The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-23
Anniversary Of Their
Landing Celebrated.
New England Society Enjoys
Banquet in New York.
Secretary Herbert Gives Glowing
Eulogy Of the Navy.


land society OF New York city cele-
brated the 9lst anniversary Of its ex-
istence. and the 276th anniversary OF the
landing of the Pilgrim Fathers, with a
banquet at the Waldorf last night. The
dinner was served In the magnificent new
ballroom, which was beautifully draped
with bunting and flowers, On the walls
We're banners bearing the arms of the
New England states. There was also a
strong suggestion OF the suletide sea-
son in the garlands OF mistletoe. holly
and evergreen.
A novel and humorous feature of the
banquet was the costumes of the wait
ers which were made TO represent New
England farmhands. They were at
tired in blue jean overalls. checkered
Jumpers and broad brimmed straw hats.
Covers were laid for 500. At the main
table were Henry f. Howland. first vice
president. who presided, because OF the
sickness and consequent absence of
President Charles c.. Beaman; Edward
]. Phelps. ex-minister TO Eel gland; Sec
retaiy Of the Navy Hilary A. Herbert.
General Nelson A. Miles. General Horace
Porter, General Thomas Ruger j. II.
Morgan. Cornelius NJ Bliss, Horace
White, Edward King, j. Kennedy Todd,
Commander Montgomery Sicard, u. S.
N; Hamilton w. Mabie, Stewart l..
Woodford, Mayor Strong. Elihu Root,
Rev. Dr. Minot j. Savage and ii. l..
Burnett
The following toasts were responded
to: "Forefathers' Day" by Il. J. Phelps;
"Our Debt to the Pilgrim Fathers" Rev.
DIR. NJ. j. Savage: "Some New England
ers in Georgia" Colonel r. M. Johnson
OF Baltimore: New England Litera-
ture." III. w. Mabie; THE Results OF
Puritan Influence" General Horace Por-
ter; THE Navy" Secretary Herbert;
THE Army" General Miles; 'The Civil
Compact and the Church Covenant of
England" Arthur Lord, president OF the
Pilgrim society OF Plymouth; THE City
of New York" Mayor Strong. and "Our
Sister Societies, = Kennedy Todd,
president Of st. Andrews society.
Secretary of the lsavy Herbert made
the principal speech of the occasion. In
opening he referred to the fact that he
served in tht Confederate army. and was
proud of the heroism of bis countrymen
on both sides. America IA now unsepar-
ably united and moving On toward q
glorious future. He then said:
This occasion. Mr. chairman, and the
toast TO which am to respond suggest
that IL the first blood OF the resolution
was shed on New England soil, so also
did New Englanders shed the first blood
at sea. IT took the news of the battle OF
Lexington three weeks TO travel TO Ma
chias, Nc Almost Immediately volun-
teers seized upon a sloop, armed her. and
after a bloody struggle captured an
armed English schooner, the Mar
garatta, that was lying off the port.
This battle was an outburst of the spirit
OF liberty and an omen of the glorious
future that awaited American seamen.
Our little continental navy, during the
first two years of the Revolutionary
wal, destroyed 791 British sail, and
throughout the whole of that long strug-
gle the new flag that had appeared upon
the ocean was carried with untarnished
honor through every combat New Eng
land furnished large proportion of the
sailors and her due share of the officers
that made this glorious record.
During the revolution we had few
vessels that could contend in equal COM
bat with the ships of Great Britain. In
the war of 1872 we were in little better
condition, but in the battles Of Lake
Erie and Lake Champlain, and in the
famous duels at sea that took place be-
tween British and American vessels,
our little navy made record that has
kindled the fires of patriotism in the
hearts of millions of American people
from that day to this. To that war New
England gave, among others, Isaac
Chauncey. David Porter, Oliver Hazard
Perry ARD fszfnr fluff -
Mr.. Herbert referred 20 the fact that
he had succeeded In having Admiral
Farraguts flagship, the Hartford, pre-
served. but that the famous old Con-
ststution was rotting at Portsmouth.
He appealed TO the society TO secure the
preservation of the Constitution, that
coming generations might draw patriot
ism from her old spars and ensign.
Our new navy was begotten in the
throes Of the Civil War; The Merrimac
and the Monitor were the creations.
both, of American genius. The famous
battle, between these two vessels put
the shipyards of Europe to work on new
designs and modern navies resulted.
Other nations had made wonderful
forward strides. when. ~ years ago, we
began TO reconstruct our navy. and now
We have IN commission AZ ships, with an
aggregate displacement Of 137, 900 tons,
ell, with insignificant exceptions, modern
vessels. and ship for ship and gun for
sun we may proudly challenge compari-
son with the world"
In conclusion the secretary recounted
the work os the navies of the Union and
the Confederacy during the Civil War,
and said:
"The historian OF the future will not
fail TO dwell with admiration upon the
achievements OF the armies OF the
Union. but when he comes TO look for
results and 10 trace those 20 their cause,
In my opinion, after recounting and
weighing the effects OF the many VIC
tories won under both fiags, he will rec.
ord that Il was the sword OF the navy
thrown into the waverine balance that
turned the scale In favor Of the Union.
I'm conclusion. let me say that trust
we are not yet done with building our
new navy--that the program began n
dozen OF ycars-al-n- Is to -be-ee-ri-ti on
until we shall have navy worthy in the
number or its ships. ms II is In the char
n 4