Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-05
frHE GREAT EXPOSITION.
Who Grew Eloquent Over IL I'm
Ater-Dinner Speeches.

M Who Grew Eloquent Over IL I'm
Ater-Dinner Speeches.
n BOARD OF PROMOTION GIVES A n,Sorrr AT
F1LIARp's - ADDRESSES BY DISTINGUISHED
fsUEsrs-A UNANIMOUS SENTIMENT IN Favor
Iof HOLDING THE CELEBRATIONS HERE.
SO far as flowers and delicate viands, spark
ng wines and fragrant cigars, good company.
Eloquent speeches, and enthusiastic listeners
30, the project of holding constitutional cele-
|oration and a worlds exposition here took a
long step forward last night The banquet
given at Wizards last evening TO the visiting
members of the board of promotion by citizens
OF washington was an event fully in keeping
with the character of the great project which
both hosts and guests had at heart. The gath
erlng included, besides the distinguished visit
ors, many of the leading citizens of Washing
ton. The long dining-room of the hotel was
used as banquet hall A dozen tables were
spread In echelon, so all seemed 10 face the
one In the center. The appointments Of the
banquet hall were elaborate. The floral deco
ranons were profuse and tasteful In front of
Commissioner Webb and the distinguished
guests OF the evening in the center of the
room rose Q miniature Washington monument
from the midst of a green park. including A
part of the reclaimed fats. This design was
worked in flowers and showed the location of
the proposed exposition buildings. The menu,
too, was OF a character fitting the occasion
when the coffee was served and cigars lighted
Mr.. Myron NJ. Parker, as chairman of the ban
quet committee, began his duties as toast mas
Ter. Mr.. Parker in his Introductory remarks
said that during the past two years over sixty
national and international conventions have
been held in this city. Mr.. Parker read tele-
grams or letters OF regret from the governors
OF Maryland and Georgia and Senators Hawley
and Sherman. Senator Sherman in his letter
said:
at would give me great pleasure to say
friendly word in behalf of the proposed expo
sition. but official duties at this time will not
permit me to be present 1 will, however. be
glad to cooperate with all others to make the
proposed exposition a success"
COMMISSIONER wEBB's SPEECH.
District Commissioner Webb responded to
the first toast of the evening, which was The
American Capital" In his speech he said:
This capital of ours is especially the place
where these centennial celebrations should be
held-frst, the commemoration of the adop-
ton OF the constitution of the United States
because this city is the offspring Of that con-
sututlon. There was no wiser thing done by
our ancestors than the selection Of a site for
the residence of its government. There was
nothing that more truly showed to the world the
astonishing wisdom, the astonishing foresight of
those men, than the selection of the territory
where the government of the United States
should reside. In addition to that. nothing
demonstrated the wisdom of those men so much
as the selection - this city for the capital city
OF the country ana the manner in which the
plan was made for city which was to be the
wonder of the world hereafter They laid out
a city too great for any municipality to take
charge of, because they wanted city that
he ron 70 . .a H.
of the country that was to succeed them
They DISTINGUISHED its citizens that the capital
OF the nation might be free from all local
prejudice and all partisan differences. They
committed the care of its affairs TO the legisla-
ture of the nation, because in so doing thew
committed 1t to men of broad views and grand
interests, who would not be swayed from what
was right by any local prejudices. They
clothed it with the grandeur of a capital. in
order that here there might be the greatest
city, in keeping with the great country But
more than this: supposed tonight l was to
show the advantages that Washington possesses
over all other portions of this country for
holding these celebrations. All had TO saw
about that has been cut from under my feet by
the fact that the gentlemen who have come to
aid us from different portions of the country
have agreed that this city is the place where
we should commemorate these great events
and where these centennial celebrations must
be held. (Applause.l So l have nothing to
say on that point,
WHAT SOUTH AMERICA SAYS.
Minister Da Costa, of Brazil, who responded
to the toast of american Nations" said: 1.-The
time is coming for this continent to come to a
more intimate rapport, and every effort made
in that direction must meet full approval from
every man born on the American continent.
There are great many difficulties in the way,
no doubt, but you must persevere. We Brazil
ians will be very glad to come to a more init
mate contact with these states, as we have the
keenest interest in everything connected with
the prosperity and progress of this country
So drink with pride to the prosperous future
of the nations of this continent"
Hon. A.M.Soteldo. eX-minister from Venezue-
Ia, who responded to the same toast said: No
rivalries from any quarter are possible, when
the place selected for both occasions stands
above all sectional jealousies. and is the
avowed and admitted head of the other cities
of our system of commemorative. With sim
liar friends and supporters as those here pres
ent we feel perfectly sure of the final and sue
cessful accomplishment of the contemplated
celebrations. and that the exposition hope.
as have said before, will eliminate in the es-
adjustment of a vast and permanent continent
al museum, where all the political sections Of
our hemisphere will show their advancements
in sciences, arts and civilization. by proper
exhibits in every branch of their natural and
1ntcudilcal improvements ana resources
Washington will thus keep these contributions
ready for the inspection of all visitors desir-
ing positive information and actual facts to
carry out their commercial, industrial or scien-
tific pursuits. The creation of such an import
ant nucleus of reference, in a suitable manner
will be no second in beneficial results to any of
the human inventions nor in moral, social
commercial or material advantages enter
tain no doubts whatever of the full and cordial
concurrence of all our Spanish-American re-
publics."
Senior Don Elmore, ex-minister of Peru,
speaking to the same toast spoke of the pro-
posed celebrations as a means of removing the
obstacles that have caused the separation and
estrangement which has always existed between
the nations of Spanish origin and the United
States. He referred to differences in race Lam
guage, and religion, and misrepresentation that
existed.
In conclusion he said: TT was my fortune
to come here as a young man and be educated
here, and after going to Europe and returning
to Peru the first thing did was to write to the
newspapers, showing them the origin of the
prosperity and power of the United States
defended at that time the policy of the govern
ment of the United States and told Peruvians
If they wished to be prosperous and happy they
had only to initiate the United States; and If
they did not do it, disaster would follow to
Peru. Very soon after that, disaster ten times
worse than could have been dreamed of by
their philosophers came to them. In Peru. as
in all South American countries, the United
States are respected and admired, and the
name of Washington is as familiar as house,
hold words. / shall be happy to see represen-
tatives from South America in Washington, be-