Evening star., 1897-02-23
ALGER FOR PEACE.
The Future Secretary of War Ad-
dresses the Michigan Club.

ALGER FOR PEACE.
The Future Secretary of War Ad-
dresses the Michigan Club.
Eight hundred members Of the Michigan
Club banqueted meIrily at Detroit, Mich.
last evening in the big auditorium. 1t was
the twelfth annual gala night of the CLUB,
and the occasion was not less auspicious
than the previous notable gatherings of
that stalwart republican organiza ton.
Overhead and about the walls hung hun
dreds Of American flags, and the tables
were bright with the same form of decora-
tion. A score Of speakers and distinguished
guests sat at the speakers table on the
broad platform at the front Of the ardito-
riTm Over the platform hung a canopy in
patriotic coiors. Behind the speakers was
large portrait of Washington, f1anked by
these Of Mckinley and Hobart. From the
galleries large audience of both sexes
looked down upon the scene, and orchestral
music added to the pleasurable excite
ment of the evening. The one disappoint-
ing feature was the absence of Chairman
Hanna, who had been announced would be
present and respond to the toast "The Vic
tory Of 1S6." The following telegram
from Mr. Hanna, dated February 10, was
read:
-! an very sorry. but it Is simply impos-
s1ble for me to leave home before 1 go to
washington; Mckinley is rot receiving
visitors. and / am overwhelmed by people
coming here. whom 1 must see know my
irierds will appreciate that only public du-
tles prevent my enjoying the pleasure of
meeting them- NJ A. HANNA"
Regrets were also read from President
elect Mckinley. ex-President Harrison.
Senator Sherman. Congressman Burrows
and others.
Retiring President s. s. Babcock made his
farewell address, concluding with the intro.
ductfon of Gen. r. A. Alger as toa st1naster.
Inc general arose. amid great cheering
ana waving of flags. He feelingly thanked
nus friends OF thirty years standing for
their very evident friendship Referring 10
present business conditions. he asserted hi
Deier that future prosperity hitherto uo-
hnowh was near at hand. Speaking of the
proposed era Of peace, and of his official
pos,tloI III the cabinet. the general said:
AS 1ar as my influence can go. there
shaH never be anything to disturb our
peaceful relations with other nations. un-
less our honor Is assailed. While we should
ever give our sympathies to the oppressed
from strife. restored confidence and peace" !"
Gen Alger introduced Gov. Pingree. who
welcomed the club and guests, incidentaliv
eniosizins Washington and the heroes OF
conservatism which generally stands hack
when hghting Is in progress. and asserted
tnat the people of today were as earnestly
demanding reforms as those of '76, and
added:
IF the republican party and republican
leaders are blind to the situation Of TODAY
as was George III to the demands of the
coionlsts. reforms will be brought about by
otheI men and other parties, and we will
ne simply wreath-hangers when the thing
Is over"
or his favorite theme Of taxation the
governor said.
The farmers and the laboring men Of
Michigan have for years been paving four
uE1es their due proportion of the tax. COM
pared with that taken from corporate priv
neses; This Is against the principles of the
.pp .epupiican party. whose old motto is,
we nave 1t In our hands to remedy this
wrong. trust we may not trifle with II
Let US establish equality of taxation. Tho
s.ate waiting. To be patriotic is to be
honest If we all take care of our home
anairs 1t will be all the easier for President
mckinley to conduct the affairs of the ma
tion.'' VI INC la
representative Albert ]. Hopkins of ILL
nois responded to the toast "Our nstion ..
He traced the growth Of the republic re-
marking that what most marked the ad-
vance Of the nation is the position TODAY
accorded to woman
Washtngton's influence on modern
American politics" called forth a toast bv
Boies Penrose. senator-elect from Pennsyi-
vania He was proud, he said, to come
from Philadelphia, the city of Independ-
ence Han: city which gave Mckinley a
The American people," said he, Submit
to but one thing. that Is a majority"
There was a tremendous ovation when
Gen. Alger grasped the hand Of Gen, James
A. Walker of Virginia, who commanded the
confederate "Stonewalr' brigade after Gen
Jackson's death.
Gen. Walker responded to 'virginia, the
mother OF Washington" In closing he
said:
Il have lived long enough to realize that
the successes Of the confederate cause
would have been evil. not good. Over the
great sons of Virginia and of the north
west brooded the same spirit of liberty; in
the breast of each burned the same love CT
right and Justice"
The other responses to toasts were as
follows:
1.-The republica an party" Curtis Guild, jr..
Boston; "Old-fashioned repubHcanism. -
John A. Logan. jr.. Washington: Patriot
ism." G. J. Corey, Chicago: 1.-The nag"
Judge Albion w. Tourgee. New York