The National tribune., 1891-08-13
BANQUET TO TBE DELEGATES.

The city Of Detroit rendered to the delegates
complimentary banquet at the Rink on
Thursday evening. 10 surpassed in magnif-
ceuce of appointment, completeness Of detail
and general elegance any event Of a similar
kind ever occurring in the city. The hall was
superbly decorated with flowers and plants,
panels OF white bunting, relieved by blue bOr-
ders. the seals Of the various States, American
flags, and armOrial and heraldic designs. Clus-
, tiers Of corps, rcgimeutal aud brigade flags were
suspended invisbly from the ceiling and larger
Banners dropped gracefully from every place
that could be utilized In the center Of the
hall and to the left, the table reserved for the
speakers Of the evening was placed on a raised
platform literally embarked with tropical
plants.
Thirty four long tables, with q seating ca
pacity for l,ll9 persons, were beautifully deco
rated with trailing vines and baskets Of roses.
At the side Of each plate was q miniature
leather kuapsack. stamped The National En-
campmont, GAR, Detroit, 1901" inside Of
which was a satin lining haudpainted with
figures significant Of warfare The gallery was
filed by Schrcmser's Fourth Regiment Band
and the lockers on, who had been admitted by
card.
At the speakers table on the platform sas
Gen. r. A. Alger Chairman ex-C0v. Lucius
Fairchild, Of Wisconsin; Col. Henry NJ Duff
field, Commander Fengar, Of the revenue cut
Past COmmander-in-Chi Feazey, ex- Gov.
Austin Blair, Of Michigan; Communicating
Chiefeec Palmer, Of New York ex-GOv.
Cyrus @. Luce, Of Michigan; $. s Burdett, OK
Washington, ID. c., Past Comnander-in-Ch Chief,
and Mayor PiHgree. Gen. Hayes sat at the
right Of the Chairman, and Gen. Veazey at hia
left.
The deetiug hours had made the half circuit
after o'clock, when Chairman Alger raped
for order and announced that the Rev DIR. Nc
Carroll, of Grace Episcopal Church, would in
woke the divine blessing The invocation con-
cluded, the band struck lively air, and ths
guests fell to.
1t was not until 1880 o'clock that Chairman
Alger rose and stepped to the platform amid q
perfect uprOar He failed to secure a hearing,
so busy were the guests in talking and laughter.
He had blgle blown, but that had little effect.
He began to speak and gained the partial at
tentiOn of his hearers, and then introduced ex-
President Hayes, who made a fine speech, but
it was lost on the people, although they ap-
plauded him heartily when h0 finished. His
toast was the President of the United States,
and among other things he said:
The mere fact that during those four years thas
we were together, marching together in the dark
and in the rain and in the cold aud lighting for our
country, placed in such relations to each other
that we can sit on log in the wilderness alone
with any of our comrades, and have better COM
pany than any man VINO was not In the war and
truth is that the cOmradeshp in the war Is the be5h
Of all human friendships.
Gen. Alger then called for song from the
Rhode Island quartet, in hopes that it would
stop the noise bat it did not answer the pur-
pose. But by the time Col. Henry VI. Dufield
was on his feet the delegates and people in the
galleries began 70 listen. Col. Duiheds speech
was an eloquent one, and he received hearty
applause.
The Past Commanders in Chief Gen. WbeelOek
S. Veazey, was nest introduced. His voice was
powerful, but husky from its severe usage OK
the Convention, and his goods points were
loudly applauded.
When Gen. Nelson A. Miles. soldierly and
magnificent stepped to the front Of the plat
form he was received with round upon round
of cheers, but he said he would not attempt to
make speech to a noisy gathering, so told q
little story, the result of which was more noise
than before.
Past COMMANDMENTS Chief Burdett responded
most elOquently to the toast The Navy"
Gen. William Warner, of Missouri, said, in
part:
Yes comrades, keep u agoiug Keep wha6
agoiug? Not the idea that we are entitled TO
everything wit hin the gift of this Governments but
that IL Is no Disgrace 10 a man to have worn thu
blue or to have carried musset Keep it agoing,
comrades, that the pension roll Is the Nations roll
OF honor. Keep 10 agOiHg, comrades, that this Ma
ton owes debt of gratitude 20 the men who
placed their lives between IL aud those who would
destroy il that cannot be counted in dollars and
cents. Keep 10 agOiug that no man who was 8 SOL
disr in the Army or Navy of the Union, no widow
of a soldier, orphan of soldier or sailor, by the
eternal, shall look out upon the prosperity Of
Nation that tile men of '6l-5 fought to preserve
through the dingy windows of an almshouss.
Ex-Goy. Oglesby followed with the toast,
"The LOYAL Women" aud ex- Gov. Blair and
Commander Eaton closed the speaking.