The San Francisco call., 1898-02-23
THEY HONOR
 FATHERS OF
 FREEDOM Banquet of the Sons of the American
 Revolution. Hon. E. F. Preston's Splen- did Eulogy of the
 President. Mayor Phelan Delivers a Stlr- ring Address on Munlclpal
 Government. RECEIVE MANY GREETINGS Professor Bernard Moses Talks on the Practical Value OI
 Patriotism.
Mayor Phelan Delivers a Stlr- ring Address on Munlclpal
 Government.
RECEIVE MANY GREETINGS
Professor Bernard Moses Talks on the Practical Value OI
 Patriotism.

The Sons of the American Revolution gave banquet last night at wnlcn zoo guests were present. Covers were ldiu for that number, but the Maple RooH of the Palace Hotel in which the pan quet was held, was so overcroWdeo that some forty guests were obliged to De seated in the Marble Hall adjoining the banqueting room.
 The tables were prettily decorated, the color used being pink. At one end of the Maple Room the insignia Of the order was displayed in due prominence on the wall, while the Stars and Stripes formed a fitting background for the cross of Liberty and Country
 Before commencing the splendid re- past which had been provided for them the guests sang two of the most patri- otic Songs known to Amerlcans- America" and Columbia the Gem or the Ocean," At the first sound of the orchestra the whole assemblage rose 10 their feet as one man and the songs were sung with intense feeling ana fervor. Among the guests present were: Mayor Phelan, Hon. Horace DAVIS. Professor Bernard Moses, Professor Lathrop, Rabbi Voorsanger, General J. H. Dickinson, General G. Ii. Burton, Joseph L. Spear, Professor F. M. Will liamson, Colonel A. s. Hubbard, Judge G. N. Fox and $. Prentis Smith.
 After the cigars Col. J. c. Currier, president of the society, made few introductory remarks on the inception and growth of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. He said that the society would every year make its influence felt throughout the country by the preservation of Ameri- can traditions, and by stimulating and fostering a healthy public sentiment regarding honesty in all departmental affairs pertaining t0 the State and to the country. If a healthy patriotism Is promoted throughout the country by the efforts of the society, it will not have lived in vain. The Colonel then proposed a toast to the man who In his exalted position deserves the SUD- port of all true Americans in time of peace and war-the President of the United States.
 In responding to the toast, the Hon. B. F. Preston made speech which was greeted as in many ways the speech of the evening, reaching as 1t did an elevated tone that touched a responsive chord in every patriotic heart present. He said:
 The President of the United States. The ruler of more than sixty millions of freemen, vested by the suffrages of the citizens of the republic with far greater tional monarchs. When tested by the number of people, value of the interests and the geographical area affected, his powers s~erstzad are ,, vast ss beyond conception other world as their official equal, the President of the United States stands forth without insignia, decoration or title, his office illumined by those great truths upon which the superstructure of our Government rests, beside which all hereditary honors and titles pale and be- come insignificant
 Our sturdy, forefathers, who crossed the sea in search of liberty, brought with them as part of their very being those fundamental principles of human liberty barons at Runnymede-fit seed to fructify and bear the fruit of an American re- public public; M And when they published that Independence, to the world, humanity answered with a responsive throb. Se- lecting the colors with which Almighty them into the American flag. and conse- crated it with their blood and their lives.
 From this highest order of patriotism was was evolved our form of government, lo-udy remains un- changed Master minds met in its for nation. The Federalists, led by the great Alexander Hamilton, and the Democrats by Thomas Jefferson, united in devising a system by which men could govern themselves. The country was vast, limit less and unpopuated. The people were strong in habits of self-reliance, cemeHted py the bloody war through which they we, their descendants, alone may know. The sparse population of the narrow strip or land between the Alleghenies and the Atlantic Coast has extended across the Mlsslsslppi River until it has reached the facinc. Ihe stage coach has made way Tor the railroad, the great West is dotted with populous cities and throughout the length and breadth of the land teeming millions still look to our institutions and 10 our nag with the same reverential af- fection as did our forefathers of old.
 However foreign nations may regard us, however serious they may consider our political contests, they must always count upon what they seem to forget-the in- tense, unbounded patriotism of the Amer ican peopie, patriotism always willing maintain the dignity and the honor of the repupHc. And in this patriotism and reverence Tor our Government lies our chief safeguard. The ever-increasing population of the world is beating upon stranger shores to find room for an ad- ditional resting place
 The surplus manufacturers are forced eo oici6h HidThetS, OlSpldClHS the QO- mestic product and producing an in eyitabie financial struggle the settlement or which no one may foresee. And the man who is chosen to guide the destinies of this great people through all of the possibilities of the worlds complex civ ilization is engaged in the discharge of the duties of the highest office known to modern man.
 By the past we may forecast the future. The people of the United States for more than century have, in their selection of Presidents, proved the possibility of self government. The roll of chief magis- trates Is one unbroken record of high honor, statesmanship and personal dig nity. Whatever may have been the po- litical struggle, whatever may have been the issues upon which he was elected, the man has always been the President of the United States, rising above party dogmas to the full appreciation of his higher station, while the people in the same manner have, without regard to political affiliations, rendered him their respectful and affectionate support and homage
 This is the higher type of self-govern-