The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-28
AT NEW YORK.

AT NEW YORK.
Banquet nc Deimonico's, with General Sher-
man Presiding and G. M. Depew as Orator.
New YORK, April 27.-In commemoration OF
the anniversary of the birthday of General
Grant. an elaborate banquet was given at Dell
monicos tonight AS was most fitting, the
arrangements for the affair were made by an old
comrade of the dead General and President.
Gen. w. 7. Sherman. About $50 persons were
present. All parties and all ranks were repre-
sented. and everywhere appeared the small
bronze button significant of service in the late
war and membership in the Grand Army of the
Republic The walls of the banquet room were
almost concealed with flags and bunting, and at
the head of the room three oil paintings
representing the dead soldier in both his milf
tary uniform and in civilian dress- In the
arrangements of the tables. General Sherman had
departed from the time -honored custom. Instead
of rows of long closely crowded tables. eight
round tables were scattered about the room in
the form of . diamond. and in the center of the
diamond q ninth table. All the tables were
profusely adorned with flowers and lighted with
tapers- The seat at General Sherman's
table which was to have been occupied by the
late Roscoe Conkling vacant and the
chair wss hung heavy wreathlof laurel. Each
pT6&1QeQ
soldier statesman or man of affairs and on either
side of the presiding officer we're seated six or
seven others. Gen. w. T. Sherman pre-
sided over the first table. and
on his right sat Chauncey NJ. Depew-
the orator of the svening-and his left
Mayor Abram S. Hewitt The others at the
table were Gen. VIM. Malone, Gen. w. H Sew
Hon. Geo. w. Childs, Cyrus w. Field. Rev.
John r. Paxton. Edwards Pierrepont Gen. c. B.
Comstock. W. c. Andrews, Samuel Sloan. Cant.
w. W. Paxton and Albert Bierstadt AmoEg
others present were Gen. Fiz John Porter. Col.
A. Louden Snowden. of Philadelphia; d. o.
Mills, Gen. Stewart l.. Woodford, Gen. Wager
gersoll, Elliott II. Shepard. Hon. Elihu Roos
and Herman c. Armour.
The menu card was an elaborate one. en-
graved on a double sheet OF celluloid, shaped
like field tent. and richly trimmed with colored
silk. On one side a portrait of the late
General; on the other was she following:
U. S. GRANT.
Born at Point Pleasant, Ohio,
Graduated from West Poiat June 80, 1S43.
Married a,ts,.a to Mss is 1gs 1sis Dent,
Fof
Battle of Corinth. May 80. 1862.
Bsss of cSatt.noogs 0a se 1858
Appointed Lieutenant-general March, 1864.
Inaugurated President March T. 1869.
Died at Mount HfSsg9f s aANE Nfy Yas E 2s 1885,
\
Among the letters Of regret were those re-
ceived from the following: Hon. Vim. M. Ev-
arts Gen. j. S. Mosby, Gen. S. B. Buckner.
Gem F. Gov s. B E ssnsos Das
John Sherman, Senator Hiscock and Admiral
Gherardi
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston wrote
Sympathizing earnestly with those who desire to do
honor to the great soldiers memory it would crafty
highly avail myself of this invitation but very
much to my regret my obligations at this time will
not allow this privilege.
The letters called forth considerable enthusi.
asm, especially those from Hon. Simon Cam
General Sheridan and Governor Foraker. A
letter from the late Roscoe Conkling, accepting
an invitation to attend the dinner awakened
the deepest feeling.
Senator Sherman was next introduced and
responded to the toast Grant He said:
deem it an honor to be called upon by your club
General Grant to present in brief words this typical
American citizen, this ilustrious soldier this patri
armies of the Union led from victory victory
from Belmont to Appomattox until every enemy OF
render. He won from foreign nations separation
for injuries done to during the war;. He did
credit and honor He rode to the end, and in the
hours Of death he won the greatest victory by the
charitable and eloquent that it win become classic
the commentaries of Caesar, but more glorious
try, j. Nd of conqueror who overthrow its
lbeEtt % us services in the az army y include the
now told in huge volumes Of records Of
those Who In it. Il IS enough to asy that
in those records the of Grant will be oftener
andeo in greater number Of battles than any other
soldier of that living dead; that with and
the number of his command In the wide extent of the
field of his operations and in the completeness Of bis
success. no commander of modern ages, not even
Napoleon, exceed him. Not orly viii the image OF
Grant as the great military hero of the Nation rise
but the object of the war its motive and aim. the in
tense desire to perpetuate the Union which guided
pIe viii become more manifest 80 that ali classes Of
people, whether children Of the North South. Of
federals confederate of white or black will speak
of it and think of t. the of rebellion,
but the war for the Union and of Grant as the
country.
AS to the civil life of General Grant have always
doubted whether it would not have been better for
him to have remained General of the army during his
life rather than have undertaken the civil duties of
President of the United States The doubt - not
founded so much what he did as President.
upon the striking differences in the duties Of the two
Offices and the training qualifications and personal
traits demanded for each. But, whether this view s
not the desire of the people of the
United States that General Grant should be
warded with the highest honor in their gift and this
wfa M s Dy
Grant in arranging the terms of the surrender
armies or as a President of the United States, that
you wish to hear of Grant. 1t 10 man. said he
imitation Of royalty or aristocracy; no egotistca pre-
tense Of superiority because he held great command
OF niBA posttion. Inc tuOSk ularksa chaEacter1nL0
which cunS to him in all periods of his life his
extreme modesty: He was always the same plain,
simple, confding, brave tenacious and generous
in war and peace the leader of vast armies, as
President of the United States the guest of kings
and emperors, and in his final struggle with grim
visaged death Gentlemen, you do right to com.
nemorate his birthday. 1t his good fortune to DO
the chief instrument Of Divine power to 10 you
and pnsteritv the pleasing of free, strong and
united country. He heroic 70 the end, and you
should be equally heroic in maintaining and preserv-
ing the rights and privileges and policy for which he
contendcd.
General Sherman, in introducing Hon. Chaun-
cey AZ. Depew 70 respond TO the formal toast.
...rhe day we celebrAte," touched briefly upon