Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-22
DETRoIT'S BANQUET.
Secretary Noble Responds to the
Toast George Washington.
B. K. BRUCE MAKES A SPEECH.
An Eloquent and Feeling Address on the
Southern Question.
THE MAN WHO WEARS THE BUTTON
Responded to BY Mr. ThurstOn-SenatOrs Pierce and
Frye Also Speak.

The annual banquet of the Michigan
Club took place in Detroit last evening.
Covers were laid for 1000 guests, and every
plate was occupied. Speeches were made
by Secretary Noble, ex-senator Bruce, SEN
ators Pierce and Frye and Hon. j. NJ.
Thurston.
DETROIT, MICH, February 21.-The an
nual banquet of the Michigan Club took
place this evening at the Detroit Rink
which was handsomely decorated IN honor
of the occasion. Covers were laid FOR !, 1000
guests and every table was occu pied. Sen
atOr Stockbridge, of Michigan, presided.
Many large delegations from various
parts of the State were in attendance
Governor Cyrus Luce, in a few suitable
words, welcomed the guests Hon. John
W. Noble, Secretary of the Interior, re-
sponded to the toast George Washington"
Mr.. Mobiles remarks were of a cursory na-
ture of the effect of George Washington's
life and deeds upon the present stability
and greatness of this republic. He paid
fitting compliment to Michigan upon the
prominence 1t has always taken in affairs of
the nation, and retired amid great applause,
to be followed by ex-senator B. K. Bruce,
who was allotted the Southern Question"
Mr.. Bruce made a most eloquent and
feeling address. He stamped the freedom
and purity of elections as the burning ques-
tion of the hour, and referred to little in
fuence the negro had in either the Federal
or State governments, Notwithstanding their
numbers, and although their votes were
legally of the same value as the whites. In
stirring words he advocated national aid
to education as the panacea for Southern
outrages. He opposed the deportation of
the negro from the country by aid as an i'm
practicable project and remarked face
tiously, 1--WE got along swimmingly when
one race owned the other" But now that
they were on an equal footing the cry was
raised that the country was not large enough
for both races. He ridiculed the idea of
setting apart of a territory to be excln-
sively inhabited by the negro.
Senator Gilbert A. Pierce, of North Da-
kota, spoke on the "New States of the
West" He spoke of the wonderful progress
in the West and the patriotism of the peo-
pie. He modestly advised the Republican
party to legislate for the masses. "The few
are already provided for. !"
Of Nebraska, representing the soldier ele-
ment, responded to the toast "The man who
wears the button" Mr.. Thurston spoke
feelingly of the wearers~ of this honorable
emblem, and dwelt st length upon the sacri-
fees the button frequently represented and
the hardships endured in gaining it. He
spoke of the mighty men who have
worn ''this same bronze button
Charidop Tnoon opd
a hundred more whose names
are written on the title page OF deathless
fame. Their glorious victories are known
of men; the history of their country gives
them voice; the white light of publicity il
Eliminates them for every eye. But there
are thousands who in humber way no less
deserve applause"
Mr.. Thurston paid marked tribute to
General Alger in 'reciting the story of the
repulse of 900 Confederate cavalry BY 200
Union troops at BoonVille, NO., in 1852.
Continuing he said:
With Republican Congress working under
business rules; presided over by Speaker who
cannot be intimidated by criticism or annoyed
by invectives, it ought to be possible to keep
every party pledge. It ought to be possible to
revise the tariff in such way as to protect
American labor without imposing an
unjust burden u.S upon any man o.,,h1o Tho
to complete an honest census and make a fair
reapportionment. 1t ought to be possible to
protect every American citizen IN his right to
live. to labor and to vote; It ought to be posi-
widows and orphans for the suffering and
wounds of every man who wore the Union but
tons" [Applause.l
God bless the men who wore the button.
freedom and made the name American" first
in all the earth. To us their memory is an in
spiration and to the future it is hope.
Senator William P Frye, of Maine,
closed the speechmaking with 1.-THE Repub-
icau Party" --a
SENATOR FRYE's ADDRESS.
There could be no permanent progress in this
republic until the American citizen was guar
anteed every right which the Constitution gave
him, and until the Constitution was respected
and obeyed in all sections of the land, there
could not be under free government one law
for the North and another for the South, and
the mission of the Republican party would never
end until the humblest citizen could exercise his
right as an American citizen at the ballot box
Mr.. FRYE referred to Lord Napier's heroic
march to Abyss1nia with an English army to
relieve one British citizen who had been cast
into a dungeon. and asked what man would not
be willing to die for nation that
could spend millions of dollars to
thus save the life or give readily the
nations protection to one OF its citizens, does
it not strike the American people with great
force that this great nation cannot cross the
obliterated Mason and Dixon line to protect
millions of its citizens. A free government
cannot exist except in the liberty and happi-
ness of its people,
Mr.. Frye retired amid great applause
was followed by Congressman Allen, who
made few appropriate remarks and re-
viewed the work in the Republican Con-
gress. General Alger was called on the
stage and given an ovation. He briefly
thanked the audience and retired
Sweet music and patriotic songs were in
terposed at suitable intervals, and the utmost
enthusiasm was displayed throughout the
proceedings.