Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-09-17

eonator Anthony Higgins. looking
greatly refreshed and improved in health
~ bis recent jaunt across the ocean, sat in
his law office, on Tuesday, and warmly
greeted The GAZETTE reporter who called
epon him.
Senator Higgins said he sailed from
New York on June 18th on the steamship
Augusta Victoria of the Hamburg line.
he landed at Southampton and went to
London, where he stayed week. Thence
ne journeyed to Paris and spent another
week. being pleasantly entertained by
Consul-general King, who is an old Della
warean, having spent his early life at Della
ware City. He next went TO Carlsbad and
0pent three weeks there. A tour through
Switzerland was taken, with stops at
Geneva and Zurich. Then Milan and its
famous cathedral were inspected, after
which the senator went to Lyons and Bor-
deaux, and at the latter place was hospita-
bly, entertained by Consul Horace Greedy
Knowles. From Bordeaux he returned to
London, and on September 9Th set sail for
nome on the saale, arriving Monday.
Although the senator greatly enjoyed
the trip, he was glad to get home and was
particularly pleased at his warm reception
yesterday In New York bay. To-day he is
practically holding q levee at his law office,
with cheerful greetings for the friends
that are constantly calling to welcome him
back to Wilmington.
Nathaniel Mckay Of New York. the we'll
known naval contractor of the Robesonian
era, and John Blair Of Washington ac-
companied the committee that went down
on the revenue cutter to take Senator
Higgins from the steamship.
The New York Tribune says that when
Senator Higgins greeted Henry G. Robin
son, on board the revenue cutter he said /:
e'Why, Henry, how are you? Do you
ignow carried you with me everywhere.
From London to Paris, Carlsbad, Munich,
Zurich. Milan and back to London again.
Why, Henry, you don't know what ex-
cellent credit you have over there"
THE RECEPTION IN NEW YORK RAY.
The delegation that left this city on q
special train for New York, on Monday
morning, to tender a reception to Senator
Higgins, arrived in New York at $40, and
was met by j. ii. Hoffecker, Jr., who had
gone in advance. Mr.. Hoflecker in
formed the delegation that such large
party could not be accommodated on the
revenue cutter and that another boat would
have to be procured.
Subsequently the steamer John E.
Moore was chartered for the party and
Mr.. Hoffecker, H. G. Robinson and George
II. Hollis were appointed committee to
go down on the revenue cutter Washington
and take Senator Higgins off the North
German Lloyd steamship Saale on its
arrival. The cutter started off at once and
between and 2 O'Clock intercepted the big
ocean steamship neal. the quarantine. The
cutter ran alongside the steamship and the
committee boarded her, greatly to the
establishment of Senator Higgins, who
had not the romotest idea that such sur
prise was in store for him. After the ex-
change Of greetings the committee re-
turned to the cutter, in company with
Senator Higgins. General James II. Will
81. l..
expected and is still in Europe.
Meanwhile the other members of the
delegation made tour of inspection of
the barge office in New York, where Cap.
tain Charles II. Gallagher, formerly of
this city is a leading official and Dr. j. II.
Tonner, another former Wilmngtonian,
is chief surgeon. They welcomed the Wis
itors cordially. After d. trip to Ellis Island,
the proposed new emigrant landing, the
visitors boarded their steamer and started
down the bay. They We're joined by John
ii. Moore, formerly of this city, and Mar
shall II. Prettyman of Milford, now an
official in the emigration bureau. About
half way to the quarantine they met the
Saale coming up and later the cutter
Washington. The cutter ran alongside
the steamer, and Senator Higgins and the
committee at once went aboard. The SEN
ator was instantly surrounded by the Del
awareans, who greeted him warmly and
then gave him three hearty cheers. After
the greetings were over everybody adj
journed to the cabin of the steamer and
then j. II. Hoffecker, Jr., addressing the
Nenator, said:
I'm behalf of these friends Of yours I
have the pleasant duty of welcoming you
to your country and home after your visit
to Europe. We have supposed that the
most pleasant sight of your visit would be
the sight of land on your return and next
to that would be the pleasure Of seeing and
greeting your friends and in their greeting
lind assurances Of continued good will
toward yourself and assurance Of interest
! IN the party which you represent.
q Your looks tell us that YOU have had a
b<sisant visit and we believe it will not
silnar your pleasure to know that things
have not gone astray in Delaware in your
absence. With these assurances, again
bid you welcome home.n
In response, Senator Higgins spoke as
follows st is not required that should
say that am highly pleased to receive this
pleasant welcome or that | should say
that ] am pleased to see you manifesting
an interest in the little State of Delaware.
am too much Delawarean to be other
wise than pleased at such manifestations,
and would be guilty of ingratitude if
were not pleased with your personal well
come to me.
II went abroad for rest and health. But
even in search of these one cannot be in q
foreign country without making COM
parison between foreign lands and Amer
lea. One thing impresses the visitor and
that is that ours Is a rich country.
.At this time when America has full
.rops the prospect Is of an increase in our
iches, as our great crops are needed to fill
the gap made by the short crops of
Europe. Our corn and wheat will keep
many of the people of Europe from starry
alton. For us these crops and the gold
they will bring will serve to convince the
farmers of the west that the cure of exist
ing troubles does not lie in cheap money.
1--WE have for the first time in our history
come to the limit of our available land for
homesteads for the great crowds of people
who are rushing to America. And the
time is coming when we will need to cat
instead of selling our grain abroad / say
this because our available lands are nearly
all under cultivation, and we have at once
reached the limit of our homestead lands
and of our great grain output.
''These facts bring us face to face with
another very grave problem-that of i'm
migration. / would not willingly be the
first to deny to the oppressed of Europe
the right of asylum in our free land. 1t is
fact, however, that thoughtful men of
all parties admit the necessity of putting
some check on the inflow Of people who,
without adding anything to our wealth or
morals, will overcrowd the labor markets.
Something must be done in the near flu
ture to avert this evil.
II do not at this time, in my interest for
the United States, forget my own State. |
am sure we have signs of better days, and
that ere long the little Diamond State will
take her place in the line of states loyal to
the Union and to the principles Of freedom
and protection.
.'I'thank you again most sincerely for
this token OF your Confidence and esteem."
The boat reached the landing at 4.3o
o'clock and the party separated until 8