New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-24
MR UEUITTN NPEECU.

Once I'm Il while something happens at dln'
ncr table. Something unexpected; OUT 81 inc
common. Something that makes the committee
of Arrougcmcnts who expect eminent men not
only to give the II a nfty-dolar speech for
Gvndollnr dinner but 10 slathcr the assembled
guests with the tafy of OrItorlcal conl'c'oh-
cry sion their glasses half way up. lift their
eyebrows and catch their breath. Something
of that sort happened year or two ago III
. dinner table when Mr. Joseph III. Choatc in
dulg,d i'm some, UNEXPECTED observations which
had the effect of drawing the line between
those present who could. and those who coilld
not take "A Joke Mr.. AbrIm ;. Hewitt dld Il
similar thing at the dinner of the Southern
Society on Thursday night. Beginning Win
very complimentary alluSion 10 the SOutlcrh'rS
who have come 10 Ncw-lOrk ana are dollS
valuable work here he suddenly paused, ana
then continuing. said: " But perhaps New
Works Gain is the loss of the South. men
[ compare the Southern Representatives now
in our legislative halls said he with me III
tcllcctual giants of former days. who thrilled
the Senate and House with III" thundcrS "i
their Southern cloqucncc and The Splcildor "l
their bower and craftsmanship am forced 10
the belief that the brain and soul of Dixie have
either left that sunny land or are devoted to
other pursuits than craftsmanship
Proceedings he coutrastNl the Southcrrers or
today with their fathers, who were men OF
college training of disciplined minds. men "l
hish ideals. with the knowledge that gives
power and love Of study AMI research ana the
familiarity with history that are the ioun-
daiion Of all true craftsmanship IN" S"uil-
crncrS IF today who are in public life. II" Sald'
had turned their attention 10 politics, because
they were " lit for nothing else. one OF These
" is trying To- coin the sciSnoraGc. lie might
~ well try 10 coin a vacuum other repre-
,cntativcs Of Southern interests were referred
To- rs having succumbcd 10 the fallacy that the
appontmcnt 10 the Supreme Court Bench Is
local question. To be settled between IN" frrSl-
dent and some local politician In closing he
said. accorlng To- The N"w-(ork Suns re-
port
/ know your southerncrs in Washington know
them % d. honest truthful. gallant But al-'
know them t. bo ignorant II Is m" only Word tha'
Its. hlnuR cr4-a Ignorance Almost IN i SOFA no't,
with a few honorable exceptions. they gave th'ir
votes % the silver Bill That . the ""Ik "' your
s.ufh ~ To-day That b. southern craftsmanship at
IN. .nI Of tho nineteenth century That ~ ignorance
tl- what IL H.. Ignorance. that goes forward win
the dangerous strength a IT'S own convictions There
is no fool Ike the fool who PUSHES IN where ahse'S
fear t. tread
Mr. Hewitt had prcfaccd these remarks WIN
The statement that. having been called upon
suddenly his speech unpropar"d. ana per
hans II he had had time 10 think II over ne
might not say things that il seemed wiser not
to say. hut that hr believed them ana Spok"
according Ia his belief But We venture To say
that he could not have done better with the
most ample preparation. What he said may
not have been particularly soothing to tn" self
complaconcy Of the unduly sensitive, but II was
calculated Ia set all his hearers upon honest
soriotis thinking And that never fails To do
cool in the end II WAS very Wholesome
breezy talk 10y a man who preferred saying
something that had The meat of sound truth Ill
II to bandying commonplace compliments with
his hosts There could be- no more doubt OF the
Lindlinc.s of his feeling toward the South'rnrrS
whom he was addressing ana all their Kin IMAM
Of the straightforward sincerity of his utter
anccs There were probably very few nj the
table who were not in perfect agreement with
him. and possibly none who would not IN the
true spirit Of chivalry thank him for saying
frankly aud couragcouSly what he thought
Tho contrast he suggested between the South
crn statesmen of an earlier period ami the
Southcrncrs Of today who hav" turned their
attention 10 politics because they are tit for
nothIu. else contains food for reflection.
Mr. Hewitt. You're a frSt-caSS afterdinncr
speaker You take rank with the best of them
You can arrest attention. and produce Il Scnsa-
tion superior To tickling. But You ought always
10 90 unprcparcd.