National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-14
IN BLAOKBURN'S HONOR.
The New Kentucky Senator's Friends Give
Him Reception and Banquet
Congratulations, Eloquent Speeches, Lett
ters, and Hand Shaking.

Last evening serenado was rendered to
! Hon. J. Q. s. Blackburn, senator. elect from
| kentucky, by q number of the prominent
citizens of the district as partial recogni.
tion of that gentleman's devotion to the in
forest Of the people Of tho District Of Column
bia during his terms Of service as q member
Of the house of representatives. Those in
torested in the affair assembled at the Riggs
h ouse early in the evening and headed by
tho full Marine band marched to the Ma.
tional hotel. BY the time tho procession
had arrived Mt that point its numbers
had swolled to thousands, and the avenue
in front of this famous old hostelry
was q packed mass Of people. There was q
brill liant display Of fireworks aud several
patriotic airs rendered by tho band, after
which K. X. Elliott approached tho front Of
the balcony and in IA brief but highly eloquent
speech introduced the new Kentucky senator
to the multitude. As soon as the deafening
applause with which he was received had sub
sided Mr.. Blackburn advanced to the balcony
railing, and with the eloquence for which he
is so famous, thanked the assemblage
for tho honor they had seen fit
to bestow upon him in his hour
Of triumph. He said that once before tho
good people of Washington had called upon
him with their sympathy whom IL had been
his fortune to endure reverses and defeat,
anu NO ToluCuuDcTeu Win BraVlJuuc llC Huu
been called to place in the most august de-
Lucrative body on earth, and while there he
would use every effort to do his duty, and
under no circumstances would no fail to ro-
member that no was not only Ken.
tucky senator but also an American
senator. AS in the past no would always
endeavor to secure to the people of this dis
trict every right and privilege that pertained
to the people of any state in the union. His
highest desire was to blot out everything
that served to call 10 mind the slightest re-
membranco of the fact that this had ever
been a divided nation. He was not wor-
shipper Of graveyards, and would not walk
through life looking backward at the past.
He felt that Kentucky would never
demand more at his hands than
devoted service to the whole
country. For the future he pledged himself
to do all that lay in his power to spread
universal peace throughout every section of
this land, When he remembered his prede-
cessors-that glorious band Of Kentucky's
sons-he felt an honest ditiidence. Ho had
been commissioned to follow in their foot
steps, aud while he dreaded the ordeal yet
with every power of his manhood he would
try to emulate their grand deeds. When
the sunset of his life drew
near and tho shadows length
ened, such scenes as the present would
be to him among the brightest memories of
the past. He begged again to thank those
who had so honored him, and would endeavor
in the future as in the past to demonstrate
his gratitude by his actions.
blr. Blackburn's remarks were received
with enthusiastic applause, and the band
played "My Old Kentucky Home" When
silence was again restored the following
letter was read:
HON. ]. c. S. BLAcKBURN-Deur Sir: A preyi-
Gus engagement which cannot be dlsregarded or
postponed, will prevent me from being present
this evening at the serennde rendered you In
honor of your election as senator from the COM
monwealth of Kentucky. Under other clrcum-
stances 1t would afford me great pleasure to unite
with your other friends in celebrating your great
victory. beg leave TO offer my sincere congratu-
lations and express the hope and belief that as q
| member of the great body to which you have
been elected, and in which you have been pre-
ceded by 80 many illustrious sons of Kentucky,
| you will fully satisfy the expectations of your
warmest friends. l am, very truly yours,
]. &. CARLISLE.
Brief speeches then followed from Hon.
John Charles Thompson, of kentucky; Hon.
J, II. Murphy of Iowa; Hon. G. r. Breckin-
ridge of Arkansas, and Hon. A. S. Willis, Of
Kentucky, and this portion of the programme
was concluded by the reading of congratu-
latory letter from Hon. John w. Daniels of
Virginia. Later n banquet for the delecta-
tion Of Mr.. Blackburn aud his friends was
served in the private dining room of the Ma
tional where there was bountiful array of
the good things of earth, and o huge bowl Of
punch made from the celebrated sour mash
whisky of Kentucky make.
A committee composed of the following
gentlemen were in charge of the affair: A.
A. Wilson, chairman; j. f. Oyster, treasurer;
| l.. Gardner, secretary; John s. Miller, j. w.
Drew, r. X. Elliott, ]. p. Willett, and
| William Dickson.