The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-23
Strong Views Against
Imperialism.
BRILLIANT BANQUET OF THE
SOCIETY AND ITS GUESTS.
John P. Irish, D.. M. Delmas and
Others Plead for Recognition
of the American Con-
stitution.

A seat at the banquet board Of the Cali
fornia Society of the Sons of the Ameri-
can Revolution last night was a glorious
place. The event. in whose commemora-
ton the banquet was given, could not
have been more fittingly celebrated In
speech, song and feast, and the Sons OF
the American Revolution of San Fran
cisco prepared both programme and feast
ON lines which will long be remembered.
At 6 o'clock about 200 members and
guests were present at the Merchants
Club. The affair had been deliberately ar
ranged and every possible care taken to
present original and unique details. Trum-
peter William G. Hardy, Troop B, Fourth
Cavalry, U. S. A., perhaps the last sur
vivor of the celebrated Custer massacre,
kindly consented to assist in the even
to the elegantly decorated dining room,
and when the long line of guests had f1led
in sounded the mess call which set them
to feasting. The menu was all that coulo
be desired by an epicure.
When appetites were satiated, the trum-
peter sounded 1.-The Retreat" and Presi-
address, the first number of long and
interesting programme. He spoke of the
necessity of maintaining such societies as
the Sons of the American Revolution.
that the flame of patriotism may never
wane, and that the deeds of national pat
riots may stand as standard OF action
Commander j. G. Watson was given a
hearty ovation and detailed many Incl
dents of the past campaign. He modest
ly asked that the people not honor him
until he had accomplished something
worthy of honor, and regretted that he
was staid in his prospective visit to the
shores of Spain. He said that no coun-
try was ever in better condition to In
dulge in active warfare than the United
States, and that the senior officers in
both naval and army forces who were
pronounced old fogies before they had
been tried proved more than warriors
when fighting began
1.-The Battle Hymn of the RepuuIic" was
well rendered by Rhys Thomas, after
which D. M. Delmas responded to the
first toast, The Character Of Washing,
ton and Its Influence Upon the Nation;
During the past year he said, events
have taken place under our own eyes so
fitting that they seemed like the views
in a phantasmagoria or a panorama of a
scenic stage. Within the past year our
lives have been crowded with startling
rapid transition that they dazzled our
eyes From the hour when the Inflated
Maine sank beneath the waves in Havana
harbor until the hour which marked the
Spain from the face of the American con-
tinent, our nation has witnessed one vlcls,
and have now the lives and liberties of
eight millions of human beings wrapped
up in our keeping.
let us follow the course which Washing
ton whose memory we celebrate to-nlgnt.
mapped out on a cnare %nlf fnr e tbe indee
pendence of our people, course Wnlc1
indicates the path of national honor ana
demarks a national principle from an I'M
When Spain lay bleeding at our feet
and when the war is over, let our states
men quote the words of our foreIat1ers'
that breathe in harsh whispers the dan
gers of foreign acquisition: SHAH we take
advantage of our position? Shall the ear
e.
of the nation be de eaoq 10 the the influenza e
of Washington to be. dispelled and his
shade forgotten? Believe i not: The day
ization when reason will resume its sway.
The ashes of Washington lie at Mount
Vernon, but his spirit Is with US, o ana II
viii he with us yet and forever more.
Professor Thomas r. Bacon reSpondeo
70 a toast "Loyalists of the ReVolutlon:
He related the incidents Wnlcn leu op ~ ~
the separation of America from US m Sae5
country and to the situation Whch raced
the coionists when they heard the COM COM,
mand. "Choose We this day Whom We VIII
Relieving a cornet solo by George Ben,
metz Rev Charles r. Brown reSponde0
to the toast, The Ride OF fao1 , E of R5n-
ker Hill and said that often the snauoW
of the great monument fell across ms
desk when he was writing. ne toIu VI
the War of the Revolution and IN severe
lines applied the principles born IN tne
blood of our forefathers to the present
crisis He was stern in ms ueIuLGSIdd e ~
If the proposed imperialistic principle OF
6f ain the Philippines. He was heartily
applauded:: nos naxt rendered
nv Robert Lloyd. John P. Irish then pro
eeeded to respond to the closing and Eb 5aas.
The Flag Of Our C thn Ikt,ne ane Cen
tury.' In part he said:
The flag of our country since tba e'S bSeaze
has stood for principle which 1t was the n,
task Of Washington, by his sword ana p9
his achievements, to instill into the heart
Of the nation. Its lesson we should follow
In the grave problems which throw their
weight upon us for solution, and let US
never depart from the sound links OF
democracy. In the history OF + the 1eb, %6rla
greater nation freed lesser. Let us fol-
low that example and pass oyer the ne SOW
ereignty Of the Philippines, that ITS peo-
ples may shape their own destiny.
pi Among the guests were Commodore
Watson, Colonel Compton, LIEUTENANT
Colonel Babcock and Captain Terry of
the Iowa.