The age-herald., 1900-09-19
A GALA OCCASION Exercises Were in Every Way a
 Success. MANY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
Governor Johnston and Former Score. tary of the Navy Herbert Were Among the Speakers
 Banquet Last Night

Portsmouth, N H., September 1s.-Ths initial days celebration of the presenta- tion of the tablets to the Kearsarge and Alabama, although ushered in by gloom and storm, nevertheless proved great sue cess through the fortunate clearing of the weather, and tonight the two bropzs eW- blems are in the custody of the command ing officers of the great battleships. The storm of last night dlearranged the pro- granme planned by the committee fer the day. and the formal exercises of the pre- sentaton went over until the afternoon, while those arranged to be held on the kearsarge, now at anchor in the harbor, were postponed altogether. The exercises on shore, however, were a great success, and speeches by prominent officials were warmly received by large gathering. TRs weather cleared beautifully during the lat ter part of the day, and the stands erected on the shofs of the inland lake presented a fine appearance, and the whole afternoon was very satisfactory to the committee wh1 had planned this part of the celebration. The exercises were held shortly after o'clock.
 Mayor Edward B. Mcintyre opened with an address of welcome and then introduced Gen. Charles H. Burns of Wilton as presi- dent of the day. Mir. Burns spoke at length of the signifcance of the occasion, and pre- sented Miss Mary Thornton Davis of Bos- ton, niece of Lieutenant Thornton, execu- tive officer of the old Kearsarge. and Mrs Henry Bryan of Tennessee, daughter of Rear Admiral Semmes of the old Alabama. Miss Davis unveiled the tablet destined for the Alabama. while Mrs. Bryan performed a like act with that of the Kearsarge.
 Governor Frank w. Rollins was then in- troduced and made brief address, pre- senting the tablets to Captain Foiger of the Kearsarge and Captain Brownson of the Alabama.
 Secretary of the Navy John D. Long re- sponded on behalf of the Navy Department.
 G,otn"r Johns,on's speech
 Gov. Joseph F. Johnston of Alabama ac- cepted the Alabama's tablet. In doing so he said:
 We have come here from the sunny skies and fragrant plains of Alabama, more than thousand miles, traversing ten States of the Union, upon the gracious invitation of this commonwealth, to take part in these patriotic exercises.
 For the first time in thirty-fve years we are invited, not to forget the glorious achievements of our fathers and brethren in the war between the States but 1t Is now lnSlBteO tnAt they Budii ever DS TStuVluDcEeo and cherished as the common heritage or the American people. and for the inspira. ton of our children and the glory of a great and reunited and free republic.
 Tn all this long journey, whenever and wherever my feet have pressed the earth. whether north or south of the Potomac, like Anteas of old, I have felt new strength and courage rise into my veins from soil enriched and hallowed by the blood of your fathers and brethren and mine.
 sA-- .fH Hampshire, a commonwealth the mother of Webster, that great apostle of an indis- soluble Union of indestructible States, should be the first, officially, not only to rise superior to the passions and pre5udicee of the fra tricidal war, but to determine to commemorate and honor the gallant deeds of the American sailor without regard to the flag that foatHd over him.
 And it Is peculiarly happy that these patriotic ceremonies should take place dur ing the administration of a Governor, close to the hearts of his people, who planted the seed this day so auspiciously bursting into bloom and blossom when he inaugu- rated the Old Home Week for his com monwealth.
 This is the first old Home Week of the American sailor. when those who left may return and once more. without reproach, take their places at the old fresides.
 Men may differ about the right or wrong of any cause, and they may conscientiously
  worthy of liberty and inspired by lofty sen- timents, cannot fail to honor courage and heroism by whomsoever displayed; and es- pecially should 1t do so when these heroes are the descendants of the very men who gave so freely of their blood and treasure to secure the Independence of our common country. ..A
 .sIf the descendants of the Cavaliers and Scotch-Irish of the south were little res tive when they thought their liberties im- periled, and the sovereign rights of their States threatened, the Scotch-Irish of New Hampshire, from whose loins sprang the immortal Starke, should remember that his grandest achievements was accomplished when he was refusing to obey any orders or recognize any authority except that of his sovereign State.
 we have met here in the beautiful lan- guage chosen by yeur State. to perpetuate in enduring places names once associated in historic combat The commander or one of those ships was born in my native State, and the ashes of the other repose in the bosom of my adopted State. When Semmes passed over the river to rest Tn the shade he carried in his heart no re- sentiment towards the gallant Winsiow. The song of the mocking bird as 1t sweeps over his honored grave sounds no dscerd- ant note His lovely daughter, in whose gentle veins courses the heroic blood of her father, is here to signalize by her preS5 ence the tenderness of the ties that are now uniting in enduring friendship two
 
 <N.-ssnunA cx lsananH paga1