The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-13
LOYAL LEGION BANQUET.
Tributes to LincOln-M. A. III. BOwden,
of Louisville. Speaks.

The Indiana Commandery of the Loyal
Legion held it's annual banquet last night
in commemoration of the eghty-eighth an
niversary of the birth of Lincoln. There
were many invited guests present, in
Guiding some distinguished men of the
State. Provision was made for 175 people
at the banquet and there were very few
vacant seats. The banquet was held In
the assembly room of the Commercial Club.
After the desires of the inner man had
been bountifully provided for the feast of
intellect in honor of the memory of the
martyr President began. S. NJ. Saylor, of
Huntington, spoke of Lincoln as a Master
of English His address did not have the
soul-stirring qualities of the one that fol-
lowed. His subject was not one to bring
tears to the eyes Of those present, but it
dealt with the work of a man who was
raised on a farm and was often known as
the railsplitter on account of the brawny
work of his youth and early manhood.
The principal address of the evening was
delivered by Marmaduke A. III. Bowden, of
Louisville Mr. Bowden is young man,
not more than thirty-five years OF age, but
is man with a ripe experience and full
of the vigor and fire of the prime of life
and the ability to do full justice to q pa
Sacred memories and the tears men weep
alone can keep a nation at its height"
The subject was handled with great
pathos of expression and thought. The
feeling of the soldier who had marched
with the assurance that at the head of the
Nation was just man, who would consider
the appeal of the weakest of them was
dwelt upon. In Kentucky, he said Lin
coins memory is held dearer than that of
| any other man. Even those of the people
of that State who were opposed to him dur
| ing the war revere him as true man who
conscientiously did his duty and never
| failed to do his whole duty. but did it with
| q kindness that could not result in an I'M
| just act. Throughout the address full
men present who had seen the sufferings of
| the war were brought to the point of WHIP
| ing away the tears that would not stay
| back. Mr.. Bowden closed with reference
| brother from brother. and son from father
| and mother, but Kentucky was true to the
| Union--I thank God Kentucky has ever
| been true.
The Bald-headed Glee Club sang MY Old
| Kentucky Home Immediately after Mr..
| Bowden concluded, and many of those pres
| ent Joined the singers. This a trib-
| ute to the speaker, and was recognized and
| cheered by the listeners.
| c. h. Merriteld read a description of the
/ burning Of the Blackhawk. 1t was partly
| true and partly imaginative. He said, be-
/ fore beginning, that in the main his read
| ing was based upon facts, but that the
| missing portions had been supplied by his
| imagination. 1t was a graphic description
| of the loss of the flagship of the Missis-
sippi squadron.
Gen. Lew Wallace presided, and with a
| few happily chosen words called on Sena-
| tor-elect Fairbanks to say few words.
| Mr.. Fairbanks said he had come TO the
| banquet without the knowledge that he
| would be asked TO say anything and had
| not written out a speech TO deliver. Turn
| ing to General Wallace. he said: Your call
| upon me is as unexpected my gratitude
| to you is great. i have no ambition in this
4 fn int of Y1xy
| fellow-countrymen. This is holy hour.
| Eighty eight years ago Abraham Lincoln
| was born. You are his beloved children,
| and you and L shall worship his memory
| forever. l thank our noble friend from
| kentucky for his grand and chaste tribute.
| | cannot wear the badge that you wear,
| which is greater honor than any other
| in the United States. Highly / appre-
| ciate the honor of a seat in the United
| people has given me, IL Is not as high an
| honor as the badge you wear, which is de-
| MED 10 me-.
There were several other impromptu
| speeches delivered. but the regular pro-
| gramme ended with the address of Mr..
| Fairbanks.
| Prior to the banquet there was a business
| meeting, at which Clarence l.. Henley, eld-
| est son of Captain Henley, OF Crawfords-
| vile. was initiated as a member of the
| second rank, which Is for the eldest sons
| of officers in the late war. Captain Will
| Jams. of Fort Wayne. presented the COM
| mandery photograph of Lincoln. taken
| shortly before his assassination by Alex
| ander Gardner. of Washington. There was
| a short presentation speech and response.
| The Quadrennial congress of the Loyal
Legion will meet In Detroit. April 4. The
| three alternates TO attend the congress-
| The delegates are Gen. Lew Wallace Will
Cumback and Col. l. N. Walker. The al.