Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-15
THE DEEDS OF THEIR FoREFATHERs.
They Were Celebrated Last Night by the Sons
of the American Revolution.

/ GEN. NETTLEToN, Mr. GARNETr AND OTHERS.
| There was decidedly revolutionary tinge t.
the atmosphere around the Normandie las
night when the clans began to gather for the
first annual banquet of the District of Column
bia Society of the Order of the Sons of the
American Revolution. which took place ther
and there. As gastronomic, social, menta
and revolutionary event it was n complete sue
cess and it will no doubt be followed in year.
to come by others that will make the name Of
! this society famous for its fessts The ban.
| quet was served on fifteen small tables, accom-.
modating from four to six guests, this ar
rangement tending TO a diffusion of converse
ton and generality of enjoyment that is I'M
usual at such affairs.
In the absence of Admiral Porter, the presi-
dent Of the society. Gen. Greedy, the senior
vice president. presided at the head table with
Gen A. II. NettletOn, assistant secretary of the
treasury, one OF the guests of honor of the
evening. After the coffee had been served and
the air was being rapidly blued with the smoke
of seventy-five cigars Gen. Greedy opened the
mental portion of the entertainment by a short
speech, in which he regretted the unavoidable
necessity for his presiding in place of the adj
mlral. He spoke Of the remarkable record OF
the Porter family and noted that it was for
tunate that Americas sons have emulated and
great men of the revolution. He quoted some
body to the effect that flame is the fragrance
of heroic deeds" 1t was a cause for congratu-
lation to the society, he added. that, although
but less than year old, it now has a member
ship of over two hundred. 1t is not only a
part of the great republic, but the American
part of the republic. He then introduced as
the toaster Of the evening Gen. Breckenridge,
inspector general Of the army. who sat at the
table at the other end of the room with Justice
Strong, Gov. Boutelle and Gen. o. b. Wilcox.
Gen. Breckenridge remarked that he was
most happy in what was to be said by the
others; he was happy as the silent member of
the fraternity which was somewhat out of the
line of his own family. He presented the first
speaker, Representative Wilson, of West yir-
ginia, who was given the toast The Nirginias.
Mr. WILSON'S ADDRESS.
When Mr.. Wilson asserted that he was too
modest for his toast Mr.. Boutelle questioned
this statement and Mr.. Wilson verified it by
stating that on the floor of the House that day
he had refused twenty minutes of time, ten
dered to him at that by Mr.. Springer. and he
added: There is. you know, no lengths of
generosity to which q candidate for Speaker
will not 60" As Mr.. Wilson is himself re-
garded BY MANY of his friends as a strong pos
sibility for the Speikership this remark caused
general laughter and started his speech well
on its way.
His address was 6 remarkable bit of oratory.
consisting of "A defense of the people of the Nir-
ginias from the slurs that have been cast upon
them. He first cor trasted the Puritan with the
Nirginian. rather to- the advantage of the latter,
and in humorous way drew the line of de-
narration between these dissimilar peoples.
The Puritan. he sail. had come here for free
dom of religion. but had he known the extent
to which religion was destined to be free In this
country he would probably have gone back
home. The Virginia pioneers. he asserted,
were probably Llore typical Englishmen than
the Puritans. Although the Virginian as
class, was not the churchman that the other
was he was somewhat like the colored brother
who WIEN asked at protracted meeting if he
loved ITO Lord replied that he had .'nothin'
agin him." Mr.. Wilson said that he had read
with pain a slur On the Vrginians in one
ca the American statesmen series OF books,
wherein it was asserted that Virginia had an
Ignorant. lazy. horse-racing. gambling people.
He then went on to speak OF the men produced
by this race of people and said that no greater
men had ever been given to the world than four
of Virginias sons, mentioned by a northerner
as being four of five men directly responsible
for the freedom of the coun.ry-Washingto
Madison. jefferson and Marshall-and if yir-
ginia had given to the nation none but these
she would have earned the eternal gratitude of
the citizens of America for all time to come.
He said. in conclusion. that 1t Is not free
government that makes free people, but a
free people that makes free government.
GEN. NETILEroN.
Gen. Breckenridge remarked in the line of
Mr.. Wilson's thought, that if the society should
do no more that night it had already produced
one little gem of which it could always be
proud. He then introduced Gen. Nettleton,
whose briefer address was less serious in its
Tone although his many pleasantries were fol-
lowed by some sound reasoning. 1t is neces-
sary. he said. for the country, its unfortunate
history of the past 30 years, to revive some sense
of perspective in the history of the nation and
to cease to regard the events of the past quar-
ter Of a century Of too personal and individual
a nature. 1t is q case. he said. Of the distor-
ton of history. In speaking to the question
of whether or not this people has well ad-
ministered the estate left it by the country
founders lie stated several beliefs con-
tanned in his political creed that
were very interesting. He said he
thought that it was possible to so dilute and de-
grade the suffrage in free country as to limit
the days of the republic; that immigration
must be sifted and sorted carefully or there
is ahead of us and our descendants the worst
sort of political chaos, and that political cow
ardice is one Of the most grievous errors of the
day and the sooner We put this cowardice be-
hind us the sooner, as he expressed it, I'VE can
properly be called Sons OF the American Revo-
lution."
MR.. BoUTELLE's RESPONSE.
The next address was by Mr.. Boutelle, who
spoke to the toast ''Sons of the Revolution as
the founders of great maritime power" The
United States, he said, is in itself the result of
a venture on the ocean and it was natural that
the colonists should show an early DEVELOPMENT
of strong naval traits and an adventuresome
spirit. He spoke of the battle of Machias the
Lexington OF the seas, as II had been called.
There Is no record more brilliant or achieve
ments more influential in all American history
than those OF American seamanship in early
times. The rapidity and effectiveness of Amer
lean progress in naval matters have served at
all times to set the pace for the rest Of the civil
lied world. II is fortunate for the country and
for the peace Of the world that the people have
again given attention to the restoration of the
prestige of the American republic on the
waters of the earth, and that we are now
enabled to look into the near future and zee
the time when the nation shall be once more
on footing of equality with the other nations
Of the earth. II was but a very few Years ago
that the proposition to build an American war
ship of American material and designed and
constructed 10y American workmen was be-
heyed to be quite out of reason. but the period
of inability had now passed and we can point
with pride to the wonderful tribute paid
recently by high authorities in the English
navy, who have praised the gun-making plants
of the country as being the best in the world.
EHPRoNPTU SPEECHES.
This speech finished the regular toasts. but
the POSTMASTER called on couple of impromptu
speakers. who proved quite equal to the occa-
sion. The first was Mr.. Henry Wise Garnett.
who said that all present should feel grateful
that their forefathers should have gone so often
without their dinners. so that their descendants