New-York tribune., 1908-02-23
SONS CHEER SPO0NER.
LIMIT On PRESIDENCY.
Recalls :"oshiaeton's Reminder That
AiEht Tears Is Enough


Three a,nGre. .,.a.cbers cf lie Sons OF the Revo-
luticn =, out hearty yen last Light st their an
nus DINER it-l,Ioii.co's ~her ex-senator John
c. Spoone-. IN dosing his response to the toast
George Washington said that ttere one
example tGc ''rsiher of His Country had set for
the American paooie which never oughs TO be over
looked err}ej Never shol13 the american
people perrlit nigr" said the ex-senator. Ito
hold the office o. President of the United States for
more t;Iar eight continuous years Never never"
came answering Sp..tv rom all parts Of the hall
while the diners rose 2aS clleered the sentiment
and the spe1i;e. voice lost IA the tumult.
Senator Spooner's celebration ct the end of
a speech which was Distinguished by its admoni
tions 10 renleInber the ir!unctions of Washington
given in his message of farewell that the security
of the popular torpl Of government dependent
upon coordinate branches. which should a
mutual check and prevent the possibility of usurpa
ton or the building up OF . despotic power. The
speaker declared his belief that the government
would last thousand years least: but should Il
do so. he said, two figures would stand out from
the whole rON of Presdents-Wa shington and Lin
coin. Because Lincoln the martyr possibly
future generations would Hnger with more of ten
derness in their tribute to his greatness Then
ferring TO the Anal message OF Washington. he said
amid laughter: There were not many of them.
Al that time the federal government attending
TO the business of the federal government Here
the applause was great that Senator Spooner
had to wait several minutes before it subsidized.
Continuing, he pointed out the calmress and dig
nifty which peryaded all of Washington's cornmunca-
uons TO Congress. Here again the speaker had to
stop for the applause and laughter while several
enthusiastic voices sho tied Fine, fine."
Senator Spoonsr said that no tribute could be
paid TO Washington unless the words Of advice
which he delivered in what was intended to be his
farewell message the American people were
needed After reading part of the message. in
which Washington spoke OF the three branches
Of the government-the executive the legislative
and the judcia-he insisted that each branch
should confine its activity It's appointed sphere,
a sentiment that drew forth from knots of the
three hundred Sons the sentiment. Bully" Each
department, said Senator Spooner, should resist
encroa chments its sphere of activity allowed by
the Constitution. yet he said he knew of in
stance in state where during the last year
eleven bills affecting property rights had been sent
to the Legislature with the mandate to enact them,
and they were enacted He condemned the CRITICS.
ing OF the Judiciary, and declared that while the
public and newspapers might do neither those
who appointed judges nor the branch of the legis-
lature which irnpeaches them nor the Senate which
judges them. has this right to criticise II any
amendments TO our laws needed. said Sena-
tor Spooner. they should be made Washing
ton pointed in the manner appointed, by
amendment to the Constitution.
Professor William 81. Sloane. Of Columbia Uni
versity. responding to the toast Lafayette, said
that the French patriot who had achieved distnc
ton under Washington had. in his own Declaration
of Rights. which, unhappiy, was not adopted by
the Frenchman's country, shown himself in advance
of his country and thoroughly inabued with the
American idea.
In introducing Justice James Fitzgerald. of the
Supreme Court. President Wetmore said that there
was e opinion to-day that only the Constitution
stood between this country and anarchy. and that
a great preventive had been found in the able ad-
ministration of justice by the courts.
Justice Fitzeerald. speaking on Liberty and
Law asked the support of his hearers for men
who are fntrusted with the administration OF the
laws in any and all capacities. There were re
peated cheers when he said We must support the
President Of the United States" and they were
redoubed when he declared: We must stand by
governors, also by the judiciary and other
officials
the president. put the cooked hat. the insignia
Of the chief official of the Sons. and then delighted
the assemblage by his reference to the good old
days of their ancestors. when there was no W c
T. /. and they tool, their + / NJ strong Which
may have caused Professor Sloane 10 say that all
the past rumnage.
Among the invited guests were John c. Demp
sey. who led the singing Of The Star Spangled
Banner: Lieutenant Colonel II. H Ludlow. [. s
A: the Rev Frank J.. Humphreys. stephen Far
RELY, representing the Friendly Sons OF St, Pat
rick: Professor Iibbey. of Princeton University.
representing the New Jersey Society of the Sons
of the Revolution. Oliver Hazzird Perry. of the
Society Of tie War OF 1872; Edwa ard Hart Fenn of
the Connecticut Society Of the Sons Of the Revo-
luton. the Rev. DT. J. Lewis parks; Bishop GaiIor
Of Tennessee; Samuel Y. Hoffman, Of the New
York Historical Society Hugh Hastings and john
Francis Daniel cf the Society of Colonial Wars;
F E Grote Hiegens. Of the ST. Georges Society:
Revert Frater Munro the St Andrews Soci-
ETY. and Henry A BostwiCk, of the Society Of For
eign Wars.