Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-02-13

Celebrating the Eighty-EighthA Ami
versary OfOur Martyred Presidents
Birthday-Hon. Hannibal Hamlfn's
Speech at Delmo nico,s-The Day in
Boston.
New YORK, Feb. 12.-The fifth annual
dinner of the Republican club, commemo-
rative of the eighty eighth anniversary of
the birthday of Abraham Lincoln at Del
monicos tonight, was held in some sense
under shadow, as it was feared the fes-
tivities might at any moment be
terminated by the announcement of
the death of General Sherman.
Those in charge were kept informed of
his condition and it had been arranged that
speech would be made in hishonor in
case of death and the proceedings end. The
speech of the evening was that of Hanni-
bal Hamlin to the second toast "The Sur
viving Standard-Bearer of 1860" He re-
ceived an enthusiastic reception and said
the meeting stirs the blood of age and
makes the pulses leap. In such great
crises as the last war, individual
men are as unimportant as the
atoms of dust swept by the wind-it
is their undying principles that command
our respect. He said he came to do
homage to one of the greatest men the
world has ever known, leaving his home
at the hazard of his health he came to pay
a tribute to Abraham Lincoln. He was
not an educated, but learned man. The
world was the school from which his pro-
fessors, the men he met and from whom
he learned his humanity. The gem of a
speech he made at Gettysburg will stand
as rich product in literature for
all time. "I am young in republicanism, u
| he continued, ''though old in years, but 1
congressman. They cast shadow over
| my later days. 1 am grieved at the dis
honesty and degradation of some of our
| senator's" He hoped the club would CO.
operate with him to secure the passage of
| a law to make the birthday of Lincoln a
| national holiday similar to that of Wash
| ington. In a low voice he concluded:
| Remember, can see the boys in blue
as they march in their solitary beat in the
eternal camping ground and I can hear
their voices telling us to do by Lincoln as
they would do had God changed in his in
| scruitable wisdom our relative positions"
Senator William E. Mason, who sat
next to him, said he and Senator Anthony
Higgins of Delaware, another guest, had
decided to at once introduce a bill in
congress to make Lincoln's birthday a
national holiday Other speakers were
Senator Higgins of Delaware, John N.
Thurston, Henry G. Robinson of Hart
ford and Rev. DR.. H. L. Wayland of Phil
adelphia.
BOSTON, Feb. 12.-The anniversary OF
the bill thday of Abraham Lincoln was OBJ
served by the Butler club this evening by
a reception to General Butler, followed by
banquet, at Young's hotel. The attend,
ance was large, but much regret was felt
at the unavoidable absence of Editor G. A.
Dana of New York, who was to have been
one of the principal speakers. Colonel
N. A. Plympton presided and
! General Benjamin F. Butler was the first
speaker, being received with great applause
He paid warm tribute to the memory OF
President Lincoln as statesman and d
diplomat, saying he had but one defect, il
defect it could be called, namely, his ex
treme tenderness of heart.
Other speeches were made by e1Gover
nor Bracket, General E. w. Hicks, Charles
Carleton Coffin, J. c. Linehan of New
Hampshire, Hon. F. NJ. Allen and Major
George S. Merrill.