Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-24
ABOUT THE BANQUET.
kecABEs SPIRITED SPEECH.

Ielesrams from Arehbisaep Gibbens-sensl-
men" or Geserni Bradley r. Jshsson, Gem
srai joseph n. Andersen, sad Others.
The speech Of Captain W. Gordon
McCabe, Of Petersburg, when called
upon to respond to the toast, "0ur
Sister City, the Cockade City," was
one Of the gems Of the evening at the
Kelley banquet. Captain McCabe said !:
Mr.. Chairman,--I need not say what
q pleasure 1t is to me to join tonight in
this g stirrup cup" "a loving cup - as
well, which as yirginians you offer to
that distinguished citizen whose name
is n household word throughout the
length and breadth of this ancient Com
monweslth wherever courage is honored
and high devotion to principle counted
at its worth; who, in the forum 'as in
the field, in council and debate as in
the dust and sweat Of battle, has ever
proved the stuff that gives the world
assurance Of man who, in the darkest
days of Virginia's political history,
"never sold the truth to serve the
hour" but tower Of strength, ever
"stood four-square to all the winds
that blew
And it is because Of this answering
fidelity to his Stase in adversely as in
prosperity, little reckoning that the
path of duty was the way to glory" !;
it is because never yethas he given half
hearted allegiance to any cause that he
has espoused, but with sword, and pen,
and silvern speech has been swift to
lead where more timid natures were
wont to temporize that with full hearts
and glad acclaim we give him this ring
ing greeting when there has at last come
to him the high place which his homo
rable service has so nobly won-which
his learning, his scholarship, his accom-
plishments, and varied experience so
amply fit him to adorn.
Virginia feels that at last and in
truth she has a stake in reilnited coun-
try when the nation seeks as her repre-
sentative at one Of the oldest and proud
est courts Ofthe Old World our fellow
citizen from the oldest and proudest
State Of the Union.
We bid him God-speed, but we shall
count the years until he shall come
back rich in the honors that he is des-
tined to win on new and larger fields
of usefulness.
We shall love to remember him be-
cause, knowing so we'll his fealty in
friendship, we are sure that he will not
forget us.
Unspoilt by the dazzling splendor
and stately pOmp Of brilliant court
nay, unwitched even by the glamor of
the " Eternal City" whispering from
crumbling arch and broken column the
wondrous story Of her mighty past
oftentimes we know his thoughts shall
turn lovingly to the homelier life that
goes on beneath these Virginia skies,
dearer if not so blue as those OF that
enchanted land of poetry and romance.
Aye, as he stands upon the Capitolne
and gazing southwark far along the
Appisn Way, past the tomb of the
Scipios, shall see that dip in the low
lying Alban hills, where the hosts of
Hannibal once lay encamped, and yOn-
der on his right. across the tawny Tiber,
looming Janiculum, whence morning and
evening Rome's brazen trumpets rang
out eternal defanc, - the hardy Car
thagenian, he will bethink him of an
other hilled city, with its yellow-how-
ing river, once girdled with steel and
fire, guarded by a genius mightier than
that of Scipio, the clangor Of whose
trumpets once challenged the admira-
ton of astonished nations.
And the kings and courtiers Of the Old
World shall no longer wonder at the
amazing vigor and vitality Of the great
Republic when they shall know that
he who twenty years ago stood as a
simple soldier in the ranks of the van
quished few is to-day the accredited
ambassador Of victor and vanquished
alike of the Blue and the Gray--as
jealous to protect tlp interest, as jeal-
Gus to guard the honor Of our common
country as he was swift in his hot
youth to follow the tattered battlc-hags
of Lee and jackson.
Yes, we knew we must lose him-though
| friendship may claim
To blend her green leaves with the laurels
| OF fame;
Though tondly at parting we call him our
own.
'Tis the whisper OF love when the bugle hai
| blown.
AS the rider who rests with the spur on his
heel,
As the guardsman who sleeps in his corset
| ofsteel,
As the archer who stands with his shaft on
the string.
He stood for tonight for the wreath that we
| bring:
SO fIl a bright cup with the sunlight that
gushed
| When the dead summers jewels were tram
pied and crushed,
The true knight Of learning-we all hold
him dear.
Love bless him. joy crown him, God speed
his career.
TELEGRAMs AND ToAsTs.
General Bradley 7. Johnson sent the
following:
Virginia and the Virginians Chi
valric, generous, and brave
| "sThe bravest are the tenderest;
| The loving are the daring
| 7 - k..In,w NJ Ka;lay an an-