The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-23

But he had visited immortal battle
fields that he might share the thoughts
that the heroes Of those fields exper-
fenced. Mr.. Eustis alluded to Cuba
as the door mat to our temple of free
dom, upon which the Spaniard had
been wiping their feet too long" Gap
plause)
But to come to my toast, The Bat
tie Of Saratoga said Mr.. Eustis. II
have been there. l am familiar with
Saratoga"
The water is good" interrupted
voice.
Yes" promptly replied Mr.. Eustis,
''it is good-if you're hard up Qaugh-
ter).
Mr.. Eustis then proceeded to revive
the history Of the important battle.
He began with the embarkment of
Gen. Burgoyne from English shores
and touched interestingly upon the sal
lent points and incidents leading UP
to the battle.
The battle of Saratoga was one of the
fifteen decisive battles of the world, said
Mr.. Eustis. Had victory crowned the
other side, the history Of a great nation.
would have been entirely changed. The
speaker paid tribute to the brave conf
manders, Gates, Lafayette, Morgan
and others, who led the desperate
struggle for liberty. Mr. Eustis gave
a graphic description of the gallant
charge led by Benedict Arnold. When
Burgoyne turned over his sword to
Gen. Gates, the American flag for the
first time f1Oated over the Englishmen,
TO the music Of Yankee Doodle, which
an English officer had composed in de-
risiOn of the colonistS. In conclusion.
Mr.. Eustis said that America, ever
mindful of her children, was marching
On 70 IL
the highest thought of man.
Another national anthem was sung
with all the patriotic enthusiasm in the
air, and then Capt, Castle arose and re-
Sponded to the sentiment contained in
the words: Benjamin rankin"
Capt. Castle said:
1t is related that when a troop Of
performers of Uncle Toms Cabin re-
Gently disbanded in Southern Illinois.
the assets consisted of one blood
hound, one death bed and three cakes
OF ice. These assets were, however,
Visible and tangible, in which respect
they differ from some of the assets
nearer home. Qaughter) Such a con-
ditfon being brought about by the
proposition for fifty cent dollars and
fifteen cent craftsmanship, it seems re-
freShing to turn our attention from
military heroes to the first Yankee of
this country, Benjamin Franklin.
George Washington was a cavalier;
John Adams was a Puritan. Both were
modified Englishmen. Benjamin Frank
lin was the original Yankee He was
the first exponent of the equality that
distinguishes the American, equality,
not of birth or education or ability, but
OF opportunity. Born in the humblest
circumstances his long life of "a years
was full of usefulness
Capt. Castle referred to the fact that
Benjamin was originally intended for
a bishop, but that the fates destined
him, thank God, for higher and nobler
uses.
Bishop Gilbert joined heartily in the
general laughter that greeted this sal
Capt. Castle then reviewed the pub
lie career Of Franklin, which began
soon after his removal from Boston to
Philadelphia. He dwelt upon the
phenomenal diplomatic sagacity that
Franklin developed during the period
of his mission abroad before the revo-
luton. His achievements were mfrac-
ulouS to contemplate even now in the
light of sober history. Capt. Castle
enumerated the long list of responsible
posts held by Franklin during the last
twenty years of his life. He was
practically the secretary of state. The
only reason Franklin was not deputed
to write the Declaration of Independ-
ence was because his style was thought
to be too sarcastic and scathing to
cCmport with the dignity that a docu-
ment of that magnitude should possess.
But greater achievements still await
ed him. In 1776 three months after the
declaration: of independence was sign
ed, he embarked for France, and In
one month after his arrival. a secret
appropriation of 1000, 600 francs was
voted by France and in a little over a
year France declared war against
England. At more than eighty years
Franklin was still in the harness.
Capt. Castle also dwelt upon Frank
Inns accomplishments as a natural
philosopher. Franklin was the most
versatile man in all this cOuntry's his
tory. Franklin, it was said, had some
faults. Capt. Castle declared he was
glad of that. He had never heard of
a perfect man. The scripture said:
Mark the perfect man. but Capt. Cas-
tie observed that he must be found
before he could be marked. Gaughter.)
The timber that Franklin was made
of could be split into thousand pieces
Of kindling and make thousand bet
ter and nebler men than those who
would pick out Franklin's faults.
In conclusion, Capt. Castle said:
Franklin was above all things a pat
riot, and when the ages to come shall
then, perhaps, we can do justice to
the name and fame Of a man whose
whole life was spent in the interests of
his country, Of a man who was the life
and soul of our whole colonial history
and one of the great figures Of our
American Revolution
In response to the toast, Patriotism
Then and Now" M D. Grover enter
tanned the assembage with a few i'm
promptu remarks most appropriate to
the occasion.
Mr.. Grover said that he was drafted
upon this occasion as a substitute. Pro-
ceeding, he related a choice collection
of incidents humorous and pathetic,
anent the battles of Bunker hill, I'll
cOnderoga and Valley Forge. Mr.. Gro
yer contrasted the condition of the
country today with that of 100 years
ago, and remarked that none of those
present at the banquet would have been
there had not George Washington been
born 165 years ago. His "Reminiscences
Of Washington handed down by an an
cestor, who, while a mere boy, perform
ed services for the father Of his coun-
try at Valley Forge, were listened to
with the keeneSt interest.
The formal programme concluded, all
joined in singing "Auld Lang Syne''
and the festivities came to a close at
precisely midnight.