The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-09-08
President Willard Barquetted.

MINNEAPOLIS. Sep. 4.-Ihe fellow
ing is the close of the banquet given
IN this city to President Willard and
his guests: After an elegant lunch
at the Lyndell hotel, Mr.. Washburn
addressed President Willard in neat
speech, extending to him and his
guests cordial and hearty welcome;
after which he proposed the follow
ing toast: "Henry Willard, president
of the Northern Pacific railroad, in
whom we recognize one of the great
est organizing minds, and whose
crOwning accomplishment places him
foremost among the commercial cOn-
Querors Of the world and demon
strates that peace hath her victories
no less renowned than war" Amidst
tempestuous applause President Viii
lard came forward, and as soon as the
cheering had sufficiently subsided, re-
sponded to the toast. He said:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND GENTL.MEN
OF THE RECEPTION COMMITTEE: /
hope you will believe me when l
state it is a solemn truth that I am
surprised. amazed. bewildered, con-
fused by the overwhelming reception
with which myself and my guests
from abroad and at home have been
hOnored to-day. | am fairly oppressed
with the consciousness that more
honor has been rendered to me than
I have deserved. [Crles of no! MOI!
Gentlemen, [ know what l have
done better than you do. IT you will,
therefore, permit me to dissent from
you on this occasion. l know l have
done my duty; but | am but one per-
son. but one mind, and that one
mind would not have been adequate
to the accomplishment of the glgan-
tic task represented by the undertake
ing that we have been prosecuting
during the last two years. Twenty
five years ago walked over the site
OF the city OF Minneapolis; I found
then single building where the great
and prosperous city stands to-day.
This is as much beyond the small be-
ginning 1t hen saw as the honors
that have been showered upon me to-
day are beyond what l really deserve.
AS it is, / can only say that my heart
is overtlowing with the most grateful
emotions towards the inhabitants Of
this city. speak the Sentiments of all
my friends-of all present to-day
when say that all we have seen has
far surpassed all our expectations.
The following toast was then pro-
posed: "Jay Cooke, it is fitting that
the founder of the railroad which
spans the continent, should stand
side by side with its prosecutor and
fin::sher in driving home the golden
spike of the completed and CONSOLE
dated enterprise"
General A. B. Nettleton, of Mime
apolls, was cal ed on to respond to the
toast. General Washburn stated that
General Nettleton was a warm per-
sonal friend Of Mr.. Cooke, who was
unable to be present on account of i'll
health.
General Nettleton eulogiZed Jay
Cooke and related his first conception
of the gigantic enterprise. The next
regular toast was, "Our guests, COM
ing from every cline, speaking every
tongue, representing the old and the
new civilizations; we welcome them
to the modern centre which is bound
ing with rapid strides towards the
fulfillment of the prophecy Of one of
our greatest statesmen, that within
sight of the capital of Minnesota and
within hearing of the falls Of St. An
thony, would at no distant day be
found the seat OF empire OF the
world"
Herr Won Brun was called on to
respond to this sentiment amid great
enthusiasm, and Herr Bruins remarks
were received with great favor.
Closing he said: "When l look upon
this expedition, the like OF which
never was attempted since our mod
ern civilization has existed, am de-
lighted to see how we all spring from
the same stock, how this same stock
Immediately takes root Ill t soil of
America and hourishes, while other
races do not seem to prosper on the
soil OF liberty and freedom. In this
sense l would venture upon saying.
(what is far beyond the immediate
truth) but in which there may never
theless be scintilla Of tuth, l feel
as if | We're in the midst of parlia-
ment of the TeutOnic race for the first
time assembled under the wings of
the American cage. and under the
folds of this most wonderful, striking,
active, ample city of Minneapolis"