New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-28
TOASTING GRANTS MEMORY.
DINNER OF THE BIRTHDAY ASSOCIATION.
ELOQUENT SPEECHES BY SECRETARY ELKINs,
HOWARD, SENIOR ROMERO, ELIHU
ROOT AND SETH LOW,

HOWARD, SENIOR hOhthOi ILlEU
ROOT AND SETH LOW.
The genius OF that simplicity which was so con
spicuous attribute OF General Grants character was
cXemplifed In the dinner given In cOmmemoratiOn Of
the SEVENTEEN anniversary Of his birth last evening at
Delmonico's. Nearly all who were present had wit
messed the stately ceremonies OF the laying of the
nerst0ne Of his tomb ut Riverside and they naturally
brought with them from that scene some Of the in
spiration that every had experienced who witnessed
what took place the towering banks Of the Hudson.
The Dinner Committee Of which General Charlie. II.
T. Coils was chairman, had arranged details with
view TO sociabllty rather than conventionnly. The
plan of a table Of honor elevated little above the
level Of the other tables had been preserved At this
were seated General GrenviIe NJ. Dodge ~ chairman.
Stephen g. Elklns. Secretary OF War: Generals j. VI.
SchOfeld, .. o. Howard. Wager Swayne and
Horace Porter; Senior Matias Romero, Of Mexico:
Commodore Henry Erben and the Rev. DR.. II. ;. Mac
Arthur who asked the blessing. The other tables. nine
IN number were presided by General Charles
H. T. Coils Cornelius n Bliss. Richard Butler. H. O.
Armour, Charles c. Beiman, Adriance Bush, Charles
H. Ropes, Colonel n. r. Spague and William ID.
Guthrie.
Some Of those seated at these tables were Henry
W. Cannon, to whom was given much credit for his
management of the Presidential procession to the tomb
in the afternoon T. :. Grant, ir.. Seth Low, Colonel
f. F. Cragin, \. X. whitney, Efhu Root Jesse II.
Grant. Woodbury. Langdon Frederic Taylor, John II.
Stain. General Thomas l.. Watson. samuel Fessenden.
of stamford Conn; j, S. r. sranahan, Colonel Will
lam L. Strong George Wilson, Howard Carroll Horace
Russell and William Brookfeld About 100 covers
were laid.
The souvenirs presented were OF unusual interest
and value The principal one consisted of fine en-
cravings OF Lincoln and Grant, of large size. nclosed
between covers the first page Of which were printed
the words Grants Birthday dinner April 81 1e'2'
and "A list of the committee arrangements Ac-
complaining each a leaiet containing these words
These portraits beth taken in April, 1863 Gen
eraI Grants Immediately after the surrender at
Apponattox, and Mr.. Lncoln's few DAYS before his
death. They are now reproduced for the hrSt ume'
The plates have been destroyed by the American Bank
Note Company by direction. only 10 Impressions
being in existence signed, c. H. T. Coils"
Another souvenir was Il silver spoon. with medal
lion OF Grant on the STEM and representation OF the
monument on the bowl. third was a bronze meda''
with representation of the Grant tomb on one side,
and the Drofles of Washington Lincoln and Grant on
the other. and above these were the titles "fa'her'
savior Defender one of these medals struck In
gold at the Philadelphia mint, and presented to MIS-
Grant yesterday by the Grant birthday AnniVeie"rS
Organization. The menu was also "A handsome souVe-
mir. ON the front page was representation oil frea-
dent Harrison In the act of formally laying the corner
stone of the tomb while on the reverse side WAS an
engraving representing the tomb rs IL VIII appear
when completed the present designs. Beneath was
the legend: Bis Dat Qm tlto Dat - TIC sNeS '"i'0
who gives quickly
The decorations consisted Of three-quarer length
portait Of General Grant In oil. from the famous pho
tograph by Gutekunst, Of Philadelphia taken III le"o'
This was placed Immediately back of General Dodges
chair on his right portrait Of Washington
and on the left one OF Lincoln
During the speaking the gallery was occupied by
number OF ladies' Among these were Mrs. EkiIs,
All. ElIrpS MR. Coils Mrs Ell Parker Mrs. tplan
and Mrs. Ropes.
SECRETARY ELKINS'S SPEECH.
General Dodge called upon Secretary Elkins to re
spopd to the toast, General Grant, Mr. ElhlnS sad
in part go
We celebrate this day because Ii Il associated WITH
one country under one nag. Lncoln's pen , wrote
words that DESTROYED slavery ana SaVeo me b
rb ht uossesons of nation ar It's great men.
Italy that beautiful land, with twenty centuries Of
history art, literature and philosophy Oehnd hcr 'eus
the world In gr' men I hm sn ~ M Of the
worlds greatest generals, and gwen 10 history the
trumvirate, Washington, Lincoln and Grant. TAP
Grants boy hood teaches lesson to parents VINO
strive make their sons lives easy ana 10 leave ',
fortunes loading them down with impcimehts uit
viii hinder them in the race Of HE. when PiS SVeno
come great men apPear Al Te W. d. Who had
conquered the world, lamented thal ,,ihsv-n I
G GTa1 was unknown to the country, and
~, t had bcen uneyntful Before he was forty two
he commanded the largest organized army h'V"m "
history and fought, without serious reverse u''"
that rank with the great battles Of the world. ~
ortysx he reached lie Presidency, and my nc
had served two terms Chief Executive OF the Nallo
~" had done so much 10 preserve. lie crowded nor
success more advancement ana more acneVcnie' ~,
history There will always be- speculation a. To- uls
secret of Grants sudden, uniform ana unPniaiiierp
him best will set II down in part to H. common son
The best talent that bless man. Alded 10 thh s
unselnshness another element OF rs snoce,s ~
ras without SelfapppciatOn: he did not wclgh ana
consider what effect his action might nave on NJ
do The duty before him. lie did not have t he
hfnnlfy OF indecison with the facts before n, ,
S mn ,I,o his army or fight and made no excuses
Grant had that simplicity that lelongs to glsa,
smoke Of himself In hi. fatal illness, when suffering
most intense pain he never gave forth word Of com.
PAIN rIn,d he heard In any society lie never uttered
n profane word he never spoke eNtravaganty ueu
eraIning and Instructive lker and had the merit pf
allowing hs companion, not only 10 take paft III VIC
was so clear in expression that even Child cOli ray
Understand hi, meaning His information about his
y"t5tS cus-oms. resources. trade and commerce was
y-ide and accurate. Ills memory Of men and Their
n Tho cnemy's country without first going over every
S u ho ,s loving and deelentla TO his wife, mind
mi of her wisc. and aiiectionate TO hs children ms
bearing were AT all InfN pOlllf ihlu
njdcd lie was full OF ciSirity and GOOD deed, but
never spoke OF his hndnes> and helpful acts lie was
nrrnoi5. Of deception or intrigue; never acted from
impnie passion OF REVENGE lie had complete ma teIy
Of himself under caunny, Nproach and injustice he
Ne said that victory often brought Utilities
that made it next 10 defeat lie understood the south
heftor Than any public man OF his time not of The
south lie loved the Southern people, and sym2athkel
with them in the disaster rum ana despair tlnt 1i,
succeeded in the war. IN ten years her people would
bavo ,vnged another IN get back into the Union.
wstcbing the movement OF the enemy on the james
river once ne said They are brave fellows; when
iris thing is over, what country we shan nave
Applause.l .. ,o,oou ~. ,,.o .,,,,,. .,;o,,ons -
md tho curtains Of life drawn more closely we,
wba knew him well. will esteem Il most prec ons