The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-11-16

not in the programme. have cen
making great many speeches within
the last three or four weeks, and | am
bound to say ! do not particularly ad-
Inire the result of them. | did not think
too highly of them when / made them,
and l think great deal less of them
now"
MIR. Reid made several graceful al
iusions to the president-elect, concluding
by saying; Il think / may speak for
my associates as well as myself in say
ing to the gentlemen who are soon TO
take control of the government that
whatever they may do to sustain our
nag and promote the prosperity Of the
country they will find in the United
States no Republicans and no Demo-
Gratis, but we are Americans ALL"
MIR. Depew's "obituary."
It was midnight when Mr.. Reid fin
ished speaking, and yet the event of the
banquet had not yet taken place. This
happened some minutes later, though,
when, amid uproarous laughter and
great applause, Hon. Chauncey NJ. De-
pew was introduced to the audience.
There was smile on Mr.. Clevelands
face as the distinguished orator arose
and there was bland smile on Mr.. De-
pew's face as he, at ten minutes past
II suppose that l am the only person
here tonight" he said, who occupies an
embarrassing position. A man upon
platform in the heat of a political can
vass makes u speech which it is difficult
for him to fulfill.
THE trend of events does not create
the condition for which he has prepared
his speech. l expected to be here to-
night attending the obsequies of dis
tinguished friend of mine, and | had
prepared an eulogium which would have
been satisfactory to the spirit of the de-
ceased. Instead, discover that | am
listener at Democratic ratification
meeting. | find that our places are
changed l am the corpse. But even
the noribnnd have privileges.
"A classmate of mine who was q
preacher, found himself settled in a
Spiritualistic neighborhood The leader
of the Spiritualistic band died and his
friends came to see the Clergyman and
said: We have something of the old
Puritan spirit left, and we think our
leader ought to be buried by a Christian
ceremonial. Will you do itF
MY friend consented and delivered
the best eulogy that he conscientiously
could. The wife of the dead spiritualiSt
arose and said she had Il message from
sage, which roundly abused the minister
and his eulogy and his sermon and
everything else. One of the friends of
the deceased said to the preacher We
had no idea that our departed leader
would be here in spirit. We hope you
will forgive him.
MY friends, would forgive, for this
is the first time in many ministrations
that | have been passed by the corpse"
Mr.. Depew then referred to the speech
on the Typical American which he de-
liyered at the Astor House two years
ago, and said that this speech had formed
campaign document for the Demo-
Gratis, and had inspired him to the prom
ise that he would pronounce eulogy
still further of taffy over Mr. Cleveland
at the present dinner after Mr.. Cleye-
lands defeat.
81 cannot add, he said, anything to
what was alleged to have said on that
occasion, because a greater orator than [
has spoken. 1t is the American peo-
pie who spoke last Tuesday They
have pronounced Mr.. Cleveland's eulogy,
not in figures Of speech, but ia figures
that were disastrous to us.
II sympathize somewhat with Mr..
Cleveland in tho feeling that he has that
too much is said about business interests
threatening this or promising that. Yet,
as our friends have been out of power
for thirty years, and have not had the
duty thrust upon them to deal with the
business interests, want to give them
this word Of warning: Business in
terests, like the wasp, have a business
end, aud they had better bo careful How
they finger it."
''lf Mr.. Cleyeland's policy wins, then
he stands for the next century as the
evangelist OF policy which has done
for tho country what the best statesmen
have failed TO do.
III, however, his policy is fairly tried,
and shall prove that 1t was not wise,
then Mr.. Reid and shall at the end Of
four years have the pleasure of hearing
the corpse talk to us"
There was laughter and applause,
amid which Mr.. Dopew sat down, and
the chairman declared the banquet over