Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-04-10
ST. GEORGES SOCIAL SONS.
Gen. NJ. NJ. Trumbull's. Speech at
Turner Hall.
First Anniversary OF Geo. Davenport
Lodge, SONS OF 1T. George - John
Gaunt's Grand Song-Supper aud
Dance.


very fair attendance, comprising man
from the country, Notwithstanding tn
unfavorable weather. On the stage wer
seated Gen. M. NJ. Trumbull, of Chicago
the guest Of the evening, William Jack
son, Robert Bennett, John Lloyd, Rey
Martin and Others After an overture b
Bleuer's orchestra, Mr.. William Jackson
in few well selected words introduce,
Gen. Trumbull. congratulating the so
ciety in the number who had braved tn
elements to be present on this suspicious
occasion, and describing briefly the oh
| jects and purposes of the order of Son!
| of st. George. 1t was an organization
aiming only for the perpetuation Of
cherished recollections. It's objects were
not 20 keep alive distinct national traits,
but to promote useful and kindly pur'
pose of social advancement Mr.. jack
son, in presenting Gen. Trumbull, spoke
of him us an Engishman by birth, an
American by adoption and II gallant sol
der in the union armie'.
Gen, Trumbull commenced by saying
that the older he grew the more his afIec-
ton for his native land ripened He
recognized in the voices of the Sons of st.
George the familiar notes of his native
land. In the hand shake of the Sons of
st. George, he felt the pulse of England
In the faces of the Daughters of st.
George he saw reflected the white and red
roses of his mother land. In the faces
of the audience he saw the witnesses of
the grand panorama which marked an
epoch of brilliant deeds in England 3
history. The speaker said that America
and England were equally dear to him ;
America would always be sacred to him
because his children were born here, and
England sacred because his parents were
born there. He realized that his children
would always be American children, and
Englishmen ought to be loyal to the land
where their children were born; but no
less loyal to the land where their parents
were born. This double allegiance
should, in Gen. Trumbulls mind, exist in
every Englishman's breast. He said the
Englishman who comes to this country
and renounces such allegiance to his
mother land as prevents him from de-
Tending his mother land, is of
no use to any country. He did not,
while declaring loyalty to America claim
the same reciprocity on the part of his
children They know England only by
history. He did not object to his chill.
uren's pIejudices until that prejudice was
carried to such an extent as to ipjure or
Cypress his native land, and then he
of his ability and as long as he could
stand on his feet. For more than forty
years the speaker had been compelled to
the growth in this country, of
prejudice and spite against Englishmen,
and against England. and 10 that time be
had often asked himself the question,
when would Englishmen, wherever
found. protect the dignity of Engand?"
He believed that his question had been
answered in the organization of the Sors
of St. George. The society, which was
on this occasion celebrating its first ami
had made a new atmosphere in
America for Englishmen to breathe, for
Americans to breathe, and had put new
backbone in the mayor of New York.
The general then paid tribute to st. |
George whom he termed as the Patron
Saint, who slew the dragon in defense of |
he princess and Englishmen in this coun-
.ry should initiate St. Georges prov
nee. There is a beautiful princess, con-
inued the speaker, whose name is Brit
AMIGA; there is a green eyed dragon
throwing out fire and brimt
tone and dynamite to injure that prin-
ess. 1t was the mission of the Sons of
It, George to Stay this dragon and save
he princess. English people in Amer-
ca had combatted with the bad element
Until with the aid of the Sons of St.
Ieorge they had done as the plucky little
Gnglishman had done with the Boston
'ruiser, fought to draw.
Politically speaking, there are two
lasses of foreigners in this country, one
which does not vote at all, and the other
which votes too much. Gen. Trumbull
ad no political advice to give other
han to scratch the name of any one adj
coating social violence, dynamite. gun
10 der, rebellion or turmoil against
ither America or England. He mains
AIMED that as Americans we had no
light to interfere with the affairs of other
ations, as such interference is mischev>
us and impertinent and impudent. He
dvice in his Gle sing address to congress,
non interference with the do
nestle politics of other nations. That
dvice of Washington was as valuable
ow as it was ninety years ago. Let for
ign nations attend to their own affairs
We are all fellow citizens in a common
ountry and with a common cause. Gen.
'rumbull was loyal to America, and he
xtended the open hand of friend to all
rieuds of all nationalities; but he
aised the closed hand of an
nemy to all who would
tempt to injure or Cypress his native
md. He boosted at length of the power
nd glory of English institutions, but
aused long enough to compliment Ger
~. .Ln NATHAN frnrr, ,rhinh En.rIinl. |