Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-10-14
COLUMBIAN BANQUET
Ends the Big Celebration
at New York.
THE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
Patriotic Speeches by Messrs. Morton,
Foster and Flower.

=
ras the banquet ~ tn. Lenox Lyceum
last evening In point If distinguished
guests and patriotic eloquence IL was a
htting closing To The great demonstrations
The decorations were very elaborate
From the dome of the circular auditorium
streamers of rc .whiteand blue reached to
the pilasters at sides. where they were lost
behind the massive shields about which
flags OF different nstions were grouped.
The fronts Of the boxes and balconies
were hung with plush over which flag :
were festooned At the rear OF the guests
table enormous flags were placed so that
they fell apart at a signal and revealed Q
bust portrait Of Columbus The entrance
was mass Of roses aud other flowers,
and the floral decorations Of the tables
were elaborate
Ths Dinner
was excellent and well served. the wines
of good quality, and the music In keepin 2
with the rest Of the scene. The guests OF
honor dined on the stage, which was 50
draped as TO resemble an alcove OF the
main banquetting hall, and in the center
appeared a portrait Of Columbus, ,encircled
by the flags of Italy, Spain and the United
States. Mayor Grant presided, supported
on the right by Vice President Morton,
Secretary Of State Foster. sx-President
Cleveland. Mr. Arnold, president Of
the board of aldermen, Baron Fava,
Italian minister, G. f. Wahle, Jr;
on the left by Governor Flower ex-Presi-
dent Hayes, General Horace Porter and
Bishop Potter.
The 500 guests included the governors
Of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsyl-
vania, New Jersey and North Carolina.
General Schofeld and many others Of
prominence. But there was one empty
chair at the table of honor. Chauncey
Depew, who was TO have acted IA toast
master, was absent Mayor Grant sup.
piled his place as best he could. Mr..
Depew's unex planned absence deprived
the after-dinner oratory Of much of its
sparkle. At the close Of the dinner at 10
p. m, Mayor Grant arose to propose the
toasts, but as the wines had all by this
time been removed, the drinking OF toasts
was figurative only. The mayor, after
thanking all Of the organizations who had
contributed to make the Columbian cele-
bration success, briefly proposed:
president Of the United States"
Vice President Morton.
who was received with cheers, spoke as
follows:
The reason of the presidents absence from
these commemorative celebrations is known
% YOU all, and To the whole country. He 10
standing In great shadow awaiting the is
sues of life or death, and the eager oppor-
tunity with which the words brought by wire
from Washington are scanned, testify TO the
hopeful sympathy OF all our people. / lament
th.a - t.E Inn ..la
nentarily, aud am here TO thank you for the
respectful courtesy which has assigned him
the prominent post In these civic ceremonies.
IL is impressive from the events of tho
past five days that we have added a new holi-
lay 10 the American calendar. The twelfth Of
October will hereafter be marked with white.
We have instituted tho Columbian festival TO
De rated at the expiration OF each one hundred
Vears 20 the furthermost limit OF time by ac-
ors who will not have been witnesses of the
preceding celebration.
The opening pageant has been worthy
u the great pilot and the great discoverer. IL
las been applauded bya countless audience OF
Millions Of intelligent people, so vast that no
,ther city of the New World. and few Of tho
Old World. could administer to its care and
protection. Our houses Of worship testified
or two days 20 the deep impression called
'orth by the occason; the army OF children
rom the schools, equipped only with the
weapons OF education, put In evidence our
confident hope in the future, and the process
don on land and water gave constant proof OF
.he patriotism Of American people, Of our
sindred sd tribes; of the capacity Of self con-
rol OF Sc masses and of the power and in
genuity uf great people.
There were transport ed 10 our doors, with
speed and comfort, vast numbers OF men and
women and children, exceeding the popula-
ion OF most of the capitals OF the world by
a., - N,l. L...
ireamed; and during the watches of the night,
his cosmopolitan, with its streets and ave-
lues, its squares and arches, It's dwellings and
monuments, WAS Illuminated as II by fire, by
,everal inventions which are the product
Of the land which Columbus discovered. On
yehalf Of the president ! am here To especially
thank the ministers Of Spain and Italy and
France for the frsternal assistance, and the
representatives. Of other powers for their
kindly appreciation.
Mr. Mayor, with thanks 10 you and this
distinguished audience for the courtesies per-
onally shown TO myself, now turn over tho
cast proposed The United States OF Amer
ca" 90 the presidents principal adviser, the
secretary Of state.
Secretary Of state Foster
Immediately afterward arose and said:
venture the thought that the full fruits Of
he great achievement which we celebrate in
hat which il signifed by the sentiment just
announced United States-and must be
source Of sincere regret TO you ell that he 20
shom the duty was assigned, should not be
,ble 10 be present 10 make fitting Response.
No words Of mine can add interest or i'm
pressiveness TO that great act OF faith and
courage, which, since the advent Of the
ounder ~ the Christian religion, stands un
,aralleled In its importance and useful ness 10
mankind. BY means of IL the human race
tsve fought and Is working out a destiny,
which was not possible in the Old World.
How well and how fully that destiny has
)een attained In the past four centuries may
% most favorably tested by an eIamin alton
" the social conditions and the ph ysicai ac-
,omplishments OF states united In the pre-
dominating nation Of the hemisphere revealed
~ Columbus.
IL II not easy 10 separate from each other
and 20 discriminate between the influences
which operate VA the Old and New World.
But without attempting this tssk there are
some features which characterize the United
states. IN no othoi nation Of the world Il the
religious faith, which ~ efficiently contrib
lted 10 the success Of the FIRST voyage of the
iety. enriching its charities and eleyating he
ace. II was iu the United States that civil
md religious libcrty experienced its new
firth. here II hzs it- most Vital application aud
whose refer influence has been the most
prominent factor In the past hundred years In
reoonstructing society and government In
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