The San Francisco call., 1898-02-23
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
 Executive Department.

Executive Department
 BOSTON, Feb. 22, 1898.
 William NJ Bunker Esq.-My Dear Sir: It gives me much pleasure to send across the continent to the California Society of the Sons of the American Revolution at it's banquet on the evening of February wealth of Massachusetts upon the oc- casion which they are commemorating.
 The memory of this great son of the Old Dominion is the equal possession of all the States of the Union, and has passed from the custody of the thirteen original States along the Atlantic sea- board through the mighty valley of the Mississippi to the States bordering the Pacific. Distance and time only add lus- ter to his great name- Very truly yours,
 ROGER WOLCOTT.
 Mayor Phelan spoke at some length on the magnificent patriotism which has always been displayed by Ameri- can citizens. He said that the coun- try's great population for the most part lived in cities, and that therefore the interests and happiness of the people were better served by clean and hon. casional statute passed by Congress. One of the principal concerns of this country to-day is municipal reform, and municipal patriotism is the only power which can bring this about.
 Great laughter was caused by the Mayor addressing his audience as 'la- dies" He, however, deftly turned the error to account by saying that as woman is the head, of the household, and households are major part of municipal care, the word ladies' sprang involuntarily to his lips.
 Professor Bernard Moses of the Uni versity of California then spoke on the Practical Value of Patriotism" He said: 'The patriotism I mean is not that which finds expression in noisy Reclamation, nor in such a devotion to present conditions as to render us blind and deaf and dumb before the ex- perience of the world. The patriotism of which I think is strong, intelli- gent and far-sighted love of country; a love of country that inspires us to keep our hands clean of corruption, and our minds fixed on lofty political ideals: that moves us to work wisely and con- scientiously for the promotion of the prosperity, the dignity and the glory of the nation. It is patriotism of this sort that constitutes the main element of civic virtue; and 1t is only where this virtue exists that popular govern ment can be maintained"
 The Consul-General for the Pacific Coast of the French republic was next introduced to the assemblage by Col onel Currier. M de Lalande made only short speech, but it drew voleys of applause from his hearers. He said:
 MT. President and Gentlemen: The rep- resentative for the Pacific Coast of the republic of France expresses his thanks for the invitation with which the patri- otic association of the Sons of the Ameri- can Revolution has honored him to-day.
 It is more than hundred years ago that French officers, whose names have remained engraven in history and in the memory of the American nation, fought valiantly in your ranks for your national independence. They fought side by side with your great liberator, George Wash ington. whose glorious anniversary your chosen society is to-day celebrating I do not think that any other nations his tory could present a name that would shine with greater brilliancy.
 Like individuals. nations also have their hours of trouble and anxiety and of sad ness, but these moments pass away, as also do the hours of triumph What re- mains and is more lasting is the con- sciousness which a nation acquires of it's own existence. of its mission and of It's own dignity. The American people to- nations of the world
 Conscious of this. 1t is q great proof