The San Francisco call., 1896-02-23
SONS OF THE REVOLUTION.
They Hold Their Annual Meeting
and Celebrate the Day With
a BANQUET

q BdnOu0Is
/ The twenty-frs annual meeting of the
| California Society OF the Sons of the
| American Revolution was held yesterday
in Pioneer Hall Washlngton's Birthday
was celebrated by the society in the even
ling by a dinner at the Occidental Hotel.
| At the meeting the secretary reported
that the membership was 165, and it had
gained y during the year. The treasurer
stated that the society was in a sound
financial condition. Officers for the ensu.
ing year were elected as follows:
L. ". MeKinstry, president; Sidney NJ Smith
senior VIC presidents Colonel ]. C. Currier
junior vice-president; Edwin BonneIl, secre-
tary; Charles II. Warner, treasurer: Colonel
dlrectors-Dr. C. J. Burnham, Robert Wander
cook, i. D. Sheppard, Horace Davis, K. S.
Gray, s. ". Holiday.
Delegates to the sixth National congress,
which meets in Minneapolis, April 30-Judge
L. w. MoKinstry, Sidney NJ. Smith, Colonel
Edward Hunter, U. 5. A, Captain J. E. Sawyer,
I. S A, John W. Moore, U. S. n. Alternates-
Hon. Daniel Cleveland, Mark L Requa, Horace
Davis, g. 7. Folsom, T. Worthington Hubbard.
The following-named descendants of
revolutionary soldiers were elected to
membership in the society:
George 7. Folsom, George E. Howe, Robert l.
Bromley, MD, Walter A. Hawley, Joseph W.
Ward, Alphonse Crssne, james W. Harrington.
Robert o. Collier, W H. George, MD.
The banquet was held in the cafe of the
Occidental Hotel amid decorations OF the
tricolor. At its close Colonel ]. c. Currier
raped for order and acted as POSTMASTER.
The toast of George Washington" was
responded to by E. W. McKinstry, presi-
dent of the society. Mr.. McKinstry said
that had Washington lived to-day he
would have commanded the respect and
love OF the people, and yet could not have
made the same name for himself among
the rich of the cities. Washington, the
speaker SAID, once known was loved.
Many instances might be cited to show his
great military talent. There were many
greater warriors, but his accomplishments
offensive and defensive in his limited
sphere-were enough to make men believe
he would have ranked among the greatest
of warriors on larger battlefelds.
When he had accomplished his hard
and arduous task of the revolution he laid
down the insignia of power and retired TO
the simple home life for which he had
Washington deserved mems affection, as
well as esteem. He was not alone first in
war and first in peace, but during his life
he was first in the hearts OF his fellow
citizens.
C. L. P. Marrais responded to the toast
OF France, Our Sister Republic" He
com pared the two republics, and showed
of each.
''The Army and the Navy" was received
with enthusiasm, and Colonel j. G. c. Lee,
U. S. A, responded to the toast. The sub
iect was such, the speaker declared, that
be felt timid in speaking for the army and
navy. A member OF the army or navy be-
comes al integral part ofeither ;tney existed
long before he came, and they will remain
after he has gone. He is, as it were, but
a Iaote in the sunbeam. With this intro
duction he changed his theme to Ameri-
canism and said that the spirit of 1776 was
the trdest kind of Americanism. There
was enough left, but much OF that is now
too strongly engrafted on other move
ments not good for the American nation.
Unrestricted immigration demanded the
consideration OF America, he said. 1t was
a leaven that needed TO be purged out.
The army of the United States. it is
popularity believed can at any time be in
creased TO 100000 able-bodied men; but
they need to be disciplined and provided
for, and that is why there is a small stand
ing army. He charged the Revolutionary
Sons that they should remember the
future. The Nation should pay an in
surance-the cheapest insurance it could
pay-and make the army a little larger.
Five millions year would be only $780,
QOO, coo in twenty years. The War OF the
Rebellion cost America more than ten
Colonel Lee declared that coast defenses
and proper navy were absolutely neces-
sary. Speaking of Hawaii, he said:
Hawaii is the outpost of this coast. 1t
is as essential to the safety of the whole
coast as the heights of the Golden Gate
are 10 San Francisco" He held that the
United States should possess Hawaii and
the people of the Pacific Coast should
hope and pray for the Nicaragua canal.
a. B. Paul spoke to the "Order of the
Cincinnati" He gave the history of this
lllustrlous society and coming down to the
present time said that the success of the
Revolution, and, therefore, of the Order
OF the Cincinnati was due to France
largely, and now the French Republic is
to great extent the result OF the Ameri-
can Revolution.
The address of Colonel A. d. Cutler, who
was unable to be present, was read by Ed
win Bonnell, secretary of the order. 1t
was upon the aims and purposes of the
California Sons of the American Revolu-
ton"
Judge Williams delivered an impromptu
speech on THE Judiciary" Other in
formal speeches were made by Samuel W.
Holiday, ]. W. Ward, C. E. King and ].
N. Bailey.