The herald., 1896-04-05
COMPLIMENTS
THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB FEASTS AND
TALKS POLITICS
The Great After Dinner Orator Tells Of Call.
fornls's Richness and fier Need Of Pro-
tection-A niId and Gentle Boom for Mr..
Morton
sociated Press Special Wire.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 4.-After q week
of feasting and entertainment in Califor-
mia, Chauncy M. Depew was rendered q
farewell banquet tonight by the Union
Palace hotel. Two hundred guests were
present, comprising the most prominent
citizens in social and political life in the
city. The Union League club is q Repub-
lican organization, but party lines were
laid aside tonight and the most promi-
to CALIFORNIA; distinguished guest.
Mr.. Depew was introduced by President
Stone of the Union League club. Mr..
Depew began his remarks by q reference
to the wonderful resources of California
and her latent possibilities. He said that
in all his travels, extending all over the
world, he never had seen such wonderful
valleys and vast tracts of fruitful country.
Drifting to politics. he said it was inexplic-
able how any one with sense enough to be
at large should not. recognise the great
benefit that protection would be to state
like California. With protection. he said
California would one day equal France in
state, although it has q population of 35-,
100000 as against l 100000 in Califor-
mia.
Referring TO the administration of the
government by the Democratic party, Mr..
Depew said that the history of the world
people even of the extraordinary business
ability of the Americans made fools of
themselves. The first notable instance
was during President Buchanau's adminis-
tration, when during period of profound
peace it became necessary to issue bonds
to defray ordinary expenses of that gov.
ernment. The next instance, he said, was
during the present administration, when
more bonds had to be sold for the same
purpose. He said the country would
never reach the highest possible
degree of prosperity while the
government is in such hands. The hope
Of prosperity, he said rested in protection
that great principle which Blaine did SO
much to foster during the declining years
of his career.
Turning to the money question Mr.. De-
pew srid he believed the country should
adhere to sound financial system. The
government, he said had attained such
proportions that it is citizen of the world
and in maintaining it's commercial rela-
tions with others it should have money that
would be accepted anywhere in the world.
He spoke of visiting the battleship Oregon,
now building at the Union iron works in
this city, and asked if the people of this
country would have the mission of the
splendid vessel spoiled by asking it to de-
fend the honor of country like China or
on silver. No nation, he said, had ever
been able to maintain the value Of that
money, and until silver shall be recognized
by other great nations of the world, he said
II was idle for this country to talk of ad-
mitting it to free coinage.
With regard to the candidates for the
presidency, Mr.. Depew said he was per-
sonally in favor of Morton and wished
California would endorse the candidacy of
the great New Yorker when the time
should come for action. The statement
was greeted with cheers. but when among
the names of other candidates McKinley's
name was mentioned, the greatest con.
chairs and cheered wildly, and it was sew
eral minutes before the speaker could pro.
ceed.
In closing, Mr.. Depew introduced as the
next speaker, General Barnes, whom be
said he had known for forty years since
they were both classmates at Yale. Barnes
began by eulogizing Depew, who, he said,
in his college days gave promise of his
future greatness. After touching on some
of the leading political topics, General
Barnes referred to the silver question. He
said the greatest danger of Republican de-
feat at the next election lay in the fact
that many misguided Republicans might
unite in the formation of q silver
party. The speaker deplored the
tendency of some modern statesmen to
hold silver dollar SO close to their eyes
that it obscured their vision of the re-
mainder of the country. Personally he
said he was in favor of a greater use of
silver. but he did not believe it patriotic
for congressman to attach free silver
riders to every bill introduced in either
house and defeat the measure if it could
not be passed in its original form. States
men should have broader views and seek
to settle what is in itself a simple question
by other means.
General Barnes was followed by Irving
M. Scott, who was introduced as the
"builder of warships equal to any that sail
the sea.''
The speech making continued until
late hour.