New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-04
UNION LEAGUES FAREWELL.
A DINNER FOR GENERAL HORACE
PORTER.


MANY OF HIS FEGLOw-MEMDERs DO HIM HONOR
AT DEIMoNrcos.
Nearly three hundred members OF the Union
League Club united in giving a dinner last night at
Demonicos for their felow-member and president.
General Horace Porter. who sails tomorrow to NIL
his new post Ambassador 10 France. The dinner
was in every way worthy n the man TO whom 1t was
given and the words OF those who spoke evinced the
high esteem In which General Porter Is held by his
fellow club members and the regret, albeit tinged
with PRIDE that they feel at losing him. Delmonico's
hardly large enough to accommodate all the
Union LeaGuers who desired To do honor TO General
Porter.
The banquet hall was simply but beautifully deco
rated with the flags OF the United States and France.
the ricolor interminging with the Stars and Stripes
feature Fl the dinner the presentation by ex-
Judge Henry L. Rowland to General Porter OF a
souvenir in the shape OF album Of ve.lun, bound
in heavy silver. The cover bore this inscriptions
"a souvenir to General Horace Porter. IL. D..
from many of his friends OF the Union League
Club, on the occasion Of his departure as Ambas-
sador to the Republic of France, NowYork May 3,
1887"
Above this inscription blended the arms Of
France and the United States. On the first page
Of the veum were the autograph signatures of the
President and NcePresident OF the United states
and the Cabinet. and the other pages bore the auto
graphs OF the members OF the Union League CLUB
who were at the dinner.
THOSE AT THE TABLE OF HONOR.
The seats at the guests table were occupied by
number Of well known IN New-York ana
throughout the country. EX-Judge Rowland acted
as POSTMASTER. ON lis right sat General Porter
and on his left was chair reserved for Nce-frc'-
dent Hobart, who was expected to ne present, bur
who sent instead telegram explaining mat urgent
business Kept him away. CONCENTRATING the club
or tho appointment Of Of it's members 10 such
post Of honor and responsibility as that VINCE
General Porter Is occupy, and expressing his
pleasure tina; the United States Is TO be so Wei
represented in the Contnerta! Republic Others
who sat at the guests table were Mayor strong
Governor Grgss Of New-Jerscy, Whitela~ Reid.
Elihu Root ex-Mayor Abram :. Hewitt. William
IL. McElroy the Rev Or. Wilton Merle Smith AMI
General Grcnylln VI. Dodge
Among the guests who sat at the long tables were
joe T. Erhardt. J. Adriance BushA John r. Van
Wormer. W. &. Gibson. C. f. Rushnore, William
BrookfelI. Braytor Ives c. { Beaman, Richard
Delafold Anson G. McCoos, George. O. De Witt,
David Mken, jr. James 4. Burden. Cyrus CARR
Trenor l.. Park. H. W. Garner. John W. NroonaA.
Thomas l.. James. 4. G. Paine, r. a. {. Smith.
Lowell Lincoln. Woodbury. Largdon. a. ID. jail
Hard. Salem II. Wales. L. y. Taller and Charles
Stewart Smith.
JUDGE HOWLAND'S INTRODUCTION.
1T is not often" saii ex-Judgr Rowland in call
ing the diners to order. aha. Il mans friends as
sombln to congratulate him upon leaving his coun-
try fer his countrys good Such. however Is the
case with our dear riand and CUES; tonight, and
we congratulate the new Administration upon itE
fortunate selection" The postmaster eulosizea
General Porter at some length. and described the
delight with which his many friends had watched
his career and had seen him become one OF The
mos, prominen, men Of his time. Mr.. Rowland
finished by presenting 10 Genera! Porter the elabo-
rate souvenir already described ana calling upon
tho assembled diners to drink TO tho health OF their
dist nguishcd president. which they did standing.
RESPONSE OF THE AMBASSADOR.
General Porter was received with continued APP
plause when he rose to speak.
'rhere is a certain satisfaction In feeling" said
the guest of honor. that I leave you I go from
the chief Republic Of the New World to the chief
republic of the Old World. 1t will also be great
qualification to me feel that in the flag OF that
republic 20 which l 20 can see the same colors
that adorn the flag Of our own country. You arc
all travellers and you know well that many times
IN your wanderngs you the flags Of nations
for which YOU have care and many emblems
with which YOU are not familiar; but when you
the Stars and Stripes. no matter where 1t may
be tears fill your eyes and big lump comes up
into your throat, and you say That's our fag
God bless it.
FRANCO AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP.
THE traditional: friA I'd ship that has existed be-
tween the Republic of tha Old World and the Re-
public OF the New World is one that time should
not efface nor memory dim France was the first
nation 10 accept invitation to be represented at
the Worlds Columbian Exposition al Chicago. and
we should have been the first in return. to accept
The invitation of France 10 he represented at the
Exposition Of 1900 in Paris. with which France will
round ont the nineteenth century in blaze Of
glory We should all hope that the present Con-
IN, hi he
preparation. The friendship of France was also
shown for when her people raised n large sum
Of money by popular subscription. and sent TO US
that magnificent statue that is the last thing our eyes
fall upon when leave our country and the first
they fall upon when return--the statue Of Lib
erty Enlightenng the World. In the darkest hour
OF our country's history light broke upon the
eastern horizon ana that light came from France.
We saw Rochambeau and Lafayette standing side
by side with Washington and Greene: we saw the
Stars and the Stripes kissing each other as they
waved side by side and never being lowered until
they dipped their frnges in the blood OF their enc
mics.
During the settlement of the great question that
so nearly divided this country bore my small
par, in deciding the matter by the rash arbitra-
ment Of the sword. but / hope that In the future
We shall learn wiser counsel and settle all ques-
lions by the wiser method Of peaceful arbitration"
Appause)
In closing General Porter referred TO the pleasant
relations he had so long sustained with the mem
bors Of the Union League Club. declaring that the
friendships he had formed would ever be tho dear
est of his life lie told them that when they trav-
clled I'm France they would always End the latch
string Of the Embassy out and the proprietor in.
| and finished by thanking his fellow club members
| for the honor they did MIN
J GOVERNOR GRIGGS'S SPEECH.
! Governor Griggs responded 10 the toast of The
| President OF the United States, which was drunk
et.nding The Governor congratulated the Adj
| pinistraton upon the appointment Of three such
Ambassadors as John Hay. Andrew ID. White ana
General Porter. Then he devoted a little OF his
attention 10 the recent dinner Of the Reform Club,
and said he was disposed to quarrel with the mem
bcrs of that club for intimating that they had
| been deceived and buncoed. They cot all mat was