Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-20
POLITICAL RECIPROCITY.
Mr.. Cleveiand's Humorously Treated
Theme at the Bankers Banquet.

Mr. Cleveland's Humorous1y Treated
Theme at the Bankers Banquet.
Ex-President Cleveland made an after-dinnel
speech at the chamber Of commerce banque,
In New York on Tuesday night that was remark.
ably well received. 1t abounded in Q style oil
banter which no one suspected Mr.. Cleveland
possessed After speaking Of commercial rec
iprocity and its advantages, he said that be
was strongly tempted to say something about
Mr.. Depew, but the fact that every other
speaker of the evening had metaphorioally
jumped on that gentleman made him hesitate
Still, Mr.. Depew was able to stand great dea
Of jumping on and was competent to fight any
number Of men who might attack him.
CLKvBLAND's FIRsr NOMINATION.
"When Mr.. Depew spoke Of Mr.. Springer in
connection with myself" said Mr.. Cleveland
~ could not help thinking that Mr.. Springer
had learned the trick of nominating from Mr..
Depew himself. As q matter OF fact, Mr..
Springer said very innocent thing and he wal
probably impelled to the utterance by Mr. De-
pew's example. well remember the first time
/ ever saw Mr.. Depew. 1t was in Albany. Al
that time / was governor OF the state, and the
occasion was q banquet OF some kinda fire
company's anniversary or something OF that
sort. was then a quiet, unambitious man,
content and happy in the belief that l was do
ing the state some service. 1 had prepared q
most elaborate address, and when had given
utterance to it Mr.. Depew arose and congratu-
lated the people that they had at last elected q
governor who could make an after-dinner
speech. He said many other nice and compli-
mentary things Of me, and then made this
statement:
81 know Of nothing better for the demo-
cratic party than that 1t should nominate Mr..
Cleveland for the highest gift within the power
of the people. And know of nothing better
for the republican party than that il should
nominate for the presidency that great and
glorious statesman whose name rises in the
minds Of every one here, but does not rise to
my lipsr
Il was astonished and puzzled My serenity
was disturbed. 1t was the first nomination
had received for the presidency, and was
agitated. One other thought came to my
mind and II has fingered there ever since. That
concerned the identity of the great unnamed
statesman to whom Mr.. Depew had alluded
and the inevitable conclusion was forced upon
me that the reason Mr.. Depew did not mention
that statesman's name was because he was sud-
denly struck with overwhelming modesty. Now,
i submit it to you if this example Of Mr.. De-
pews does not excuse Mr.. Springer.
HIS DESIRE TO REcIPRocArK.
swell, as time advanced there was national
administration with which ! had something to
do. At least have been held responsible for
all the errors and reverses Of my party since
that time. Nevertheless l made up my mind
at the time Of Mr.. Depew's Albany nomination
of me for the presidency that / would return
the favor and nominate him for the presidency
whenever could do so without harm to myself.
Surely that is reciprocity.
"But the difference between Mr.. Depew and
myself in this matter of nomination-he was
all magnanimity and generosity and / am all
selfshness. He said so many kind and compli-
mentary things of me that his party condemned
HIM. His expressed admiration of me caused
q western adherent Of his to write him letter,
in which the writer declared that, while he had
always regarded Mr.. Depew an ideal man
and one in whom there is rare presidential
timber, after what MIR. Depew had said of that
fellow Cleveland the western adherent would
not vote for him for townmaster. All this car
ries with it an acknowledgment and a confess
sion, and still declare that, whenever / can do
so without harm to myself, shall recIprocate
Mr.. Depews kindness and nominate him for
the presidency"
Mr.. Cleveland's remarks were received with
cheers and immoderate laughter, in which Mr..
Depew joined with apparently vast enjoyment.