Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-06
EX-SENATOR SOONER BASoUErED.


ASsOclAIes nuuusOnefy
Him Mt Chamberlin's.
Thirty-five Of the most distinguished men in
public life last night paid remarkable tribute
to statesman who has been temporarily rele-
gated to a private career Ex-senator John C..
Spooner of Wisconsin was the honored guest at
banquet rendered him by a number Of his
late associates in the United States Senate, gen.
tlemen who had served with him on the com.
mittee on claims Chamberlin's WAS the place
where the feast was spread and when the hour
of arrived the entire company was present.
In all there were five guests, President Harri-
son. Vice President Morton, Secretary Rusk
and Senator Sawyer having been invited to
grace the occasion with their presence. The
subscribers were Senators John T.
aaSrSa n s Ho. Quay j. n si polph'
Anthony Higgins, E. wolcott, Geo. Gray,
J. X. Jones. Chas. j. Faulkner. 8. Pasco John
b. Allen, Justin S. Morrill,. John ?. Jones, w.
b. Allison, VIM T. Chandler. Chas. f. Mander-
son, NJ G. Butler, A. p. German. G. G. Vest,
Eugene Hale, Nelson W. Aldrich. p. b. Plumb
VIM. NJ. Evarts, Jas. Mcmillan, Algernon 8.
Paddock, W. F. Sanders and S. M. Cullom.
Senator Mitchell was POSTMASTER. and when
the elaborate menu came TO q conclusion. so
far as the solids we're concerned. he made a
he referred to his friend from Wisconsin in
terms of unaffected endearment.
SENATOR sPooNEns RESPONSE.
Responding to the remarks of the Senator
from Oregon Mr.. Spoonor said: 'f I were
gifted, which am not, with the art of graceful
after-dinner speech. could not worthily en-
ploy II on this occasion. l am conscious of the
fact that l not only arise to acknowledge an
honor, but to bid you farewell. II l not
gr Isa6o t tho ind arrAey vnvsta and
manifestations of friendship shown me, you are
to blame for ii. From the first day entered
the Senate you have made me the recipient OF
kindness and courtesy, and led me to expect
ate six years ago, but you seem to make it more
of a triumph for me to leave public life than to
enter it. / do not fail to note the contingent
the other side has contributed of its splendid
leadership. 1 have often had occasion to re-
member in the friendships made in the Senate
that. in the language of Mr.. Garfield, of the
flowers Of friendship none are 80 sweet as those
that grow over the garden wall of politics.
The friendships that are formed in the Senate
survive the shock and bitterness Of any sepa-
ration. lament my inability to frame in APP
propriate language the gratitude that fills my
heart tonight.
'It would be foolish affectation il did not
admit that leave public life with regret. There
is fascination about it which l cannot ana
lyze, but which know exists. 1t ia life which
leaves it without regret To one who really
values his seat in the Senate it offers splendid
field for service. 1t is the highest Legislative
body under the shining sun. The Senate is the
embodiment of industry and painstaking care
for the public interest. The Senate, when
every one is in his seat, and aroused to action,
is the greatest embodiment Of intellectual
strength and tactical power in the world.
There was never period In the history of the
world when the standard of honor was higher
than it is today, and there never was body i'll
which it was higher than the Senate of the
United States. No man with any mind could
serve six years in the Senate without being
broader in his views of men and things. 1
confess that l go out of the Senate without
knowing one-hak as much as thought did
when went in. (Laughter.l expect that
hereafter the most interesting publication TO
me will be the Congressional Record. 1 will
watch for it with that interest born of the
knowledge of the men whose thoughts are there
reproduced"
Mr.. Spooner concluded his speech with feel
ing references to ex-senator Evarts and Sena-
tor Sawyer
Nearly all of the Senators present spoke
briefly of the man they had assembled to honor
and the Vice President and Secretary Rusk
added their quota to the eloquence Of the &C.
casion.
previous engagement compelled President
Harrison 20 leave the table at an early hour SO
the regrets of the chief executive at Mr..
Spooners retirement. were not publicly ex-
pressed.