St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-31
THE BIG BANQUET.
Nearly 800 Republicans Dined
and Made Glowing Speeches.

The banquet occurred in the main dining
room, away up on the twelfth floor. Nearly
700 good Republicans were seated at the ia
bles, and from the way the dishes ratified and
the knives ard forks moved through the air
IT is evident that nearly BOD men did justice
to the vIands. There were four long tables
ranged side by side. and at each were seated
sixty gentlemen. At another table at the head
of the dining room were seated the speakers
OF the eYening-the so-called Republican
moguls and in front of them quartette of
mandolin players, who rendered excellent
music throughout the evening. i'll spite OF the
fact that their nOstrl5 were assailed and
stomachs exasperated by odors from the fra
grant dishes. The euiire party was in the
best of humor. and occasionally indulg ed in
bursts of symphonic melody as aecompan
iment to the music. The banquet began at Il
few moments lefoTe O'Clock. and for an
hour the hungry politicians continued to
stuff themselves. AT the END of that time
Nature and wristbands ASSERTED themselves
The despoliation of delicac'es and substan-
tials ceased, and the feast of reason and
flow of sour began.
David F. Simpson, the amlable assistant
city attorney and Coming Republican
Prodigy" acted in the capacity of master of
ceremonies and according TO established
precedent and custom, delivered the first
speech of the evening. lie welcomed the
guests on behalf of the Union league. and
wished them all success in their efforts dur
ing the coming political struggle. Mr. Simp-
sons discourse was repletswith sallies at the
expense of the Democtatic aild Peoples par
ties, all OF which met with tho most enthusi-
astic applause and appreciation. He told
several apropos stories also, one of which had
Donnelly for its central SyTre. OF course, it
was in good-natured rdicule of that sage and
hard. Before closing he briefly reviewed the
political situation in the country and painted
the future of the Republican party in glow
ing colors, lie offered a toast TO the party
which. accordingQto Mr.. Simpson, was the
grandest on earth, and The only one that was
right OH all great questions, and requested
the guests to rise and drink to its prosperity.
They arose to a man and each drank goblet
of water senator + e. Stevens, of st.
Paul, responded to Mr.. Simpsons address of
welcome on behalf of the executive com
for its kind and bountiful entertain
ment, and then launched forth into
an oratorical symposium of politics.
Everybody knew, he said the causes of
the Republican party defeats. The causes
were Ignorance, falsehood and bigotry.
Wherever these evils prevailed the GepIp-
lican party met with nothing but defeat 1t
is the mission of the state league OF clubs to
combat the evils. lie advocated circulating
paper and securing the signatures of every
Republican in the state. In this manner
they will commit themselves to the party and
thereby form mighty army.
Tams Bixbv, secretary of the state central
committee, was the next Speakar to enter
tain the assemblage. He spoke of the neces-
Slty OF organization in the state. One great
deficiency III the party work heretofore was
the lack of proper organization, but this
year 1t was absolutely essential, inasmuch as
the Democratic party would make royal
battle OF it, He admitted that he was not as
sanguine as his colleagues over the result of
the coming campaign; he di0 not believe
that the Republican majority in the state
would be 25,09O. unless the Deity was extra
ordinarily blind. William Henry Eusts
followed Mr.. Bixby with sar
castle and semi-humorous explana-
ton of the subtreasury scheme
There was no substance to it, he said. SO he
really could not discuss it with earnestness
| and candor. 1t vas piece OF folly that did
original. 1t originated decades ana decades
ago. and there was no advance in il ut all.
Mr.. EustiS is clever after dinner talker, and
his speech was interesting, though it is
doubtful if members of the Peoples party
would have considered it SO. Before Mr..
Eustis concluded he gave vent TO some of his
characteristic eloquence, and. with coin OF the
realm as basis, delivered himself of truly
dramatic speech.
S. f. Olson responded to the toast The
Merchant and the Mckinley Bill" He hand
led the subject with great deal OF tact and
In an exhaustive manner. In fact. Mr.. Olson
demonstrated that in spite or business cares
he has time to delve into philosophy as it re-
lates to political economy. The Mckinley
bill, he maintained approached The nearest
to being infallible of any law bearing on the
same points that had been formulated.
Georgt Thompson, proprietor of the st.
Paul Dispatch, was called upon 20 speak i'll
behalf of the press. Mr. sim pson introduced
| Mr.. Thompson with So many floral offerings
| (by word Of mouth that it is a wonder that
Mr. Thompson had the temeIi.y 70 respond