The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-05-01
CLOSING SCENES.
The Banquet on the Last Day Of the
Centennial Festivities a Flat
tering Success.
a SpreadQWhich Cost Thirty-Five
Thousand Dollars and of Which
Eight Hundred Partook.
Many Speeches Made, Including = Mas
tsrly Reply by eX-President Cleveland
To the Toast "our People"


celebration and the theatre of the greatest
banquet possibly ever held within the rec
objection of man. The interior decorations
of the now historical building excelled even
the splendor and display of the ball eele-
bratiOn of the previous night. The stage
and auditorium was connected by one con-
tinuous floor and over q quarter of a hun
dred tables were arranged in a
double horseshoe fashion, with a
seating capacity for 500. Nearly
5000 wine glasses gIitterrd at intervals
along the array Of tables, and 200 waters,
as well drilled as so many soldiers, stood
ready to ready to respond To the slightest
wink of the diners. The tables were eIab-
orately decorated. The expense of the
dinner is said 10 have been SS5, 900, the
wine alone costing nearly $4,000. The
bill OF fare in print was eight inches long
and OF French construction. being wound
up with twelve varieties ct wine and three
cOrdials. Over the presidents seat, sur
rounded by flowing American flags, was
suspended huge picture OF the face and
bust of Washington. at Mayor Grants
right hand sat the president, and Gov. Hill
was on the mayors left. Next 10 the
president sat President Morton. The
others were Chief Justice Fuller, Gen.
Schoheld, Senator Evarts, ex-Pres.dent
Hayes, Bishop Potter, Secretary Proctor
and Gen sherman On Gov. Hill's side
were Judge Charles Andrews, Admiral
Porter, Senator HiscOck, eX-PIesIdent
Cleveland, Speaker Cole, of the New York
state assembly, Hon. ). ). Cox, Clarence
Bowen and Elbridge I. Gerry.
1t was little after o'clock when the
president, escorted by Gov. Hill and Mayor
Grant, entered the great dining room.
They were followed by Vice President
Morton and Lieut. Gov. Jones' of New
York. and the other distinguished uests
of the mayors table As the party walked
down the main aisle of the auditorium, all
the assembled diners stood up in reeogni-
ton of the presidents arrival, and the
band played "Hail to the Chief" The
presidents party stood back of their
chairs with their heads bowed while Bishop
Potter made the opening prayer of grace,
and the dinner was begun at signal from
the banquet director. AT the conclusion OF
the invocation Mayor Grant rose and read
a list OF the toasts- Gov. Hill was intro
duced as the first speaker and rose and
welcomed the guests. Following Gov.
HilPs welcome Ex-President Cleveland
was introduced ana responded 70 the toast
''Our People," as follows:
MR.. CLEvELAND's SPEECH.
The mention Of people may well sug-
gest a sober and Impressive reflection.
W herever human government has been
IN tyranny, In despOtisu OF
in oppression there has been found among
The governed yearning for a freer cOndi-
ion and the assertion of mans nobility.
These are but the faltering steps of human
nature in the direction of freedom, which
IS Its birthTight; and they presage a strug-
gle Of men 10 become a free people, and
thus reach the plane of their highest and
best aspirations. In this relation and
in their cry for freedom it may
be truly said: The voice of he people Is
the voice of God. The influence of these
reflections is upon me as / speak of those
who, after darkness and doubt aud stIug-
gle, burst forth in the bright light of indie
pendence and liberty and became ''Our peO-
ple''-free, determined and confdent-chal-
enging the wonder of the universe, pro
the dignity of mai and invoking
he aid and favor of Almighty God. In
sublime faith and rugged strength our
fathers cried out to the world: I'VE, the
people of the United States, in order to
ioTm a more perfect union, establish JUS
ice, insure domestic tranquility, provide
or common defense, promote general
welfare and secure the blessing of
10 order and establish this constitution for
he United States" Thus, when our peO
1le in day assumed a place among the
latiOns of the earth, their mission was 10
each the fitness of man for self-gOveTn-
nent and their destiny was 10 Outstrip
very other people IN national achievements
md material greatness. One hundred
ears have passed. We have announced
md approved to the world our mission and
a ade our destiny secure. / will not tamely /
ecite our achievements. They are written
N every page of our history and the mon
lments of our growth and advancement
re about us. But the value of these
hings is measured by the fullBess with
which our people have preserved their |
,atTiOtism, their integrity and their devo- /
ion to the first institution meeting this I
est. We point to the scattered graves of |
many thousands of our people who have I
- D
afety and prObtty, mutely bearing tesu- /
nony TO their love of country and 10 an in /
inCible living host standing ready 20 en- i
OTce our national rights and protect our /
and. Our churches, our schools and uni /
ersities, and our benevolent institutions, i
which beautify town and hamlet aud look /
Ut from every hillside to testify 10 the /
alue our people place upon religious 4
eaching, upon advanced education, and |
lpon deeds of charity, that our people are
reedOm Is proved by the fact that /
10 one in place OF power has /
ared openly TO assail them. The |
(which marks the centennial /
4 tile celebration of the Inauguration OF |
he first chief magistrate shows popular /
appreciation of the value Of the Office,
ghich in our plan of gogernmei stands /
.bOve all others for the sovereignty OF the /
,eople and is the repository of their trust |
surely such people can be safely trusted |
here need be no fear that they
laVe lost the qualities which 1T them % be |
Is custOdisns. Let us, then, have an
abiding faith in our people. Let petuiance
,ear before the truth that in any and all
circumstances the will Of the people, how
,ver il may be exercised, is the Law of our
rational existence-the srOiteT, absolute
md Interchangeable, by which we must
abide. Other than existing situations or
policies can only justify themselves when
hey can be- reached by the spread OF pOlit- !
cal l. telIigence aud the revival OF patriotic !
interest IN public affairs. lll-natured
complaints OF popular incOmpetency and
the assertion OF supe-
-iOrity over the body of he people IS impO- !
.ent and useless. But there is danger, i |
lear that the scope Of words, ''Our people"
and all they imparti are not always iully |
II is only natural that those |
Il the various walks of life should see ''Our |
people" within the range Of their own
vision. and ind Just about them interests
the most important and most worthy, the |
,are OF the government Inc rlch mer-
chant OF capitalist in the crnteT Of wealth |
and enterprise hardly has a glimpse
Of the country black6mlth at
ais forge or the former IN the field; and
these In their turn know but little Of the la
norers who crowd our manufactures and I
inhsbjt their OVID world of toll. OF Of the
thousands who labor in our midst. Yet in
spite of our institutions, all these so seDar-
sfed in station and personal interests, are
lne common brotherhood, and are 'sOur
oeople" The diversity OF our interests
'hough a source of 5Oundless wealth and
prosperity. has q tendency to press our
people apart. This condition demands of US
! coun' enforce of Hberality and federation
,Oward each other and an enlightened re-
gard for the condition of every individual
who contributes 70 the aggregate Of Our ma
.ional greatness This centennial time.
which sIirs our pride by leading us to a
OF our tremendous strength
IN wealth and greatness, also recalls 70 our
minds the virtues and uDseltsh devotion 70
principle Of those who saw the first days
lf the republic. Let there now be revival
lf our love for the principles which our
country represents Let there be q new
70 the cause of mans freedom
and equality and q quickened sense of the
solemn responsibility before every man
Ebo wears the badge OF tour people," The
luture beckOns ~ on, let as follow with 40
,Lalfc1 and enn0ult1E love Of count-y and