The Washington critic., 1890-02-23
HONOR TO CLEV ELAND.
MR.. JOHN c. CALHOUN PAYS HIM A
GLOWING TRIBUTE.
Eloquent Address of the Ex President
Before the New York Southern
Society," Celebrating the Birthday
of Two Redeemers.

unHu vi uluuCI VI luC NCM iOAh DouNh
ern Society was held tonight at the
Lcnox Lyceum. At the right of Presi
dent John G. Calhoun sat ex-
President Cleveland and on his
left Bishop Potter. About
them on the dais sat ex Governor Fitz-
hugh Lee, ex.Mayor Hewitt, John
Temple Graves Of Rome, Ca. w. w.
Flanagan, Senator John w. Daniel
of Virginia, Charles II. Jones of
the st. Louis Republic, General Fitz-
John Porter, Conrad N. Jordan, Colo
mel i. X Sibey, Hon. Augustus Van
wyck, Rev. W. W. Page, Rev. Otis A.
Glazebrook, Senator M. G. Butler of
South Carolina. Congressman w.
Bourke Cochran, Hon. Alexander p.
Humphrey. ii. l.. Harrison and
Thomas Nelson Page.
Among the $50 people present were:
Col Daniel s. Lamont, General Roy
Stone, General Fcrroro, Colonel G. w.
SapiDgton, Colonel John A. Cockerill, Gen
eral w. w. Kirkland, General Samuel
Thomas, Captain l.. c. Clark, General G.
II. Wilson, Captain w. V. King, Captain
Colonel william s. Moody, Colonel
derson, Colonel Peter Mallett, John
D. Cummins, Dr. j. Harvie Dew, Surrogate
Rastus $. Ransom, John s. Wise of Vir-
gnia, j. Hampden Robb, Hon A. W,
Houston, John H. V. Arnold, Gaylord b.
Clark, Hon. Thomas G. Mckee, Hon. A. j..
Bankhead, ex-Mayor Edison, Hon. T. G.
Clements, John A. Mccall, Erastus Wiman,
Hon. W. /. Trenholm, w. Bayard Cutting,
Isidor Strauss, Patrick Calhoun, Mckenzie
Semple and +. J.. Stetson.
In calling upon eX-President Cleve-
land to espond to the toast 1.-THE Birth
day of George Washington,
Mr.. Calhoun paid Il high
tribute to him, declaring
that since the days of Washington Mr.
Cleveland had the respect and love of
the people to an extent unequaled.
The eX.President was greeted with
great applause and said:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen:
1t is sometimes said of us that we have
too few holidays, and this, perhaps, is true.
We do not boast the antiquity nor the long
history which accumulates numerous days
OF national civic observance; and the rush
and activity of our peoples life are not
favorable to that conservative and dclib-
crate sentiment which creates and estab-
| fishes holidays. So far as such days might
| commemorate the existence or achieve
ments of some conspicuous parsonage,
their infrequency may be largely attributed
| to our democratic spirit and the presump-
| tion arising from our institutions. In this
| land of ours-owned, possessed and gov
ernod by the people-we, in theory at
least, demand and expect that every man
! Will, III his sphere, be q patriot, and that
every faculty of greatness and usefulness
with which he is endowed, will be devoted
to his country and his fellow man. We
have had no dearth of distinguished men
and no better heroism has anywhere been
seen than here. But they belong so natu-
ally to us, that we usually deem them suf-
ficientIy noticed and commemorated when
they are acknowledged as contributions to
the common fund of our national pride and
glory
Thus it happens that in this country but
two birthdays are publicly celebrated. We
reverently speak of one as the day when
the Redeemer of Mankind appeared among
men. On the other the man was born
whose mission it was to redeem the Arneri-
can people from bondage and dependence
and to display to the world the possibility
of popular self-government.
1t would be strange indeed if this day
should ever be neglected by our fellow
countrymen. 1t would be like nations
blotting out the history which cements its
governmental ediiice or eXpuuging its ira
ditions from which flow that patriotic love
and devotion Of its people which are the
best guarantees of peaceful rule and popu.
lar Contentmcnt.
We certainly need at least one day which
shall recall to our minds the truth that the
price Of our country was unselish labor
and sacrifice, that men fought and suffered
that we might be free, and that love anG
American brotherhood are necessary ele
ments TO the full and continued enjoyment
of American freedom, prosperity and hap
piness.
We are apt to forget these things in ou
engrossment with the activities which at
tend the development of our country, anG
in the impetuous race after wealth whicl
has become u characteristic of our people
There is danger that we may grow heedles
, of the fact that our Institutions are
precious legacy which, for their own sake
should be jealousy watched and guarded
: and there is danger that this condition ma,
, induce seliishness and sordidness, followed
, by the idea that patriotism and moralit.
have no place in statecraft, and that
: political career may he entered upon lilS
any Other trade for private profit and ad
vantage.
This is a frightful departure from tn
doctrines upon which our institutions rest
and surely It is the extreme of folly to hop
that our scheme of government will effec
{ its purpose and intent when every cond
{ tion of its birth and life Is neglected.
Point to your immense fortunes IL yo
I VIII; point 10 your national growth an
prosperity; boast of the day of practice
politics, and discard rs obsolete all sent
9 nent and all conception of morality an
l patriotism in public life, but do not for me
ment delude yourselves into the belief tina
G you are navigating into the safe cours
c marked out by those who launched au
5 blessed the Ship Of State.
e Is Washington accused even in thes
$ days OF being sentimentalist? Listen t
c the admonition he addressed ''as au oil
y and afrectionate friend' TO his fellow
b countrymen whom he loved so well and fC
i whom he had labored so long, as he retire
s from their service:
''Of all the dispositions and habits whic
lead to political prosperity, religion an
morality are indispensable supports.
vain would that man claim the tribute
Il patriotism who should labor to subyert the:
great pillars of human happiness, the;
; finnest props of the duties of men and cit
Il zcns The mere politician, equally wit
d the pious man, ought to respect and cheris
l. them.n
n And all is summed up and applied d
rcctly TO our situation when he adds:
,f "It is substantially true that virtue {
c morality is necessary spring of populi
X government
y When did we outgrow these sentiment
!. When did we advance so far in know
t edge above our fathers as safely to ca
S aside these beliefs? Let lis be sober III
thoughtful, and IL we lind that these thin:
10 have lost their hold on our minds N
is hearts, let us take soundings, for the rocl
e are near.
r, We need in our public and private Ii
o such pure and chastencd sentiments as I
t. suit from the sincere and heartfelt o
d scryance Of days like this. and we ne,
ii such quickening of our patriotism as h
It sedate contemplation of the life and chard
ter of Washington creates,
e Most of all, because it includes all v
5, need, better appreciation of true Ame