The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-23
DAILY, sf0A YEAR. }
SCENTS A COPY.
WEEKLY, LES a YEAR
DIXIE'S SONS IN GOTHAM.
FOURTH ANNUAL BANQUET OF
THE SOUTHERN SOCIETY.


Thoughts at the Death of Ex.Presi-
dent Davis and Mr. Grady.
NEW YORK, Feb. 22-The fourth annual
dinner of the New York Southern Society
was held tonight at the Lenox hotel. In
front of President John Calhoun, on a
raised dais, was a large w, while at the
head Of nine radiating tables respectively
were the letters, "W. A, s, H, I, N, G,
7, o, N" At President Calhoun's right
sat ex-President Cleveland. and on his left
Bishop Potter, and about them on the
dais sat Gov. Fitzhugh Lee, ex-Mayor
Hewitt, John Temple Graves of Rome, Ga,
w. w. Flanagan, Senator John w. Daniel
of Virginia, Charles II. Jones Of the st. Louis
Republic, Gen. Fitz John Porter, Conrad
N. Jordan, Col E. K. Sibley. Hon. Augustus
VanWycl, Rev. w. w. Page, Rev. Otis A.
Glazehrook, Senator M. G. Butler OF South
Carolina, Congressman w. Bourke Cock
ran, Hon. Alex 2. Humphrey, Il. L. Harri-
son, and Thomas Nelson Page.
THE OTHER TABLES.
The other tables were presided over by
w. l.. McCorkle, James Swami, II. II.
Gordeu, Evan Thomas, J. H. Parker, w.
w. @. Gresham, Jr, r. w. Gwatney,
Charles A. Deshon and W. w. Sharp.
Others of the $50 people present
were: Col. Daniel Lamont, Gen. Roy
Stone, Col. G. w. Sapington, Col John A.
Samuel Thomas. Capt L. @. Clark, Gen.
Capt. John j. seay, Gen.
Alexander Brown, Col. William 8. Moody,
Col. E. 8. Jenison, Gen. Anderson, Col.
Peter Mallet, John ID. Cummings, DIR. ].
Harvie Dew. Surrogate Rastus s. Ransom,
John 8. Wise of Virginia, j. Hampden
Ralf, Hon. A. w. Houston, John II. V.
Arnold, Gaylord B. Clark, Hon. Thomas G.
Mckee, Hon. A. r. Caruth, Hon. M. A.
Smith, Hon. I. Ii. Bankhead, Mayor Edhon,
Hon. j. @. Clements. John A. Mccall,
Erastus Wiman, Hon. w. l.. Trenholm, w.
Bayard Cutting, Isidor Strauss, Patrick
Calhoun. Mckenzie Semple, +. l.. Stetson,
and others.
PRESIDENT CALHoUN's SPEECH.
Whom the good things had been disposed
OF President Calhoun arose aud spoke as
follows:
Gentlemen Of the Neio York Southern Society:
In bidding you welcome to this, our fourth
annual dinner, Icongratulate You most heartily
upon the great prosperity which has attended
the society since We last united about the fes-
tive board.
Within the year our membership has more
than 6o0-now it is not far from 1900.
year ago we we're wanderers upon the face
OF the earth, in that we were houseless we re-
goiee to-day In a beautiful home, chief among
the attractions OF which Is splendid library,
the gift OF generous fellow member, most Of
the books being by southern authors, and many
of them rare and of great value
rejoice to report the society in good condi-
tion financially, owing but little, and with
money In plenty in the treasury to pay its
debts
The good fortune which has been ours during
the year seems TO be with US tonight. No pre-
vious banquet of the society has been so numer-
onsly attended; at none Of our feests In the
past have so many ts-dstinguished in
their respective sections and caliings-honored
us by their presence; nor ever before have grace
and beauty looked down upon us while we ate,
drank aud made merry. But, as every rose,
they say, must have its thorns so the sight of
the ladies, while filling with delight, inspires
the regret that they are not with us at table.
CLEANER POLITICS DEMANDED.
But we have cause for graduation not alone
In the prosperity of the society. As loyal and
patriotic Americans we rejoice In the quicken
ing sense Of the people, which everywhere
throughout the country during the year has
demanded Improvement In our political condi-
tion, q more thorough civil service reform, @
publication OF the ballot q reduction of taxa
tiOn, and economy In the conduct of public
affairs, and we specially rejoice at the evidence
which has been so conspicuous on every hand
during the past twelve months that all traces
OF sectional feeling are rapidly passing away;
that the people of the north and south are
coming more and more to love each other like
brothers, as they should.
DEATH OF PRESIDENT DAVIS.
But the year has not been without It's sorrow
for us. Since our last dinner the leader whom
we followed quarter OF q century ago through
four long years of terrible war has passed
away. IL matters not whether the cause In
which we fought was right or wrong, nor that
the end of the struggle for us was crushing de-
hr, ss.ttT.
us, and that We were loyal to him was proven
upon hundred hard fought fields. We loved
him; when he died we monrned him. We make
no apology for the tears we shed about hig
grave, because, IL we had not wept. we had
been less than man. We buried him with
honor. but with him we also buried every
vestige OF bitterness that ever was in our hearts
while he lived; and came back from his funeral
bearing aloft the flag against which he led US.
and which Ii our banner now, please God for
ever.
THE LOST GRADY.
Within the year another of our loved ones has
been taken away. A boy when the war ended,
he had no connection with the old south, save
through It's memories and traditions He was
always true TO these, but recognizing that the
welfare Of his section lay In q oemented union.
he strove during all the few years of his life,
with brilliant pen and eloquent tongue, TO en-
courage better understanding. closer relation
between the north and south. He was stricken
down while literally striving to love the nation
into peace-and in his death, the new south
lost its greatest leader. But we are not alone in
our grief for him. On the bier Of Henry Grady,
the north as well as the Massachusetts
as well as Georgfa--laid q loving tribute, and,
mingling their tears at his graveside, their
hearts came closer together.
CONGRATULATIONS RENEWED.
Gentlemen, l renew my congratulations upon
the prosperous condition OF the society, but
feel it my duty to urge upon you continued
effort TO enlarge its membership and to widen
its field of usefulness. Ours is the youngest of
the societies In the metropolis, but in a gener-
GUS spirit of 'emulation let us strive TO make it
in time the largest. We are southerners, and we
shall always cherish the tenderest love for our
dear southland. But let US at the same time
seek to win the admiration of the people among
whom we have made our homesj by our devo-
tion to the union and our intense love or every
section OF our common country.
Ex-PREsIDENT CLEvELAND's SPEECH.
Then President Calhoun called upon ex-
President Cleveland to respond to the toast.
1.-The birthday of George Washfngton.n
He was enthusiastically cheered as he arose.
Cleveland said, in part:
It 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 con-
servative and deliberate sentiment which
creates and establishes holidays. So far as such
lays might commemorate the existence or
achievements Of some conspicuous parsonage
their infrequency may be largely attributed 60
our democratic spirit and the presumption
arising from our institutions. In tins land of