Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-05-01


laen or nations climb 70 the fulhllment Of
their highest purpose and function,
President Harrison was to have re-
sponded at the point when AIr. BIaines
toast was scheduled, but This part Of the
programme was changed, and the presi-
dent remained on tho list rs the last
speaker. He did not rise to respond to
the toast tsThe United States until a
very late hour. 1t is understood that
this delay was ut his own suggestion In
order to give him more time to rest after
his fatlglling days work The president
was pale and seemed very tired.
President Harrison's Toast.
President Harrison was vociferously
applauded when lie finally rose. He
said:
Mr.. President and fellow citizens: / should
be unjust to myself and what is more serious
] should be unjust 10 you If did not at this
first and last opportunity express to You the
deep stnsc Of obligation and thankfulness
which feel for those many personal and Of
fcial cOurtesies which have been extended to
me since came TO take part in this celebra-
tion. gAppsause.)
The ofiieial representatives OF the state Of
New York and of this great city have at
tended me with the most courteous kindness
emitting no attention that could make my
stay among you pleasant and gratifying
From you and at the hands of those who have
thronged the streets of the city today, hava
received the most cordial expressions of good
viii. would not. however, have you under
stand that these loud acclaims have been in
any sense appropriated as d personal tribute
TO myself. / have realized that there was that
in this occasion and in all these interesting in
cidents which have made ii profoundly i'm
pressive TO my mind. which was above and
greater than any living man. tApplause.)
have realized that that tribute of cordial
interest which YOU have manifested was rem
dered to that great Office which bv the favor
of greater people now exercise, not TO me.
(Applause.l
The occasion and all of its incidents win be
memorable, not only in the history of your
city, but in the history of our country. New
York did not succeed in retaining the seat Of
national government here, though she made
liberal provision for the assembling of the first
congress in the expectation that congress
might find its permanent home here. But
though you lost that which you coveted, think
the representatives here of all the states will
agree that it was fortunate that the first in
auguration Of Washington took place in the
state and in the city of New York.
For where in our country could the centen-
nial of the event have been SO worthily cele-
brated as here2 What seaboard offered so
magnificent bay, on which to display oui
fered thoroughfares so magnificent br a peo-
pie so great or so generous as New York has
poured out today TO celebrate that event.
have received at the hands OF the commit
tee who have heen charged with the details,
Onerous, cxacting and too often unthankfully,
Of this demonstration, evidence OF their conf
fe--s - ss5 .. s..- d4aughter.1
must also acknowledge still Gre other OBJ
igation. The committee having in charge the
exercises of this event have also given me
another evidence of their confidence which
has been accompanied with some embarrass-
ment. AS have noticed the progress of this
banquet, 1t seemed to me that each of these
speakers had been made acquainted with his
theme before he took his scat at the banquet,
and that alone was left to make acQuain-
tance with my theme when sat down at the
table. preferred to substitute for the officia1
title which is upon the programme the familiar
expression "Our Country
/ congratulate you today as one of the In
structive and interesting features of this oc-
casion that these great thoroughfares dedi-
Gated to trade have closed their doors and
covered up the insignia of commerce.; that
your great exchanges have closed and your
citizens given themselves up TO the observ-
ance of the celebration IN which we are par
ticipating.
believe that patriotism has been intensi-
fed in many hearts by what we have Wit
He6Seu bOuttys 4 DetleFe tnab palrlOIiSm mas
been placed into higher and h0lfer fame in
many hearts. The bunting with which you
have covered your walls. these patriotic in
scriptions, must go down, and the wage and
trade be resumed again.
Here may not ash you to carry those In
scriptions that now hang ON the walls into
your homes, into the schools of your city, into
all your great institutions where children are
gathered and teach them that the eye Of the
young and old should look upon that flag as
one Of the familiar glories of every American
Have we not learned that no stocks and
bonds nor land is our country It is a spiritual
thought that is in our minds; it is the fireside
and the home; it is the flag and what ii stands
for it Is the thoughts that are in our hearts.
born of the inspiration which comes with the
story Of the flag Of martyrs 10 liberty. 1t il
the graveyard into which a common country
has gathered the unconscious deeds of those
who died that the thing might live which we
~lOve and call our country, rather than any
thing that can be touched or seen.
Let me also add a thought due to ouI
cOuntryla future. Perhaps never have we
been 50 well equipped for war upon land as