The Portland daily press., 1898-11-12

to Narrow Limits That Have Governed
Us in Past-Glowing Tribute to Soldiers
Who Served Under Him.
New York, November 1.-THE compli-
mentary banquet given to Major General
Nelson A. Miles, commanding the United
States army, at the Waldorf Astoria to-
night, in point of numbers, extensive
preparation and brilliancy, rivalled the
great banquet given last year in homer Of
President Mckinley, by the Merchants
and Manufacturers Of the country. Seven
hundred and fifty guests were present, In
cluding many Of the leading professional,
military, and business men of the
country.
At 73o o'clock Hon. Joseph Choate. the
POSTMASTER. took General Miles by the
arm and after brief leyee in the Astor
gallery headed the long line to the ban
ou ct room. As the General and Mr..
Choate entered the dining room large
orchestra struck up Hail to the Chief"
After brief speech by MIR. Choate in
which he warmly eulogized the guest of
G1G evening" O6ucI61 ulll6S WAS &lSCa uU
ovation. He smilingly bowed his
acknowledg g1ments OF the elicitsd applau 80
and spoke in part as follows:
ssJoyfully dear is the homeward track
If we are but sure of welcome back.
ssSuch a generous reception has been ex-
tended to me tonight as few are per-
nitted to enjoy and should be wanting
in gratitude did not appreciate the
sentiment expressed in this cordial greet
ing. should be vain, indeed. to aseribe
it TO myself, or for moment accept it
solely as personal tribute. AS an ex-
preston of appreciation of the gallant
troops which ! have the honor to COM
mand, it is accepted in behalf of the
living, and for them thank you, as we'll
as for those whose lins are forever silent
and whoss heroism and sacrifice / knew
are here remembered and revered.
"The American soldiers and sailors
have en- true to the principals and
traditions Of their fathers aud maintained
the honor and glory of the American
arms One great blessing to the country In
this brief but decisive war has been to
firmly unite in bonds OF imperishable
union, all sections of the United States,
North, South, East and West Still
more; il has given us reason and OppOr-
tunity to appreciate our obligation to the
mother country for the dignified and
powerful influence Of the British empire
in the maintenance OF our principles and
right.
.sThere are other fields to conquer. The
past has gone and the future opens the
doors to greater responsibilities and
Il ust to greater progress and prosperity.
We are ascending to a clearer atmos-
pher8, up to the higher mesa, whefe we
should take higher position than ever
before occupied by our country and peo-
1rv, lva
to the narrow limits that governed us In
the past.
wish to return my most heartfelt thanks
for this most cordial greeting.
Governor Wolcott of Massachusetts, was
introduced as the successor to the COVER
nor who gave to General Miles his trst
freq uently interrupted by applause and
at the close he was complied to bow his
for three cheers given
with hearty good will by the men at che
tables and the ladies in the boxes.
A letter from President Mckinley was
read and a toast to ths Presidents health
was druak standing
ten. Nelson NJ. Curtis proposed three
cheers for Gen. Miles, as did also a NOM
ber of the staff of Governor Bushnell OF
Ohio and they were given with will.
MIR. Choate then in tribute to the
navy introduced Rear Admiral Erben.
He wa received with cheers as he rose
to speak He said: 81 thank God
Joined the navy when I was Is years and
that am in it yet. T" (Applanse }
Admiral Erben said that the present
success of the navy hega n with Mr..
Chandler followed by Mr.. Whitney but
the one man to whom the most credit
was due, he declared, was MIR. Benjamin
F. Tracey.
The admiral's reference to the service
that Col Roosevelt did in fitting ont the
navy both In Atlantic and Pacinc waters
created great applause and Col. Roose-
velt was obliged to bow his acknowledge
ments.
President Seth Low of Columbia uni
versity proposed three cheers for General
Tracy. They were given.
speeches were also made by Captain
Arthur Paget, Gov. Bus nell, Col. Roose-
vel Chauncey ID. Derew. ex.Gov. Flower
and others.