Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-07
SHIELDS AND ILLINOIS
Subjects Of Eloquent Speeches at the
Banquet Last Night
Gen. Shields EulOgized as . Soldier
Statesman and Man-SenatOr
From Two States.


rated. Pyramids of fruits. stands of flowers
and wreaths of smilax were displayed in
orthodox banquet fashion. After the feast
came the flow of reason. c. II. Mansur
of Missouri was the toast master. He ex-
planned how II had all come about, ana
told OF the reason and the aim of the fete.
He said many eloquent words over the
memory of the late general. He told of his
early struggles, of his real estate invest
ments and mer toned the fact that Gen.
Shields was not a rich man. At his death
ne was worth perhaps five six thousand
dollars. He referred tenderly to the chill
dren of the dead general, who were present
as "a grand legacy to the nation. a heri-
tage, rich in all the glory that could cluster
around the brow of ancestry" He came
to Missouri with a wide fame and a
unique character. He had helped to strike
the shackels from the white men of the
state. He had been elected to Congress-
but had been counted out. Mr.. Mansur
dwelt at length on Shields fidelity to the
Catholic church. He an intimate of
the hero, but the latter had never taken
him into his confidence on the Lincoln duel
matter. He had answered evasively when
questioned on this point. The speaker talk
ed of the domestic affairs of the Shields
family and described the dead mans grave.
Miss Shields, who was but few seats from
Mr.. Mansur, displayed considerable quiet
emotion. Mr.. Mansur launched into a Sc
ries Of tributes to the Union. made some
applausive statements concerning the great
ness and the glory of Illinois and concluded
by introducing Governor Altgeld, who was
booked on the bill to reply to the toast,
THE State Of Illinois,
Gov. AltSeld.
He showed much familiarity with his SUBJ
ject. He talked in a laxative and unora-
torical way, that almost made the people for
get that Illinois was not the only state in
the Union. He carefully eschewed any re-
marks which might have a political flavor
He told Of the romantic history of the state.
or the deeds Of heroism which had been
done upon her sacred soil and outside her
confines by those heroes she had bred. 1t
was the land in which had been fought the
battle which decided that Illinois was not
to be slave state, and practically sealed
the doom of slavery on our continent The
record or Illinois and her sons in the Mex
lean war challenged admiration, and in the
war of the rebellion she had developed
some of the greatest chieftains who had
ever marshaled men. She had no rival in
the race on material progress and develop
ment. She was building wonderful cities,
and was working the marvels of the age.
He characterized Shields lone of the
u.
senator Palmer by Proxy.
Senator John NJ. Palmer was to have res
ponded to the toast, Career of Gen. Shields
in Illinois, but in his absence, Gen. Alfred
Orendorf assumed this duty. He regretted
the absence of the Senator as much as did
others and styled him The Gladstone of
America" Illinois took its name from an
Indian word meaning The home of great
| Is
one Of a coterie of Illinois sons who had
left their finger prints on history and their
footprints in the sands of time He was the
compeer of Lincoln, who had stepped from
the earth to his home in the skies. and was
the associate of Douglass. He said some
gratifying things about Grant, and made
complimentary allusion to his remark, Let
us have peace" Shields influence had af-
fected the course of Illinois. He said that
the gallant Mulligan, when he said from his
stretcher, Lay me down, but, boys, save
| the flag" was influenced by the soul and
spirit Of Shields. Shields was ever on the
side of the oppressed. His death was pa
thetic. After the administration of the
rites of his church he had called for his old
army coat and had IL wrapped around him.
If one would see his monument or read his
eulogy, look around into the faces of those
who had come here to place a wreath upon
his memory.
MinnesOta's Tribute.
Gov. Knute Nelson was advertised to re-
ply to the toast, Gen. Shields, Senator for
Minnesota" but his place was taken by
Representative Mark H. Dunnell. He said
| that he iabored under some embarrassment
and would confess it. Shields advent in
Minnesota had been prior to his. The ter
ritory and state had loved him. He was
loved and remembered still. Minnesota was
loyal to his greatness. Mr.. Dunnell said
thotb a NJ
| nesota. Largely she had her record to
make, but thus far she had run well. He
closed by saying with regard to Gen. Shields
Peace to his ashes; all honor to his memo
ry."
MissOuri's Praise.
Mr.. Marsh Arnold replied to the toast
Gen. Shields, Senator from Missouri" With
SO many eloquent Missourans around the
| board he regretted that one of them had not
been called upon to fill the post assigned
him. But he had theme which ought to
enthuse all the sons and daughters of Mis-
| souri,. He brought his humble Offering and
| laid 1t at the feet of the great dead. He
| spoke of Shields as a son Of a race that had
| lent its sunshine to all chimes and ages. He
was an lrishman and possessed of that keen
perception which told him that westward
| the star Of empire wends its way He eulo-
| gized the west as being irreverent of prece-
dent and ready now to solve the problems Of
government He said that Gen. Shields ca
| reer as Senator though brief had been gilded
with purity. His public character was as
| stainless as his private and stood as a mon
| ument to his name. 1t was not solely as
| the intrepid warrior and dashing rider that
Missouri revered the memory Of Shields. IL
was his nobility when he had dotted the mill
| itary garb and donned the civil robes. His
name rested on Fames eternal camping
ground and glittered in the meridian bla ze
OF heaven" Shields was Irish and this
| meant that he was a lover and a chamnion
| or freedom, and a martyr to IL If need h,
| he tall ed of Shields potency as a factor in
| Illinois history. "
As an 1rishman,
In the absence of Mr.. Patrick Donohoe
editor of the Boston Pilot. Capt John Tobin
or Boston spoke to the toast Gen. Shields
| as an lrish-American." He said that every
blow struck for freedom was a blow I'm he
half OF Ireland. He paid some glowing
| tributes to the worth of the Irish people
POSTMASTER Mansur followed up Cant
robin by reading an original poem by Chas
}. Beattie, entitled Shields Statue
The Guests.
| The guests were as follows: c n N.nsrr
Alfred Orendorff, adjutant general Illinois.
Frank II. Jones, first assistant postmaster
general: Rufus N. Ramsay. state treasurer
| Illinois; Col. VIM. =. Wood, Capt. John NJ
| Tobin. Boston; JOS. II. ONeill NJ. G. Mas
| SachuSettS; ChaS S Hamlin MaSSacb,,