The Springfield herald., 1898-11-18
HONOR TO GEN. MILES.
GIVEN BANQUET AT NEW YORK
Notable Gathering of Prominent Men to
Meet Him-Captain Paget Speaks .
Friendly Word.

mentary banquet given to Major Gen
eral Miles, commanding the United
States army, at the Waldorf-Astoria,
tonight, in point of numbers, eXten-
sive preparation and brilliancy. rivaled
the great banquet given last year in
honor of President Mckinley by the
merchants ana manufacturers of the
country.
The leading persons. military, naval
and business men, were represented
900 We're present. All of the second
fioor of the Astoria portion of the not
ed hotel was utilized for the dinner.
The grand banquet hail was too small,
and small tables We're set in the adjoin-
ing rooms.
The menu cards were bound in vel
luln, with portrait of General Miles
and small pictures representing some
of the scenes through which the gem
cral has passed in his military career,
scenes in the Civil. Indian and Spanish
wars.
At $50 o'clock Hon. Joseph H.
Choatc, the toastmaster, took General
Miles by the arm and after Il brief
levee in The .tstor gallery. headed the
long line 10 the banquet room. As the
general and Mr.. Choatc entered the din
ing room large orchestra struck up
Hail 10 the Chief"
Just after the oysters We're served n
commotion was heard ON the north side
of the banquet hall. Soon after cheers
Were heard rs G1vernor-elect Roosevelt
appeared opposite the guest table.
There was more cheering. every one
rising to his feet the ladies in the
boxes growing enthusiastic and waving
their handkcrchiefs at the colonel. He
was escorted TO IL place made vacant by
hn nf hr hn
regrets at the last moment. Colonel
Roosevelt shook hands with General
Miles and this was the occasion for
more cheering.
Among those who sat nj the guests
table. presided over by Joseph II.
'Choate, were Major General Nelson A.
Miles mt his right. and Rear Admiral
Henry Erben at his left. Governor Rog
er a. Wolcott of Massachusetts. Cover
nor-clect Roosevelt. Hon. Asa Bushnell
governor of Ohio: Major General Dam
iel L. Siclicls, Hon. Benjamin f.
Tracy, Ex-Governor Levi +. Morton,
Captain Arthur paget, X. N: Hon.
Daniel II. Hastings. governor of Penn
sylvania; Major General o. o. How
ard. Hon. Seth Low, Roswell z. Flow
er. Chauncey NJ. Depew. Hon. William
]. Sewall and Hon. Lloyd Lowndes,
governor of Maryland.
Half Il dozen members of the Cover
nor's Foot Guards of New Haven,
Connecticut. Were present in the pic
turesQue uniforms of 1774.
After n brief speech by Mr.. Choate,
in which he warmly eulogized the
guest of the evening. General Miles
was given an ovation. He smilingly
bowed his acknowledgements of the ex-
cited applause and said in part:
"Joyfnlly dear is the homeward track.
If we are but sure of welcome back"
"Sucl n generous reception has been
rendered to me tonight as few are per-
mitted to enjoy. and / should be want
ing in gratitude did l not appreciate
the sentiment expressed in this cordial
greeting.
II should be vain. indeed, to ascribe
1t to myself, or for n moment accept 1t
solely rs pcIaunnl tribute. AS an eX-
preston of appreciation of the gallant
troops which i have the honor to COM
mand. It is accepted in behalf of the
living, and for them thank you, as
well as for those whose lips are for
ever silent, and whose heroism and
sacrifice now is here remembered and
revered
The wars of the past have had their
objects, their achievements and glo-
rious results. This last was in the in
terest of humanity and in behalf of
heroic people, who for many years
have been struggling against cruel
atrocities. oppression and the despot-
ism of Il cruel monarchy.
"lt has been most remarkable in
many respects. 1t has presented one
series of victories without a single dis
.,in =. .
the United States has not been low
cred; not soldier. gun or rifle has
been captured by the enemy. The
American soldiers and sailors have
been true to the principles and tradi-
tions of their fathers. and maintained
the honor and glory of the American
arms. One great blessing to the coun-
try in this brief but decisive war has
been to firmly unite in bonds of imper-
ishable union all sections of the United
States. North South, East and West.
Still more. 1t has given us reason
and opportunity to appreciate our obli
CATION to the mother country for the
diCniticd and powerful influence of the
British empire in the maintenance of
our principles and rights"
After General Miles had finished his
address. which was brief, Admiral
fTben spoke.
Mr.. Choatc. in few words. told
of the close relations between Great
Britain and the United States and in
troduced Captain Arthur Faget of the
royal navy. \ tremendous ovation
greeted the English representative
He said words We're inadequate to de-
scribe his feelings for the American
soldier. the American sailor, for Ad-
miral Sampson and for General
Miles in particular. He read an ex-
tract from Lord Salihury's speech, in
which the latter pointed out the pro-
GresS of the United States towards
expansion. Captain Paget said there
We're some who opposed expansion,
but that they could not stay the pro-
eress of the American nation in this
direction. He closed by saying;
Il can only say that II Will be
proud future whenever | see the Stars
and Stripes on battlcship or cruiser or
merchantman. Then | will know
that on board of them i'll their sea-
men | will have. if not brother, an
ally" This was greeted with cheers,
and three times three cheers We're
given for Great Britain
Mr.. Choatc announced that General
Miles wished him to ask for three
cheers for General Shafter. Then en-