The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-28
BIRTHDAY OF CEN. GRANT.
Secretary Herbert Speaks at New
YOrk'S Annual Dinner.

blrmingham's Magic Growth as the
Result of the United Enterprise of
Men of the North and South-The
Grand characteristics of the Ameri-
can People illustrated by the Condi-
tions of the City's Growth-No
Thought of Disloyalty at the Recent
Reunion of the ex-Confederates.
New York, April 27.-The annual din
ner In celebration of the birthday of
Gen. U. s. Grant, arranged by commit
tee consisting of Gen. Granville M. Dodge.
Gen Horace Porter, Gen. Charles II. T.
Coils and others, took place at the
Hotel Waldorf this evening About 12O
persons were in attendance. Elihu Root
presided, and Secretary Of the Navy Her
bert delivered the principal address. He
said in part:
Away down south in Alabama nesting in
the lap of the mountains, is Birmingham. 1t
was founded after the great American conflict
mad passed into history, by men who had
fought under Lee and Jackson and Johnson.
linen came, TO help them, men who had fought
under Grant and sherman and union men
and ex-confederates, together builded the
magic city, city that is already
known far and wide as the coming rival of
the great Industrial centres of the world.
That city, with It's furua 5es aglow by night
and by DAY and with lis railroads stretching
out 10 the north and the west, is an object
lesson teaching not only the material value
OF the union of all these states but
of its growth, the grand charac-
teristics of the American people, who fought
each other with courage that was never
surpassed, and then threw down their arms
and clasped hands 10 hight together the bat
ties of peace with unantmlty that has never
been equalled.
THE CHANGE IN SENTIMENT.
The material advancement of the southern
states In recent years, of which the growth
OF birmingham is "a type, is something won
derful, but the change in public sentiment
that has taken place in that section has been
more marvellous still During this present
week, there has been gathering in that city
of those who fought against the union OF
these states. They met to do honor to
the virtues Of those who had died by
their sides, 10 rekindle the friendships that
were formed around the camp fires and
cemented on the battle field, and to devise
means TO relieve as they might the suferings
and wants Of such of their comrades as were
in need of help, They have not ceased and
they never viii cease to do honor to the me
mory of the brave men who fell by their
sides
to be true. that in all this gathering of ex
confederates there was not one lingering senti-
ment OF disloyalty to the flag of the union that
hoated over their heads as they deliberated.
1 say to you, further, that there
was not one at that meeting who
when he was "a soldier thirty years before
under the confederate flag, could have for
moment believed that the change Of feeling
that has taken place in his heart toward the
union OF these states was among the possibili-
ties OF the future; but so it IS, that whi ch
was seemingly impossible has now become
an accomplished fact. Verify the facts Of
American history are stranger than any fc
ton that was ever conceived by the brain of
man.
NOT CONFINED TO TIE SOUTH.
And this mighty revolution OF public senti-
ment has not been confined to the south.
From the very beginning of our government,
from the days when North Carolina hesita; ed
for months and Rhode Island deliberated for
nearly two years before agreeing to come into
the union down to the opening OF the
war for the secession, the value of that union
was freely questioned and often debated. At
different times great conventions of excited
men, now in New England, and then in the
south, and statesmen, in congress and on the
hugtings discussed it. Whether a state had
the right to sever its relations to the
it was settled by the arbitra-
ment of war. Since that great tribunal en-
tered its Judgment, and adjourned without
day, more than quarter of a century has
elapsed; and from that moment up to this
hour, not a state legislature or a state con-
Vention or county convention, or even n
school boys debating society mas taken up
that question for discussion.
TO BE ONE NATION.
We are not to be two nations OF Anglo
Saxon people lying side by side, each like
the unhappy nations of the old world armed
to the teeth on land and sea against its neigh
hors. We are to live under one flag, and
this is to be the guaranty to us of peace and
prosperity; and we are to constitute all to-
gether, north, south, east and west, one gov
ernment.
The secretary then spoke eloquently of
Gen. Grant, dwelling at considera BILE
length on his ability as a commander of
armies, of his patriotism. Of his innate
nobility, and especially Of his magnanim-
ity.
Among the other speakers were Presi-
dent Seth Low of Columbia College,
Joseph H. Choate, w. d. Guthrie, Senor
Romero, the American minister to Wash