New-York tribune., 1894-04-22
MIR. DEPEW'S BIRTHDAY.
THE MONTAUK CLUBS ANNUAL. DINNER
IN ITS HONOR
\ THovGHrFrL YET SPARKLING SPEECH BY


Depcw by the Montauk Club at its clubhouse
Eighth-ave. near Flatbush-ave Brooklyn was
given last night. and was even more largely at
tended than its predecessors
Prior to the dinner the club held It's annual
meeting. The officers elected were Charles A.
Moore. president; J. Rogers Maxwell, vce-presi-
dent; Edward H. Sayre treasurer and Emory
n. Downes, secretary.
The dinner took place at 730 o'clock About
$50 o'clock President Moore sounded call bell
which served as a tocsin for the entrance Of
three men who impersonated Montauk Indians
The warriors bore birthday cake fully two
feet square on top of which repOsed a pair Of
Indian moccasins. filled with lilies Of the valley
and volets These were given to Mr. Depew
President Moore introduced Mr.. Depew in a few
bright words.
Mr.. Depew was greeted with cheers and long
continued hearty applause. lie spoke as follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen deeply appreciate
the compliment of these annual birthday ceebra:
qualification comes the burden and responsibility
OF that inevitable incident Of every American gath
house it IS difficult to do it once, but when before
substantially the same audience. and 1t comes the
second, third fourth time. the situation is critical
to degree. II the guest and the orator INDUCES
in rare pleasantries, pleasing plat!tudes, and that
and means nothing he insults the nieiligence Of
his hearers. If, on the other hand. in an audience
faiths. all religious creels. and all sorts OF
plicaed associations and interests. he says some
that they insulted The speaker, under such
conditions. is always in the position OF the small
family musket and points it at the head of his
sister When the the coroner's jury sit upon the
case his explanation Is that he did not know 1t was
loaded. Whether the meeting shall continue har
mSniSusy or break up IN row ,depen4S upon o
in the way Of the tramplng speaker groans and con-
fesses his pleasure. or howls and acknowledges the
At the celebration last year the proper question
seemed to be municipal reform. Il appeared
equally proper to indulge in caustc comments and
peppery pleasantly upon matters affecting your city
which had received the attention OF the Governor
Of the State the legislature the Grand Jury OF
your county and your courts. Had It dropped into
question would have been dsslpated with the
smoke Of the last cigar. But somehow or other.
while was innocently cavortng around the field.
everybody grasped his neighbor's arm conyulslyely,
and seriously remarked "Chauncey has said some
thing The next morning from ,t,, the Aldermanc
courtroom OF the police justice where me ,is p,ni
and city contractors came the screams that the
gun was loaded. and everybody was n.led with
shot daushtero Incidentally. pulpit. press ana
public-spfrited citizens proceeded t. inquire what
revolutions which occur but once tn a quarter oi
"A century in the history Of municipality. ana
which restored the weakening confidence IN popular
government in great cities
4 MATTER or BUSINESS PURELY.
There should be no politics in the administration
Of a city 1t is pure matter OF business. il is
whether the streets upon which the people travel.
the water which the people drink, the lights which
illuminate the peoples way the police which protect
the peoples lives and property the courts which al
minister Justice for the people. are conducted In
the Of the people and give the best possible
results for the least possible expenditure. Inc oHy
nunicpaiity show the same earnest and attentive
interest that he does in the railway or the bank oi
~ & Inay be ig,iis rS ,bSt we're ther"i b.
14fp Of la - a.
repGuire an amount Of that tonic which is known
popular Endorsement and public opinion 10 Keep
them straight upon measures or me greatest con
the people Of the state and Of the localities
have been led to remark and wondered at Dis
a great village. many OF the characteristics Of
New England town. We, all or US WIN our ,e tA, &
perence in the government OF great cities II we
would consider seriously me qnesiI, ,os,ity on,
TO find that more or that personal rSpo'isp'.1'' '
the part OF the voter that Individual espionage INT"
public affairs by the citizen. which characterize ,h
suffrage OF New-England. were the characieristics
OF the great cities OF the country.
caucus held in Western ely, whore an enthusiastic
orator presented IN glowing phrase the merits Tor
hgan. The speaEer on the other side SAID H. knew
all about the patriotic services of General Mullisah
,hen ConfedeTat@ otiiccr called. that he bent his
ear 10 listen 10 the co.oquy and he heard the con
federatc officer say: Il want that sworI 81 yguts
and then the Genera! said 1T is yours dnugh"I)
The friend Of the General unabashed by ms eA-
pOsure arose tO say that General Mu.llgah Was
perfect gentleman and when the Confeierate officer
expressed desire for his sword why should he not
give it to him. when he could buy thousand iiEr
General nominated almost by accama;Ion.
SPEECH THAT Is TRULY FREE
1t strikes me that the only platform ief' in this
country for absolutely free speech IS the afi'T-
dinner platform. All others are hclGe1 about WIN
conditions which make it impossible for the orator
to speak his whole mind. At political meetings the
&c Of %
faith and they expect that the other party "i De-
proved 10 be utterly bad. and their own 10 be en-
trely good. The lecture platform was al one ti.e
the place where popular man with coNFIcH"hs
could express those convictions with eneci ana
have them rcdcn the remOtest corners OF the GarN
1t then that Theodore Parker, Mi!hah i-loS
Garrison. Wendell Phillips and Ralph Waldo ltntI
incucatel the most unpalatable truths Of liberty
Wendell Phillips could be bowlcd down In tan%u
on jhe ief'Gpe b Pb G nuis Sanie Ouvert,rc
he could drop the seeds OF that truth which bore
fruit upon the plains Of Kansas and ho"erei IN
The characterization proclamation of Abraham Lin
The pulpit in he Old New England DAYS hol al, ab-
soute freedom In the discussion Of every S'atc
tDv,n or county question. Tne judgment, OF tho
minister Was the verdict Of the people THIS CON
iinued In remote C0nn'cucut ,NIIasea ,tth ,tH
into the civil war. remember bong once with
that capital campaigner General 'ruce. "[hen [ me ne
address a Connecticut audience I'm q rural neigh
~td bv fncon's acts outside the Constitution
| lie says tnat his Bible teaches him that the law
,cbv the Constitution can be violated even 10 Tree
tho slaves or llberate the country
| General Bruce with his lnc personal appear
ance and his clergyman-lke utte:ance. rose 10 the
! occa sion He said:
III understand that that eminent and eloquent
! divine who Is the pastor Of the leading church IN
| 10 v,plage has doubts about the righfulncsS or
sciinnf Itncoln's acts because they are not sane
,iIncd bv the Constitution. although they are Tor
the freedom OF the slave and The safety OF me Kc
rublic I reply him that when Moses receiVeh
tbe tablef which contained the constitution oi NE
ohudrnn Of Israel directly from the hands OF tn.
Airoi,hv and went TO the foot Of the mountain ana
found the children Of Israel worsnppins tne noIs,
rTeccs though IL was constructed by God. and not
H., man and drew his sword and reStcd not IN SUI
! ~, ,br rebels until the went down. Tne min
is,er arose came forward grasped the Generdi
/ ut.In -