The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-10-14

CeleDEaIlOu hhS uOOkAs ~ 'fN
close tonight by a grand banquet at
the Lenox Lyceum. Several hundred
of the best known mon in the conn-
try were seated at the tables. The
President of the United States was
not present, owing to the illness Of his
wife. He was represented by Vice
President Morton.
Mayor Grant took the seat OF the pre-
siding officer, the vice president sitting
at his right. On the same side of the
table were Secretary OF State Foster, ex-
President Cleveland and Baron Fava.
At the left Of the mayor were Governor
Flower, ex.president Hayes, General
Horace Porter and Bishop Potter.
The time for spcech-making atIength
arrived and Mayor Grant raped the
banquet to order. The first toast was
responded to by Vice President Morton,
who said:
Mn. MAYOR AND GESrLEMeN:-The
reason for the Presidents absence from
these commemorative celebrations is
known TO you all, ami to the whole
country. He is standing in great
shadow, awaiting the issues OF life or
death, and the eager opportunities
with which the words brought by wire
from Washington are scanned, testiiies
to the hopeful sympathy OF all our peo-
pie.
lament the necessity OF taking his
place even momentarily and am hero to
thank you for the respectful courtesy
which has assigned him the prominent
post in these civic ceremonies.
Vice President Morton then alluded
TO the events OF the lust three days,
which passed OF so happily.
"On behalf OF tho President, am
here especially to thank the ministers
OF Spain and Italy and France for their
fraternal assistance, and the ropresen-
tatiyes OF other powers for this kindly
appreciation. May now turn over the
the toast proposed to "The United
States OF America" to the Presidents
principal adviser, the secretary oil
stateE
At the close OF his address, Mr.. Nor
ton proposed a toast to the vile OF the
President and expressed wish for her
speedy recovery.
Secretary of State Foster responded to
the toast "The United States" He
said:
To mako the United States the sub
jecJ OF an aiter-dinner speech reminds
one OF tine despair Of the great philoso.
pher Kant, when the versatile and
would.be omniscient Madame De Stael
demanded OF him an explanation OF his
philosophy at an evening reception,
and how his despair was turned to dis
gust when, after patiently hearing him
for ten minutes, she uninterrupted him by
saying: THAT will do. that will do. |
understand it all now"
fear may not have such thoroughly
satisfied auditors as the great phioso-
pher when my ten minutes have ex-
pired.
However, venture the thought that
the full fruits oil the great achievement
which We celebrate in this banquet are
most conspicuously embodied in that
which is signified by the sentiment inst
announced-the United States-and it
must be source of sincere regret TO
you all that he to whom the duty was
assigned should not be able to be pres
ent to make fitting response.
No words oil mine can add interest or
impre.siveness TO that great act of faith
and courage which, since tho advent OF
the founder OF tho Christian religion
stands unparalleled in its importance
and usefulness to mankind. BY means
OF it the human race was wrought and
is working out destiny which was not
possible in the old world. How well
and how fully that destiny has been at
tanned in tho past four centuries may
be most lavorably tested by an exami-
nation OF the social conditions and tho
physical accomplishments Of the states
united in the prcdoininating nation OF
the hemisphere revealed by Columbus.
To-day the sixty.ive millions Of peo.
pie who inhabit this land possess an
aggregated wealth far greater than any
other nation OF the world. In the OK.
tent and value Of their manufactures
and industries they have no equal. In
its agricultural and mineral productions
this country is superior to any other.
But why should repeat and extend
these well known facts? Certainly not
in order toimpress upon this audience
tho appropriateness OF the Imposing
demonstrations witnessed this week in
our great metropolis in honor of tho
man who made all of these achieve
;ncnts possible.
In the midst OF our glorifcation Of
Columbus, and Of our own gloritication,
II may not be in the best taste for me
TO tint at any short comings or defects
OF these United States. Bu: it is plain
TO any intelligent citizen that we have
not reached perfection in either society
or government, get do not propose tho
unweIcome task OF enumerating these
detects tonight.
In my residence abroad the criticism
most frequently made to me by public
men and intelligent observers was the
lax and partial administration OF Justice
in the United States. loo often have /
been made TO blush at tho recital; /;
usually 1t is true in exaggerated terms
oi tho riots, lynchings and lawless ex-
ecntion OF punishment upon supposed
cnlpriis not inirequOnt in this country.
Usually, It is tho imperfect adminis-
trauon OF Justice by the constituted au-
thority which occasions but never justi.
i!es these lawcss acts; and back OF tho
direliet authorities may generally DO
iiound a perverted public sentiment.
What n well-grounded source oil cxulta.
iation II would be II TO the list already
enumerated, VIC could mako tho claim
that IN this land Justice was always i'm.
partially administered, TO tho nigh and
low to the rich aud poor, without fear
other speakers were Governor Flower,