The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-08-01

 act of incorporation to enable the soci- ety to hold its funds. and to the fact that very large majority Of the house of representatives had voted permis- sion to bring In a bill in accordance with the prayer of the memorial. "But unfortunately" he says. "in the other house. where the manner in which the question was discussed behind closed doors) and the reasons which iniiu- enced the decision cannot be known.s it was negatived. It was done Che con- tinues) upon mature deliberation. and after that honorable body had been as- sured that their refusal to grant such protection to the funds of the society as they were in the habit of granting to other associations of citizens indiscrim- inately, must operate as its death-waft rant. We have no ground the goes on to say) for fiattering ourselves with the hope that any other application will be successful. Jealousy from the few minds where, as in congenial soil. 1t has been taking root for twenty years. cannot be removed. Jealousy Is the motive. and it. ought not to be con- cealed. It would have been more frank and manly to have avowed the real in- ducements by which they were actua- ted.
 When interrogated verbally in the house of representatives concerning the motion at our last annual meeting July 4. 1SO9. for the dissolution of the society, answered that had been op- posed to the measure then, as prema- ture; but that If we should not succeed in our application, would vote for the annihilation of the society whenever the question should be proposed again. Such is my unalterable resolution"
 General Humphreys wished the fund to be converted into annuities. by cal culation on "tontine" principles. so as to supply a comfortable maintenance for life to those who have heretofore received yearly allowance. "At least my small share, he declared, shall nev- CT be withdrawn for any other pur- pose"
 He concludes in burst of eloqunce which must have drawn tears from the eyes of the aging veterans who were meeting together as Cincinnati for the last time.
 My Friends and Fellow Citizens: l now take my leave of you. offering my best acknowledgements for your polite attention to this discourse.
 You have been witnesses of our con- l duct-you have heard our respect for | the decisions of our rulers, even when we believed they were influenced by an | unreasonable prejudice. Had we the in- | clination how have we the ability to become privileged order," dangerous to the liberty of the republic? To prove we will not is in our power Perhaps a page Is vacant in the annals of Ameri- ca to receive the proceedings of this society, with the records of this anni- versary.
 We may then expect more justice from posterity than from the present age. For myself, scorn to live the ob- ject of jealousy, when malignity may be avoided by dissolving the connec- tion. This medal of the Society of the Cincinnati (holding up his badge) Gen. eral Washington caused to be procured in France, and gave it to me as pres ent with his own hand For the giver's sake I will keep it as a precious relic; but from this hour I shall never wear it, not even on the proud day consecra- ted to Independence. ,.., My Friends of the Cincinnati! The most painful part of this solemnity still remains. To bid an adieu until the con- summation of all things is to pro- nounce an awful word! Whatever may be your determination as to the contin- uance or dissolution of our society, un- der the circumstances which have been related, my part is decided. I cannot reconcile it to my idea of propriety to attend your (more separately meet ings. The behavior of our branch of the legislature (the senate) has accele- rated the separation which must soon have been inevitable. I shall see your faces no more! May the sunshine of conscience gild your setting day-and may you enjoy every species of felicity which you can desire for yourselves! For the last time-farewell, ye survi- vors of thousands who died fighting for the glorious cause of liberty! Ye rem- nants of yourselves in better days-Ye veterans of the Revolutionary army, farewell Farewell forever!'
 t An "eligible is the eldest lineal male de- scendant of an original member of the socie- ty. The oldest lineal male descendant of a Continental officer who served mot less than three campaigns,"' and was honoraby dis discharged for disability Il. e. wounds, sick ness, &c.,l is eligible.
 In note he says "The real reasons have since transpired."
 The two words in brackets in the printed copy of the oration have Open-marks drawn through them, probably by General Hum- phreys.