The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-03
SCHURz BIRTHDAY DINNER.
FRIENDS CELEBRATE HIS 7IsT YEAR
WITH A FEAST.

Eight Speeches Devoted to Different Periods
of His Life and n Reply from the Guest
Cleveland Sends n Letter of Gloomy
Gratitude and Didnctioal Mention.
At the end Of his threescore years and ten
Carl Schnrz Is still vigorous enough to have
been able TO sit up and listen for four hours
last night TO speeches. with himself as their
subject. on the occasion OF the complimentary
birthday dinner to him at Delmonico's. Every
side OF his character was duly oanvassed. He
was toasted hs q German revolutionist OF '4S.
as an anti slavery a~Ritator, as q soldier in the
civil war. rs a reconstruction statesman, as n
United States Senator. as n member OF the
Cabinet. and finally as a civil service reformer;
so there is small wonder. when It was all over.
that his speech In response should have had
a tinge Of the appeal. Save me from my
friends"
About $50 guests sat down TO the dinner.
The room was decorated with German and
American flags. the German war nag as we'll
as the national flag. being sho w. Before the
speaking began the orchestra played Die
Wacht am Rhein," and everybody rose. Then
came the star Spangled Banner" and again
all rose. Some sang. Charles Francis
Adams opened the proceedings as Chairman.
Mr.. Adams said that he didn't know who his
representative in Congress was. but that he
was inadequately represented; that all his
hearers were probably inadeauately repre-
scented. Furthermore. : that they we're in
adequately represented because Mr.. schurz.
whose constituency was proven by their pres
ence. was kept out of political activity by tho
machine, This sentiment was ~applauded,
and tho, Chairman introduced DIR. A. Jacohi.
tTionn0 f IN Ger u, my. ' Prof. william lila m Ne Sloane Sloane
Of Columbia University then, considered Mr..
Schurz as The Champion of the Slave"
fnn 1nhn n | Goldman whn gnrVa6 nnHAF
Schurz in the civil war. told of the war record
Of the guest OF homer and referred to him as
struction" was the subject of the toast Of ex-
Congressman william B.. Fleming OF Georgia.
Moorield, storey, ex-President OF the Amerl;
# NJ r. SehurS,s life and g9ns!dereG d him I'm as n, tThs
SSr, Of tie CABINET" and Herbert Welsh Of
Philadelphia, Secretary OF the Indian Rights
AsiS'l IT, SRep %af Of fh Bro ski nG r.ac PR!1an lie 9 Ef:
minating point of glory and talked about civil
service reform and Carl Schurz as the we'll
That ondod the .vivisectlon. Mr.. schurz
rose to reply, revealing himself as a man who
eyes ese p are Still IN brisht. his Ss sandy beard shows
few traces OF gray and his voice Is firm and
resonant. He said in part:
thrown at me. in public while ha Ie no fair
opportunity of defending myself. ] am ac-
customed to the discussion Of public questions
but not to the discussion Of my personal char
acter. Being in a sense called upon to do this
the situation is to mo extremely en- arrassing.
Some of the things | have heard tonight about
myself can be said with safety OF any man only
when he is dead and gone and the sum OF his
life has been ludicially struck. But, although
the first exuberance of my life NAV be behind
me. / tlatter myself with n being !. s : ~ alive; wish ai
to take more or less interest in the affairs of
the living, Swearing praise is. therefore. at
for they do not know what may still be com
ing to make them sorry for what they have
Among, the letters received was this from
ex- President Cleveland:
MY DEAR SIR regret exceedingly that
ticipating in the celebration of Mr.. SchurZs
seventeen birthday. find that an engage
ment. which l had hoped might be postponed.
will prevent my attendance.
My disappointment is measured by the ex-
treme qualification It would, AFFORD me 20 con;
tribute my testimony TO the volume that will
ranged. in grateful support of Mr.. schurz's
His life and career teach lessons that can
not be too often or too impressively empha.
sized. They illustrate the mora, grandeur Of
and Just and safe. 1t will be a sad day for our
our people refuse to see the best statesman;
ship in steadfast adherence to conscience and
Il believe that the most confident hope OF
the permanency and continued benefcence of
our pE tt free i intIaatSa S,, TsS nsh SRo 11 the Gu!ti nnd0n
the ranks of our countrymen OF the traits
which have distinguished the map whom you
propose to honor. Yours very truly.
GROVER CLEVELAND"
Among those present were: James G. Car
ter, President Seth Low OF Columbia yniyer-
Hugo Wesendonck. August Feigl, R. Fulton
Cutting, Arthur Won Briesen. William. r.
Stewart, Gustav II. schwab. Charles $. Fair
ton, Everett P. Wheeler. William Jay Schief-
felin. Wilhelm Keuffel. John Brooks Leavitt.
Carl Schipper and john Elderkin.