Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-02-23
Snnthern BANQUET.

Society hC lUe mtuIoo.i 81 So'NSni
New York, on ssturdeg u!gnt will long be
remembered as one OF The mos. enthusiastic
gatherings OF reuoited patriots III the annals
of the country. Seldom has the mammoth
barques-hail been shown to better sGVan-
tsge, ard the pleasure of the evening was
enhan ced by the presence in the boxes OF
scores OF pretty southern girls and women
resplendent in evening drese, who spp!auded
the orators of the evening with es much .st
! as the cheers of the men aud their presence
added greatly to the glory and splendcr OF
the house. The Il sal decorations wers e1-
ceedingly 6ns. The Presidents table was
placed on the front part OF the platform and
was surrounded with ferns snd roees
Rack of this and behind another hank Of
! farms was ensconced the orchestra, "n'cn
from time TO time discoursed tie most popr-
| lar southern airs. At the conclusion OF the
bsrauet "I'm G vine Back to ID xia" was
~ q with vim. ASGer this Pres dsut Hugh
K Garden gave his opening address TO the
hrethraa of the South. His address wss
on,ned with toast to the ladies' He re-
ferrsd with pride to the history OF the last
FIVE wears. II was fitting, he said, that such
a celebration should be On day which com
memorsted Tsshiugtons birthday.
Gov. Hill was 10 have replied to The toast
"Washingtoa," but sickness prevented bis
attendance. a telegram stating his regrets
was received. ..,
All entered heartily into The song my
Cd Kentucky Home" after which James
Lin dsay Gordon. Of Virginia, responded to
the toast. 1.-The eouib, Pillar OF Strength
to the Republic" During his speeoh Mr..
|, GORDON Said.
We are not ever likely TO forget that it was
a southern voica that moved the declaration
that .ha these U lited Colonies are ard of
right ought to be free ard independent
q ates:" that il was q Southern sWord-even
bis whose mai astic memory We have met to
honor to-aig ht-thst, brig at the head Of
the Continental armies. made that immortal
declaration good; thai IL was Southern pen
| that fashioned The charter of our iudepen-
| deace: that it was Southern brain whose
IL Gdence In moulding The Republics funda-
| ments! law gain, d for it's possessor the title
of Father OF the Constitution; that Il was 6
] Southern genius and eFudition that made
clear that great in, t.unent and established
the luminous landmark Of constitutional
construction that it was Southern state
msnship that wdened the boundaries OF tie
! Uoited States from the Gulf OF Mexico and
the Mississippi the Pacific and add; Tex
as, Now Mexico end California to the Amer-
lcsn domain that it was a Southern i;hu-
socs tbas occurred for the Republic all that
vast territory northwest OF the Ollo river,
now embraced 10 the great Commonwes tbs
of Ohio, Indiana, Wi cansin, Michigan and H.
mos: that il was Southern courage and
adventure lat pioneered the trsckIess re-
gions beyond the Mississippi and the Rocky
MJuL t sins; that it was Southern eltquence
That stemmed The tide of religious intoei-
sdcs aud swept "K1ow-nothingsM" from
American soil, and tnat 1t was e0u.hern
generalsbip that added New Orleans and
T;ppeo apoe 10 the bsttle-roll OF the Republic
and led It, trium phsnt armies up the stormy
height of Monterey and under the hamiDe
suus OF Chapu;tepec. Fr2m the
formation OF the federal act the South has
bean tho home of the democratic principle,
that which holda TO the Independence OF the
ct ,ns aud the sovereignty OF the state as
tha foundation stones, fundamental and es-
sential. on which is buiided the temple oi
cur liberties; aud 10 her great conservatism
aad abiding faith in that priocp'e, which is
ideaticai and co-eval with the faith OF the
fathers, che ia to-day, and God grant may
continue through ages TO come, as you have
we'll described her IN your toast, piller oil
} strength to the Republic.
The South Is q tower of strength to The Re
public, because she stands in an attitude OF
ready friendship to ali the other sections in
this country Out Of the rich and precious
blood she shed Ia struggle whose bitter
memories are fsdiug with the lapsiDg years,
but the record of whose feats of arms is death
lass Ybils courage snd Geyo ion are honored
among men: yea, cul Of the blended blood OF
blue and gray ere sprioeing tine lilies OF a
perfect pehca" Ste asks In all fraDkness
and sincerity CT her sometime foes that need
of coufien aud friendship that che lie
ready to accord TO them. But our mother
lard ia neither a suppiaDt for fsvor nor a
beggar for forgiveness. She has fought, che
has ST. IF .Ied, wel,-ngh has che starved, but
never vet, thank Goo, has she been beg
gar. Through all the dark days of her agony
and bloody swsat, when sitting arid the
ashes and desoetion of hee former hsppi-
ness, aud facing future which seemed AL
ed only with The bIackness OF great darkness,
there might we'll bave broken from ner the
cry of the CrucifisG One. "Mv God my
Coz! why hast thou forsaken me?' Through
ell That sad. enshsdowed time no wind that
came northwa,d brough. sIv acKnoWlede-
meat of trenseresson nor any plea for pa!
don from her proud aud palid Inns. Surely,
now that the sunlight of en- initiate mercy
and loving kindness has broken through the
shadows and lit for her radiant pathway
OF prosperity snd peace, DOW when her
banded ComeonWeRllhs stand once more
free ard equal liz the House Byaatiful OF the
fathers among the goodiy company OF States
that gather here, surely she will con;iuue
true to the consistent fortitude that charac
terizad her days OF suffering and crave no
forgiveness for cause 10 which she believes,
With all the fetVor of conviction, that she
fought With the sword of righteousness, and
that the banner oyer her was truth.
No, Mr. p esident, If have gagged the
temper OF the Southern people Alright, they
feel that In this government, which is theirs
az 1t is their brothers'-thst puder his starry
a lg and In this kirge larG which they are
ready 10 shed their blood to save these soy
ersiga States without refereUcs to differ
enoas that once divided them, and inked by
the law of the Constitution, and they trust