The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-01
HONORED BY THE PRESS.
MINISTER CHARLES EMORY SMITH
GIVEN a BANQUET.


Workers in the Field of Journalism.
An Elaborate Menu and Eloquent
Speeches.
PHILADELPHIA, March 3l.-Charles
Emory Smith, editor in chief of the Press,
who was recently appointed minister to
Russia. was honorei tonight by the MEM
bers of nexspaperdom in this city who ten
dered him an elaborate farewell banquet at
the Hotel Bellevue. Seated about the table
were about eighty men, the brightest stars
of every daily journal in the city, who
one aad ali entered into the spirit of the
occasion in uniting to give the new munster
an appropriate farewell prior to his de
parture for his new post Of duty. In the
decorations of the banqueting room the
Russian and American colocs were harmon
lied in appropriate designs.
William v Mexican, the veteran editor
of the Ledger; the Nestor of Philadelphia
journalism, presided, ana at his right was
the distinguished guest of the evening,
George w. Childs sat at Mr.. SIN iths right
and then came John A. Cockeriii, manager
of the New York World; l.. Clarke Davis,
and Collector of Port Taomas '. Cooper,
editor and publisher of the DetdlOdre
County American To the left OF the
chairman sat Postmaster General James,
of New York; William NJ. Singerly, pro-
prietor Of the Record; Calvin Wells, OF
Pittsburg; aud Col. A. n. Mcclure, editor
in-chief of the Times.
AN ARTISTIC MENU.
Each OF the visitors, who also included
George W. Turner, business manager of the
New York World, +. Y. Hermarge and
and John r. Vanwormer and other partici-
pants, found at his place, in addition to the
menu, a handsome prototype portrait of
Mr. Smith, prepared especially for the oc-
casion. The menus were orAamented with
American and Russian flags, and the in
scription and date were in raised
letters of gold. Among the better
known of the PARTICIPANTS were
Erastus Branard, of the NelUS; James
Elverson, proprietor of the Inquirer;
Stephen Farrelly, of the Union News Com
pany: DR.. A. c. Lambdu, Col. J. H.
Lambert, Frank Mclaughlin, proprietor of
the Times; Clayton McMichael of the
North american; DIR. E. Morwitz and
Joseph Morwitz of the German Democrat;
Charles Warburt9n, OF the Telegraph;
Talcott Williams and Stephen n. Winslow,
of the Commercial List.
DISTINCTIvELY A PRESS AFFAIR.
The chairman, in starting the speeches of
the evening, said that all but two of the
participants in the dinner were members of
the press, and all were glad to pay a tribute
to the honored guest of the evening. The
diploma to Mr.. Smith from the government,
said Mr.. Mexican, was a tribute to him as a
citizen; tours is a tribute to him as neigh
Dor, a brother, one of ourselves. The
assemblage." continued the speaker, "is
one without parallel in any other city
In the country" The speaker declared that
the appointment of Mr.. Smith as Russian
minister could not be viewed in the light of
a promotion, for the director of journal of
the rank'sand class to which the Press belongs
could not be promoted. Mr.. Mexican Gu
logized Mr.. Smith as an accomplished man
of letters, as scholar, as publicist, apt
man of affairs and an honorable gentleman.
Mr.. Mexican concluded with wishing Mr.
Smith on behalf of the company pleasant
voyage and assured him of a brotherly
welcome upon his return.
MINISTER SMITHS REPLY.
Mr. Smiths address in reply was fire.
queutly greeted with applause and in
deed it was a few minutes before
he could commence. He said the oc-
casion gave him a peculiar qualification.
He prized the dinner as the last one in his
honor prior to his departure, and as one
coming from his own fellow-craft. No offer
ing of good feeling and of welcome, he
said, could be moro welcome than such
manifestation on the part of the members
of his own guild, and for it he had
the profoundest gratitude. He treated
the occasion as being personal
tribute only in a limited sense, and said
it had greater and broader significance. 1t
was journalistic recognition of the dignity
and honor of journalism. In the good feel
ing that characterized the profession, he
said, Philadelphia furnishes an example to
the journalists of America. For this the
profession is largely indebted, he added, to
the sunny aud kindly influences which
emanate from the sound head and heart in
him who is recognized as the guiding star in
Philadelphia journalism-George ChildS
While honest differences of opinions are
recognized, he said, 1--WE also recognize a
high standard of courtesy and the chivalrv of
the calling to which I'VE all owe allegiance u
In conclusion, Mr.. Smith said he could have
no higher inspiration and no greater en-
couragement than feeling that his fellow
craftsmen are standing behind him and will
have their own share IN whatever success he
should meet with.
FRIENDSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP.
William NJ Singerly, in the course of
some happy remarks, said that the occasion
afforded an illustration of friendship and
fellowship in the City of Brotherly Love of
not only the owners and editors of the great
journals, but also of the "boys" to whom is
largely due the success of the newspapers,
Gne Juen VINO 90 the routine
and hustling. Col Mcclure congratu-
lated the profession on such an un-
exampled exhibition of harmony. unity
and good feeling on the part of the editors
of the second city of America. He doubted
if the editors of any city in the world could
thus unite to honor any one of their num-
Der. He called attention to the fact that
not one of the four great editors who had
been sent abroad to represent the govern
ment had been an applicant for the position,
and Mr.. Smith, he added, so far from
being an applicant, had only two
days prior to his own appointment appeared
before the President to urge the appoint
ment as Russian minister of another distin-
guished citizen of Philadelphia No trust
in this free land, he said, is equal in re-
sponsibility, sound obligations, and in power
to the high public trust of the editor of a
fearless. able and upright newspaper.
NOVELTY TO COL. CoCKERILL
Col. John A. CockeriIl said that the news
paper men Of New York belonged to the
tribe of Ishmael. The idea of seeing rep
resentatives of all the newspapers in the
city sitting down together at one able
seemed novel to him, and for that reas IN,
be declared, he was present He said he felt
proud that such men as Mr.. Smith were Sc
lected for the nations ministers and he was
glad that Mr.. Smith was going to Russia,