The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-18
1Ior7NIANS, GALA NIGHT.
......nned from Eighth Page.l

art me statue of liberty was embodied in
that w. of a woman, and to-day her pre-
me shines forth across the seas from the
ence If cuba TO the Irish sea.
shore charles ]. Bayne of Augusta was
MI. Welcomed when he arose 10 re-
4 warm the toast Literature" Mr..
sponu address was literary In itself.
"a! and humorous. Literature is not
DrsN' oIooa in the realm of fiction, he
4 founu If it be so held, then the news
sad ma the courts will have to fight
par There is a prestige about ntera-
rbicn will outlast time. He spoke of
tul u,sratlre of the ancient Greeks ond
tn '.ars the gories of the Augustan age,
ho' NE literature of recent generations
ana ir U' v-onld have been greatly impover-
VIM 5hs5 IL not been for the contributions
- rho irish people.
OF .aei5ent Meldrim said, in introducing
novt sneaker, that the real power of
w 4,v for good or for evil is THE
tle" The committee, he said, had de-
81 ileaa from the usual custom, and, In
pa of selecting a member of the press,
II 5.oS called upon Hon. Thomas Nj. Nor-'
ID n respond to that toast.
n W. I,,5se Norwood said the press furnish
broader subject than at that hour of
eu rigbt he was able to do justice to.
tnp nc Norwood presented some unusual
'ug7 oloouent comparisons upon the power
a .bs nress For ages the human race
oroned in darkness. Tradition was the
- torch that man possessed, and that
o craving dim. Mans only alphabet
.as Of the flowers, beasts, birds. the sun,
aon and stars. Strange for thousands of
lars he never thought of engraving those
.5sr9cters upon wood or metal.
What is the press? he asked. Not
- for they existed years before. Not
rosgazines or pamphlets, which are the
LSayv ordnance or the light artillery, but
.ba nress to-day consists distinctively of
tbe newspapers, the rushing cavalry OF
Nteroture The press is Minerva from the
lain of man, but not like Minerva from
,ba brain of Jove, full grown. 1t crawled
tefore il walked, but grew until it be-
came the fourth estate. The press belongs
not 10 the initiative, but the inventive arts.
rrbA mallet and chisel achieved their
1roudest prominence 1900 years ago, but
tho press is the child of the brain of man,
and progresses ever forward.
oWill il be the defender of the people
and the poor? he asked ''or will it be
the plant pander of plutocracy's greed"
II is teaching every hour of the day Like
nature it knows no Sabbath. Who can
t4u whether it will work for the good of
the people, or ito their detriment The
press has been nurtured by the people.
Its only oppression has come from crown
Cd heads who dreaded public opinion The
press up to twenty years ago was without
exception the friend of the people. To-
dav some monster dailes have formed
gigantic trusts which operate against the
peoDle he said. The accumulat ton of
enormous estates is a danger which years
ago supreme court justices commented
upon. If these enormous dailies have form
ed these trusts against the people then
the people will have to resort to another
remedy. They may assemble in conven-
ton once more to attempt to remodel the
constitution of their fathers, and in my
opinion they will forbid the accumulation
Of vast wealth and declare that all over
a certain amount shall go to education.
Then if need be, I believe the freedom
Of the press will be curtailed to protect
the people from any further grievances.
THE Orators and Poets of Ireland" was
to have met with a response from Judge
Robert Falligant, but his indisposition
prevented his attendance, and in his stead
President Meldrim introduced Hon. Emery
Speer, Judge of the United States Court.
It is difficult, Judge Speer said, to fill the
broad vacancy left by the absence of the
distinguished Judge of the Superior Court.
But the president of the Hibernian Soci-
ETY. had called, and he would obey. He
spoke Of the peerless Grattan and his
memorable appeals for Irish liberty, of
Burke and Sheridan, noted for their elo-
Quence and wit; of OConnell, who char
acterized Disraell as the lineal descendant
OF the thief who died upon the cross ours
ing Christ, and of Robert Emmett, Ire
lands memorable hero. From Fingal TO
John Boyle OReilly, Irish poets have eY-
pressed those sentiments which have
thrilled the souls of men. These senti-
lhenIs of liberty animate Ameri-
cans and Irishmen alike, and If
the time comes for it, the men who wore
the gray will be found in the fore front
IN defense of their country, whether they
De Irish or American. Judge Speer's elo-
quent tribute to liberty provoked the full
enthusiasm Of those around him and the
cheering and applause was prolonged.
Standing before the American flag and
II the presence Of the army officers, Judge
Speer had spoken of the men who had fol-
""ed Lee and Johnston, who were ready.
ue sad, to even lead the Grand Army of
'e Republic, though the sight that glanc-
e' along the rifle barrel had grown dim,
ana Inc hand that pulled the lanyard was
weak T1N IN defense of home and liberty.
Inc name of Charlton Is Synonymous
WIN all that is good and best I'm the civic
n4e OF savannah, President Meldrim said,
IL introducing Hon. Walter G. Charlton,
t0+4'NN W the NOdSly CAV diildiA.
NO city that has not virtue is worth the
o."ls and we love Savannah, Mr.. Charl-
wi wi SAID Savannah has had her adver-
r"y' out above it all she has risen to
prosperity. What historic memories clus-
o ~, around this grand old city. Washing
t9n was here and here sleeps Greene, and
s, e.e Came Lafayette, Calhoun and Web
Y.i' herrlen and here came the kindest
ave mat ever met antagonist on field,
~.au'' and here are yet gallant Sorrel
anu brave and tender Falligant. The APP
pause was almost deafening as Mr..
,cnsrton concluded his eloquent response
10 Savannah.
me United States" was the toast to
' "'cn Hon j. c. c. Black of Augusta re-
1TPon1ed. In introducing him, President
4,ufim referred to the high and patriotic
"pia cter Of man who, when elected to
na nsh Office, and the charge was made
ro a' us election was unfair, said he would
w" axe II, but would submit 1t back 10
people for if there was suspicion about
M, Ie would not take it.
ssis 'j. hlack, in responding to the toast,
e.. 1t might be expected of him to speak
eigo VI me troubles arising from the for
Ssr. 'eiauons of the United States, but
msae nave been some forty or fifty
sHes delivered on the subject recently