Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-04-28
GRANTS BIRTHDAY
CoNMEMORATRD BY THB ANBRICUS CLUB,
AT PITTSBURG.


PIrrsBURa, April 27.-The second an
nusl dinner of the Americus Club of this
CITY, in commemorstion OF the birthday Of
General Grant, was given this evening at
the Monongahela House. Covers for two
hundred were laid. The dining-rOom was
tastefully decorated and large portraits OF
Grant and Conklipg were heavily draped.
Among the guests were: Governor Beaver,
Senator Sherman, Benjamin Harrison, OF
Indiana; Hon. J. P. Foster, Of New York ;
Hon. John c. New, Col. Fred Grant, Hon.
Richard Smith, of Cincinnati, and others.
After dinner, which was one of the most
elaborate ever given here, the orchestra
gave Marching Through Georgia." the
company joining in the chorus.
Hon. John Dalzell. on the part Of the
Americus Club, extended q cordial well
come to the distinguished guests present.
He spoke eloquently OF the services OF Sen
ator Sherman and his illusions to ex-Ser-
ator Harrison, Col. Fred Grant and Others
were greeted with cheers.
Mr.. Byram, of the Chronicle Telegraph,
then read q number of letters of regret,
among them was one from Mrs. Grant.
Mr.. H. II. Byran, of this city, responded
to "Our absent Guests" In the course of
his remarks, Mr.. Bryan said: 'There
is one who might have BEEN
here to night but who has forever departed
from among us, to whose memory it is fit
ting that the club, which he honored with
his confidence and esteem, and through
whom he first broke the silence of years
and gave expression to his unaltered and
unalterable adhersion to the accepted
truths of the Republican party, should
pay tribute Of respect. Here, whether
present or absent, the lame Of Hon. Roscoe
Conkling has bten held in love and venera-
ton, and though gone from all the
activities of life, he yet speaks
to us from pictured effigy and
is entitled to ''sueh welcome
at my hand as honor without breach of
honor may make tender Of" In eulogy
we might run the alphabet Of adjectiyes,
but let it suffice to say of him as was said
10 many years ago of one less worthy by
one whose words are indelible, he was
"the dignity and heighth of honor, the
high imperial type Of this earth's glory.
We greet him tonight. Let us trust he
understand the spirit in which Republican
ism accepts him among its priests and
prophets"
Letters of regret were also received
from Hon. Simon Cameron, ] udge Gresham,
Hon. VIM. Evarts, General Sheridan and
Governor Foraker.
A letter from the late Roscoe Conkling,
accepting an invitation to attend the din
ner. awakened the deepest feeling.
Senator Sherman was next introduced
and responded to the toast Grant"
Senator Sherman said: II deem it an
honor to be called upon by your club on
this sixIy-sixth anniversary of the birth
day of General Grant to present in briet
words the typical American citizen, this
illustrious soldier, this patriotic Presi-
dent. By his tenacious courage and skill
the armies of the Union were led from
victory to victory, from Belmont to Ap-
pomattox, until every enemy of the Re-
public laid down his arms in uncon-
ditiopal surrender. He won from foreign
natiors reparation for the injuries
done to US during the war. He
did more than any one else to preserve
untarnished the public credit and honor.
His services in the army include the whole
history of the war, an epic now being told
in huge volumes Of records of the war OF
the Rebellion, and in innumerable
memoirs of those who participated in it.
II is enough to say that in these records
the name of Grant will he oftener men
toned than any other, that he fought and
commanded in greater number of battles
than any other soldier Of that war living
or dead, that with rare and doubtful
exceptions his battles were victories, that
in the number of his command, in the
wide extent Of the field of his operations
and in the completeness OF his success, no
commander Of modern ages, not even Nap0-
leon, excelled him.
''But il is not as great hero, the COM
mander Of armies, or as President of the
United States that You wish to hear Of
Grant. IL is as man. / said he was a
typical American. No street, no parade,
no imitation of royalty or aristocracy, no
egotistical pretense of superiority because
he held great command of high position.
The most marked characteristic which
clung to him in all periods of his
life was his extreme modesty. He was
always the same plain, simple, confding,
brave, tenacious and generous man in war
and peace and the leader of vast armies, as
President of the United States, as the
guest of kings and emperors, and in his
final struggle with grim yissged death.
Gentlemen, yOu do right to commemorate
his birthday. He was heroic to the end,
and you should be equally heroic in main
tanning and preserving the rights and
privileges and policy for which he con-
tended"
General Beaver and Hon. James P.
E,ookn, alan raoDoDdod 70 toaofs