD EDITION
LEGION ANNIVERSARY.
oeuasOs Rays ard Makes . speech
and . sApper Follows.

-
asd sapper Follows.
The ninth anniversary OF the Bayard
Lagion was appropriately celebrated
last night in their rooms in the Eckel
Building, adjoining the City Hall.
About 100 persons were invited to par
ticipate in the obseIvances. The rooms
we're very beautifully festooned with
tiags and bunting, and hung around
with pictures.
A large portrait of Senator Bayard
praced the wall over the platferm, be-
meath which gold gilt blocks formed the
word Legion"
At 8 o'clock, the guests all having
arrived, Senator Bayard was escorted to
the platform by ex.COuncilnan w. B.
Morton, who presided over the meeting.
During the evening the smell OF
sayory dishes and the rattling Of china
ware in long room to the rear were
evidences that feast for the boly was
in preparation as counterpart to the
literary feast of soul awaiting the
guests in the audience room.
Col. Norton opened the program by
extending hearty welcome to the dis.
tinguishel guest Of the evening for
whom the Legion was named. He said
the organization commenced IN 1873 a.
the Bayard club, and for sometime its
reputation suffered by disorderly char.
acters who had been admitted 10 mein-
bership.
In 1876 the club was re- e-organized and
named the Bayard Legion, nj which time
the rough elements were eliminated and
the organization increased in respec a
bility and usefulness. Though a poll
tical club 1t had an endowment plan, by
which upon the death of member all
the other members paid fifty cents
apiece, to be paid to the relatives Of he
deceased. Formerly the club organized
at the commencement of a campaign
and disbanded when it was over, but
now the organization had been made
permanent. The club also had uni.
form which they did not wear, and
did not intend to wear uD
til they wore it at the inauguration Of
Senator Bayard as President of the
Uni1ed States. Mr.. Nortbn then an
nounced his pleasure for the privilege
of introducing the distinguished gues,
Of the evening, Senator Bayard.
Mr.. Bayard acknowledged the plea
sure 1t gave him to be present and stated
that he had left an engagement in New
York and hastened home to accept the
invitation, but appeared before them
without any prepared speech. AL
though this was political organiza
tion, he thought desultory talk upon
no subject in particular and upon al
subjects not amiss. The principal sub
ject was upon the character of candi
dates who come before the people foI
their sutfrages. A high character wa
requisite in rulers. Men should no
vote for man simply because he wa
a Democrat or a Republican, but be
cause he was man OF high character
and honest and upright. He though
there should be more seeking of mel
for the office and less seeking by mel
for office.
Not always the best men put them
selves forth as candidates for office, ant
voters should discriminate and pick ou
honest men who are not continually be-
fore the public asking for office. There
could be no good government wher,
character is wanting. "None of you,
said Mr.. Bayard, would think of en-
trusting the settling OF an estate to al
attorney who Was without character.
1t Is Just ~ important in the selection
OF officers. The great thing wanted IN
all parties was honesty. He instaucet
the case Of the late Emperor of France
to show the evils of sntrusting powe
into the hands OF men who have not tn
firmness of principle requisite to keel
faith with tue people,
Louis Napoleon promised, when made
ruler, to observe tue rights of local self
government, but it was not long beior
he disregarded his pledges and turne,
the Republic into an Empire. Nj, Bay
ard deprecated any tendency in gov
6rpment that undermined the princi
pies of local self-governnent.
In referring casually to the assessmen
laws, Mr.. Bayard thought that if ali,
thing was wrong with them they ough
to be made right, but he could not Sc
that there was any injustice in them, be
cause they offered the same facilities T.
all parties alike to get assessed. II
thought all illegal voting should b.
punished, and he said the only person
for many years past punished for lille
gai voting we're Democrats that wer
convicted by Democratic juries.
Mr.. Bayari sa he felt highly hon
ored in this organization bearing hi
name. He said he believed he had a
ready sent the Legion the Congre, siona
Record and other public documents t.
to which, President Norton nodded al
sent. Continuing, he asked if the 1t
gion had library and when Col MOI
ton shook his head, he said: "You nett
one, and should at least have a dictioI
ary "a Unitod States Gazetteer and n cy
clOpedia. From these works you ca
gain enough knowledge TO create
thirst for more.
He charged the Legion under no col
sideratens to admit unworthy person
as members, az they would only bril
discredit upon the party. Without g
ing into the discussion of any politics
issue, he expressed his faith in the pril
ciples Of The Democratic party, whic
he believed would be better, though ii
country has enjoy ed an unparalleled
degree of prosperity. After again e:
pressing his pleasure in meeying hi
friends, Mr. Bayard took his seat anids
vigorous applause
The banquet not being yet prepare
Charles Compile gave couple Of guiti
solos, Edward Green couple OF tiutll
solos, Miss Annie Carroll couple Of s.
los with organ panimentandJa ac'
Montgomery sang several comic sole
The committee Of arrangements,
G. Vernon, Edward Beatty, Villa
b. DAVIS, Thomas Naylor, Thorn
Lenderman, Andrew Jeandell, Alon1
Baldwin.
Thomas Shine, Jacob Montgome
and Wm. Hickman then announed t
banquet ready A.d in waiting. Villa
McM-namin, the eldest member ul t
Legion, escorted Mr.. Bayard and seat
him.to his right at the head Of the
BILE. Edward Singles, Jr., escorted y
Bayard's son and took seats to the lie
One hundred guests filed in and oc'
M l.