The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-23
THE SOUTHERN SOCIETY.
Its Second Annual Banquet in New
York-Speeches and Toasts.

York-Speeches and Toasts.
NEW YORK, Feb 22-The New York
Southern Society had its second annual
banquet tonight at the Hotel Brunswick.
The occasion was in every respect thor
oughly enjoyable. The room was grace
fully draped with bright-colored bunting
and many United States flags, The floral
decorations of the table were elaborate and
beautiful. The dinner was excellent, the at
tendance large and the speeches eloquent
and highly entertaining. The Secretary'S
report was most encouraging. 1t showed
that the membership had nearly doubled
within the last year. There are now nearly
800 names on the roll, comprising IA majority
OF the most repreS 5ntative Southern men
residing in New York. The treasury is
in such good condition that the So
ciety has about determined to buy
a suitable home and establish itself in per-
manent quarters. 1t is already recognized
as a worthy rival of the New England, the
Knickerbocker and other societies of that
character. In the absence of Hon. Francis
r. Rives who was recently elected Presi-
dent, to-night's banquet was presided over
by Vice President John c. Calhoun, who
did the official honors with dignity to him
self and satisfaction to the assembled
company as follows: The first toast, THE
President of the United States" was drunk
standing and in silence. Second, ''The I'M
perishable Memory of Washington" was
drunk likewise, standing and i'll silence.
Third, New York City the Home of Our
Adoption, ," was responded to by the Hon.
Hugh J.. Cole.
At this juncture Mayor Hewitt entered
the room and the applause which greeted
him was tremendous. The enthusiasm was
so great that the programme could not he
proceeded with until he faced the audience
and began to speak. His speech was
rich in eloquence, fervent in spirit,
and grounded In truth. He was often COM
pletely stopped by the prolonged applause.
The next regular toast was 30 Southern
Industries and was responded to by Ed
ward Atkinson, of Boston, then came "Our
Sister Societies, y which was responded to by
Hon. Horace Russell, president of the New
England Society.
The next toast was ''the Middle States, y
which was responded to by Gen Horace f.
Potter, that inimitable after dinner talker
who shares SO justly the glory of that ac-
complishment with the far-famed Chauncey
Depew. Gen. Potter's speech tonight was
one Of his best and thoroughly sustained his
enviable reputation. 1t sparkled with wit
and huInor throughout the greater part,
and in conclusion was stunningly eloquent
and grandly patriotic. The next sentiment
was to ''The Press of the South" the re-
sponse to which was made by Ballard
Smith, Of the World. He gave generous
praise to the editorial quills of the South.
The speech was excellent throughout.
The concluding feature of the feast of
reason was a poem by Hon. Daniel B.
Lucas, of Virginia. The poem was written
for the occasion, and entitled: 1.-The South's
Readmission to the Union" Mayor Hewitt's
speech was the event of theevening. Among
other things he said: II have at least met
the solid South. like it. You noble sons
of that sunny land must be q pretty solid
set of fellows, for notice you thrive here,
where only the tittest survive, and l fancy
if you all betook yourselves back home
New York would suffer decidedly from a
sense of gOneness, and we would
have to apply to the 'wise men of the
East to tell us how to fill the vacuum. |
have heard great deal about the lost cause
of the South. | tell you, my fellow-citi-
zens, you lost no cause. You walked
through the valley of the shadow of death,
but you came out into the resurrection
morn, glorified by trial and ennobled by
Suffering. You awoke to a consciousness of
the vast resources with which God enriched
your land, and you are now heroically
building up the waste places and enrich
ing yourselves. So | bid you God
speed The day YOU were re-adnitted
to the Union. New England lost her last
chance for monopolizing the manufacturing
interests of this land and Pennsylvania
coal and iron mines were doomed to over
whelming competition. Ere this century
closes.I verify believe the South will be the
richest section of our common country"
Among the prominent gentlemen present
were noticed: Hon. John Jay Knox, DR..
William A Hammond, Hon. Daniel B.
Lucas, Dr. Edward Atkinson, Judge Horace
Russell. Gen Horace B. Porter, Hon. Eli
Murray, the Ex-Governor Of Utah; Logan
C. Murray, James Swami, Norton William
p st. John, Lieut.. Thomas Emery, of the
United States Navy; Hon. Augustus W.
Van Wyck, Hon. Hugh L. Cole, Or. Norvin-
Green, John G. Calhoun, John H. Inman
and host of others. The affair was
triumphant success.