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Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, January 15, 1880, Image 4

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IftaWs
FISK BROS., - - Publishers.
R. E. FISK, -
Editor.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 1880.
SAINT ANDREW'S DAY.
The 8th of January stands dedicated in our
annals to the memory of Andrew JacksoD
and his successful defense of New Orleans.
The veterans of the Mexican war in our Ter
ritory have for some reasons, of which we
are not advised, selected it for a reunion.
The associations connected with our late war
with Great Britain and our late war w T ith
Mexico, are well deserving of rehearsal and
the survivors of those wars are entitled to
honor. We need not forget that both war:
were at the time unpopular with a large por
tion of our people. The Mexican war was
generally opposed by the Whig party and
stigmatized at the North as the salve-holders
war. Growing out of the anexation of Texas,
conducted by a Democratic administration
and resulting in securing the western bor
ders of the Rio Grande, the extreme claim of
Texas, besides the acquisition of New Mexico
and California which were intended for the
establishment of additional slave States, the
war itself and the attendant acquisition of
Territory, appeared at the time to be al
most wholly in the interest of the South
The subsequent discovery of gold in Cali
fornia drew to that country such a rush
of fortune seekers from all parts of the
world that the original purpose of the South
was defeated. California was organized into
a free State and admitted after a severe strug
gle in Congress. The North, that had op
posed the war, in the end secured the greatest
advantages from it, the South solacing itself
with the hope of getting even by the subdi
vision of Texas, and of introducing the pecu
liar institution into New Mexico and Utah.
The Mexican war, whatever may be thought
of the original causes and purposes of those
who forced it, was glorious to our arms, and
in its ultimate results has proved of untold
value to the whole country. The campaigns
of Taylor and Scott, the marches of Kearney
and Doniphan, were not only successful but
brilliantly so. The population^ our coun
try at this time was less than half of what it
is at present. Our army was small and mostly
inexperienced in actual warfare except with
Indians. The armies employed seem small
when measured by the scale afforded by our
late civil war. The army with which Scott
set forth on his march to the conquest of the
capital was only 12,000. With this little force
he landed near Vera Cruz in March, 1847,
captured that city, defended by its celebrated
fortress and 5,000 soldiers, within a few days
thereafter pushed on towards the heart of the
country, winning the passes at Cerro Gordo
with all the disadvantages of position and
held by a superior Mexican army. Soon after
followed the memorable battles of Cherubusco,
Moiino del Rey and Chepultepec, and on the
14th of September, within about six months
after landing, our brave little army entered
the City of Mexico and dictated the terms of
peace. The battles of Palo Alto, Reseca de
la Palma, Buena Vista, the capture of Mon
terey, achieved by the northern army, were
equally brilliant. Nor should the marches
and achievements of Kearney and Doniphan
be entitled to less honorable mention. The
perils endured were such as have destroyed
many a brave host.
In two short years the war was ended. It
cost the United States about $50,000,000, in
eluding $15,000,000 paid Mexico for the ter
ritory added. The territory acquired was
two-thirds as much as the entire United States
at its first formation. Out of it has been
formed California and part of Colorado, be
sides the Territories of Utah, New Mexico,
and Arizona. The wealth of mines acquired
alone exceeds a thousand fold the entire cost,
and the gold poured forth by the placers of
California wrought a revolution in all the in
dustries of the world. The far-reaching re
sults are beyond the power of computation.
Tue D. D. editor invites us to unbosom
our soul concerning his holiday orgies. Thus
far we have shown ourself more his friend
than he has himself. We still forbear.
Governor Garcelon is said to be ill and
nervous, incapable of eating or sleeping, and
generally miserable since the perpetration of
his great crime against the liberties of the
people of Maine. It may be remembered that
Charles IX worried himself to death from
remorse for his great crime on St. Bartholo
mew's day.
The mistake of the Independent editor is
in supposing he can disport himself in print
after the manner of his performances in
court, with no other public record of his acts
and utterances than appears upon a court
docket. The squirming of the Bourbon
to extricate himself from his hurried endorse
ment of the Garcelon infamy is decidedly
amusing, but he went into print and the fix
ing of his offense was easy and conclu
sive. Pettyfogging won't help, but will
greatly aggravate the matter.
The Royal Conservatory of Music at Leip
sic has brought to notice two highly promis
ing youthful violinists, one a boy of thirteen,
named Rhodes, from Philadelphia, and the
other a Copenhagen lad of fifteen, named
Von Damek. They were tried at a concert
with the most difficult and technical music,
and acquitted themselves in Bach a manner
that the German critics §ay among the future
Wilhemj8 and Joacims these two will surely
have a place.
BANQUET TO THE VETERANS.
Those who attended the banquet spread
for the veteraus of the Mexican War at the
International hotel Thursday evening agree
in reporting that it was a grand affair. The
table was bountifully supplied with all the
luxuries the season and markets afford, and
the speeches were characterized by much wit
and eloquence. Our honored townsman, Har
vey W. English, as President of the Veteran
Association, presided with dignity and re
sponded eloquently in their behalf. If the
veteran line was thin, there were no vacant
seats at the table, as our community can al
ways be safely counted on to supply a plenty
of gentlemen who would rather like to be vet
erans and are ready on the shortest notice to
do honor to the scared heroes of war. Three
hours were happily spent at the table in lis
tening to the toasts and responses. Major
Walker officiated as toast-master with his ac
customed grace and dignity. Three of the
respondents were prevented from attending,
among them Judge Blake, though the deten
tion and absence were partially supplied by
communications about as good as responses.
We cannot recall the full text of the toast
or the order of responses, but among them
we recall those of Judges Galbraith and
Wade, Messrs. English, Williams, Sanders,
Shober, Botkin, Hedges Knight, DeWitt,
Farrer and Buck.
Gen. Ruger responded for the army and
navy in a peculiarly happy style. As to the
navy, he though it was most too far inland
and above sea level to make that branch of
the service prominent, though reminded by
Col. Sanders that we had even in Montana a
port of entry and a custom house. Col. Orr
was assigned to respond for the ladies and he
did it in his usual humorous and telling style.
Departing from his text somewhat, he gave
some of his experience in the home guard of
Missouri, claiming for them a close resem
blance to veterans in this, that they were
among the last to die for their country. He
further related his hair breadth escape from
having been a veteran of the Mexican war.
8everal of the speakers had evidently pre
pared themselves with some care for the oc
casion. though on short notice, and it might
be possible to reproduce from manuscript a
portion of at least the speeches that enliven
ed the occasion. As it was voted to continue
these reunions yearly, we may well expect
that even greater interest will attach to each
succeeding anniversary.
AEFA1RS IN MAINE.
Our hopes of an early and honorable settle
ment of affairs in Maine has been in a meas
ure disappointed. The very desperation with
which the Democrat-Greenback coalition hold
on to their ill-gotten plunder shows that tbej r
believe it their last chance. There seems to
be a fatality, which we cannot altogether re
gard as accidental, that criminals not only
furnish the evidence to convict themselves,
but are their own executioners. So now it
seems that the Maine robbers are determined
to parade themselves before the eyes of an
outraged public until the last party friend is
shamed into silence on their behalf. We
should be glad if possible to consider it a case
that concerned the people of Maine alone,
but this is impossible. It is a disgrace to our
age, to our whole country, and furnishes a re
proach that the enemies of free institutions
will not be slow to use to our disadvantage.
We have been accustomed to think that such
revolutionary seizures of political authority
could only occur among half ciyilized men.
We have flattered ourselve that enlighten
ment had proceeded far enough in this coun
try to secure the reign of law, order, right
and reason, and a general and willing obe
dience to its judgements when fairly ascertain
ed. If this coup d'ttat succeeds in Maine,
men may well ask, When and where are we
safe? Can it be that partizan zeal has so
demoralized the people of Maine that any
considerable fraction of any party dare usurp
the supreme powers of the State and decree
for themselves perpetual succession. In all
ages it has been shown that the tyranny of a
faction was more unscrupulous and intolera
ble than that of a single person. If we are
ever to see a Caesar in this country, the fact
will only be made possible by such occur
rences as this in Maine. When the people
of the State and country open their eyes to
the full magnitude and the necessary conse
quences and tendencies of this crime against
civilization and good government, we have
no fears that the penalty in full measure will
3e applied.
In rebuke of the loud-mouthed Bourbon
organs of the South, who rant about "our
enemies of the North," the Vicksburg Her
ald reads them this little lecture: "These
Northern enemies have a curious way of
treating us when we get into trouble. If fire,
or flood, or famine, or pestilence should dis
tress us, 'our enemies of the North' would
pour out millions of treasure for our relief.
This is in accordance with the best teachings
of all religions, and should convince all im
partial people to regard it as the act of a
friend instead of an enemy."
Hebe is encouragement for the Bourbon
organ to flop back. The San Francisco Ex
aminer, (Dem.) exclaims : "Brave and reso
lute old Governor Garcelon, of Maine, is
proving himself more and more entitled to
the praise and confidence and admiration of
Democrats of every portion of the country."
In some parts of Wisconsin men turn out
and hunt wolves, and in other portions wolves
turn out and hunt schoolma'ms.
of
THE VETERANS.
Banquet in Their Honor by.
Citizens of Helena.
 Bountiful Bepast and a Happy,
Joyous Good Time.
Toasts and Responses, Reuding of Let
ters, Etc.
The crowning act of the day upon which
the veterans of the Mexican war inaugurated
their association for future reunions, was the
banquet last evening at the Interna
tional Hotel, tendered to veterau soldiers
in the war with Mexico, now resident of Mon
tana, by the citizens of Helena.
Promptly at 9 o'clock the doors of the din
ing hall were thrown open and the veterans
and distinguished guests, led by the Pres
ident of the evening, Harvey W. English,
President of the Mexican War Veteran As
sociation of Montana, filed into the room to
the music of a grand march furnished by the
silver cornet band. Mr. English headed the
table, with the veterans seated at his right,
and the Chief Justice and Judge Galbraith,
of the Supreme Court, General T. H. Ruger
and officers of the army stationed in Helena,
and citizens and distinguished personages
from abroad on his left.
All being seated, and the fifty covers be
ing represented, the chairman of the com
mittee of citizens, Major Robert C. Walker,
announced the beginning of the exercises to
be the disposition of the elaborate and boun
tiful repast spread upon the occasion. After
all bad eaten to their fullest satisfaction the
band furnished the "Star Spangled Banner,"
when the first regular toast of the evening
was read.
The President of the United States.
Responded to by Hon. W. J. Galbraith,
Judge of the Supreme Court, in one of the
most appropriate and elegant responses
known to the class of after-dinner speeches.
His allusion to the splendid ovations to the
ex-President of the United States—not the
man, but the representative of the great
American people—as he had lately received
them from all the great powers of the earth,
was most happy. He contrasted the events
as more striking and suggestive than any that
had ever been suggested by the shouting pop
ulace from the Pantheon or the loud hosannas
around the halls of the Caesars.
Music by the band—"Hail to the Chief."
The second regular toast—The veterans of
the war with Mexico ; they knew no defeat
and their chivalric deeds brought new prov
inces to the republic and renown to the Amer
ican name.
Responded to by the President, Harvey W.
English, who, in a most touching speech,
welcomed his comrades and veterans, who
for thirty-three years since their meeting on
the plains of Mexico had been fighting the
battle of life, and who for the first time in
these long and weary years had this day re
sponded to a roll call. Their names were
few, but he thanked God that they had lived
to meet with this cordial reception at the
hands of the citizens of Helena.
The third regular toast—The fallen heroes ;
'•The ppot where they fell shall be bright as their
name,
And the grass where they bled shall be green as their
fame,
For the gold of the pen and the steel of the sword.
Write their names in their blood on the land they
adored."
At the reading of this toast all arose to
their feet and in silence drank to the honored
dead.
Fourth regular toast—Our army and navy
—the strong right arm of the republic.
Responded to by General Thomas H. Ru
ger, U. S. A., commanding District of Mon
tana, in a neat and appropriate speech, which
proved that he, like a certain military chief
tain, was not only the soul of brevity, but
also happiest when he said the most in the
fewest words. The speech was applauded to
the echo and drank to with the heartiest re
sponse.
The fifth regular toast—The volunteer sol
diers of the republic ; may they always be
ready and never needed.
The response was to have been made by
Governor B. F. Potts, who was not present
because of indisposition of himself, as set
forth in a letter of regret to one of the vete
rans. But Col. W. F. Sanders being called
upon by a hearty request responded in one of
his happiest after-dinner speeches.
Mu9ic—"Yankee Doodle."
The sixth regular toast—Our country. The
fairest fruitage of time ; "Esto Perpetua."
Response by Hon. D. S. Wade in a beauti
ful and complimentary speech upon the
greatest government of the world, which he
said truly was the fairest fruitage of time and
as apostrophised would be constant and per
renial. Music.
The seventh regular toast—The Republic
of Mexico. May her future be as bright as
her skies and fair as her flowers, and the
rivalries of the two countries be that generous
emulation as to which shall best commend
democratic government to all nations, kin
dreds and tongues.
Response by Hon. Cornelias Hedges in one
of his classic, historic and clever impromptu
speeches, truly worthy of his learning and
position as a scholar. Music.
Eighth toast—The Territory of Montana.
Response by Hon. H. N. Blake, who, being
absent, sent his regrets in the following letter,
which was read :
Helena, Montana, Jan. 8, 1880.
Messrs. Walker, Toole and Sanders, commit
tee of citizens of Helena :
Gents:— Your kind invitation was received
be
if
are
the
last
the
after I had become a party to another engage
ment, from which 1 cannot escape without
difficulty. I thank you for your courtesy and
hope that my absence from the ranks at the
banquet to the veterans of the war with Mex
ico will not be considered a violation of what
would be deemed generally a command. The
appearance of the survivors of this war upon
this day is full of suggestions. No event in
the history of the American Union produced
more intense feeling, and now it is difficult to
discover a trace of the bitterness which was
one generation ago flowing over the whole
country. The effects of this struggle seem
to be countless in their benefits and unsur
passed in their extent. The evil intentions,
if any existed in the minds of the American
citizens who favored the prosecution ot the
war with Mexico, were baffled and the public
welfare promoted. But these are matters
which have been referred to so often that 1
need not dwell upon them. As the veteran
of a more recent war, I claim the pleasant
privilege of greeting as comrades in arm9 the
soldiers who fought for the United States flag
upon Mexican soil. 1 cheerfully support the
objects of their organisation in Âlontana, and
hope that they may be as victorious in con
quering Congress as they were in overcoming
Mexico.
With another expression of my regrets,
I am very truly,
HENRY N. BLAKE.!
In the absence of the Judge the Hon. Alex.
C. Botkin was called for a response, which
he promptly made in a happy, appropriate
and impromptu speech, most creditable to the
land of his pilgrimage and adoption. Music.
Ninth toast—The memories of Scott, Tay
lor, Wool, Worth, Shields, and the other gal
lant officers of our Mexican army now dead.
Response by J. J. Williams, E^q., in one
his characteristic flights into the realms where
eloquence and pathos have their home, and
where angels fear to tread. But the rehearsal
of the battles in Mexico were graphically
given, and his familiarity with dates and
places showed clearly that he had been there.
His speech was uproariously applauded.
Tenth toast—To the memory of Benito
Juarez ; nobly serving his country he rescued
it from foreign dominion and internal dissen
sions, and takes his place beside Washington
and Bolivar.
Response by Hon. John H. Shober. The
speech was truly the "King's Own," and was
heartily applauded.
Eleventh toast—The Press.
Response to have been by A. M. Woolfolk,
but who, at the eleventh hour was obliged to
retire from the banquet to meet the cry for
"more copy" for his press on Main street.
Letters from Capt. R. E. Fisk and others
expressed their regrets and explained their
absence from the banquet.
12th toast—The bachelors; the world is
all before them whence o choose.
The response was to have been made by
the Hon. R. P. Viviou, but, as he said in his
regrets, having paired off on a prior engage
ment, and to please hold him excused, it was
no doubt inferred that he had either taken a
wife, or married a farm, or had to go and try
his oxen, or had taken advantage of another
of the pleas put in by the tardy guest to an
ancient feast of happy memory. So "the
bachelors" had no response—they ought for
ever to hold their peace.
Thirteenth toast—The ladies.
Response by the Hon. Sample Orr. Truly
a sample speaker and worthy the shouts of
laughter and applause bestowed upon it.
Fourteenth toast—The triumph of peace.
Response by E. W. Knight in a very neat
and pretty speech entirely appropriate to the
sentiment which came like the sunlight after
the battle cloud, and prepared the way for
happy thoughts and pleasant dreams.
W. H. DeWitt, Esq., responded to the
sentiment offered to the Sergeant of Marines
attached to H. M. S. Pinafore. He answered
for the cre** r which had hove to on the very
heights of r he Rocky Mountains and which
would not weigh anchor until they had a
good send off on the planks of Sawtelle's
Theatre.
Two gentlemen, invited guests, of Saint
Louis, Mr. H. R. Buck and Gen. B. G. Far
rar, responded to sentiments which brought
them both out to a realization of their speedy
naturalization and welcome to Montana—al
though "pilgrims," they felt to the manor
born.
The President then, on behalf of the vet
erans, made his hearty acknowledgements
for the honor done and the true welcome ex
tended to them by the citizens of Helena, and
requested that the names of any other veter
ans that were known, be sent to the Secre
tary of the Mexican War Veteran Association
of Helena.
After resolution of praise to Charles Rinda,
proprietor of the International Hotel, for the
elegant spread and choice wines furnished on
the occasion, the band played "Home, Sweet
Home," and the banquet was over.
Presidential Talk.
Chicago, January 8.— The Inter-Ocean's
Washington special says: Mr. Frazier, of
Philadelphia, an active worker for Secretary
Sherman, was here to-day. He states that
the feeling in favor of Sherman is growing
very rapidly in Pennsylvania, and that the
feeling for Grant, which was almost unani
mous at one time, has subsided a great deal,
and that when the State convention meets the
delegates to the National Convention will not
be instructed for Grant. The Republicans in
the largely German counties report that it
would not be safe to nominate Grant, as the
Germans will not vote for him, and he donbts
if Grant could carry the State. The people
are as a mass for Blaine first, Sherman sec
ond, and Grant third. Mr. Frazier thinks
the Pennsylvania delegation will vote as a
matter of compliment for Cameron, as in the
last convention they voted for Hartranft. He
thinks the Grant enthusiasm will die out by
the time the Chicago convention meets, and
that the Pennsylvania delegation will then
after casting one vote for Cameron cast a
solid vote for Sherman.
al
J.
it
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SOLDIERS IN COUNCIL.
Reunion of Mexican War Veterans.
The first reunion in Montana of veterans
of the Mexican War took place at the court
house, in Helena, on Thursday afternoon
January 8th, attended by a number of p ar .
ticipants in that memorable conflict, as also
many spectators who were greatly interested
in the proceedings.
Mr. Harvey W. English called the meeting
to order and Judge J. J. Williams was elect
ed temporary Chairman, and Thos. L. Gor
ham temporary Secretary.
H. W. English and W. H. Ewing were ap.
pointed a committee of two to ascertain and
report the names of all veterans of the war
with Mexico now residing in Montana. The
committee reported the names as follows:
VETERAN ROLL.
Bagg, Chas. S.
Baker, Thos. W.
Batterton, J. H.
Booth, William.
Calaway, John.
Clarey, Thomas.
Colston, Edward.
Crammer, J. M.
English, Harvey W.
Ewing, Wm. II.
Gibson, Nathan.
Goodwin, John.
Gorham, Thos. L.
Hall, Thomas.
Hancock, Joseph.
Irvine, Caleb E.
Johnston, J. Y.
Keeler, G. W.
Kelly, A J.
Langley, John T.
McCarthy, —
McDaniel, M. P.
Murphy, Amaziah.
O'Connor, John.
O'Neil, Hugh.
Owen, E. T.
Patton, F. E. W.
Ritner, George.
Robinson, George.
Rodgers, Wm. H.
Root, Hiram.
Schneple, Henry.
Sloan, A. H.
Spratt, J. G.
Thomas, Sanford.
White, Lemuel.
Whitely, A. J.
Wilkinson, Calvin.
Williams, J. J.
York, J. N.
The following named veterans were pres
ent and responded to roll-call :
Thomas L. Gorham. W. H. Ewing.
Harvey W. English.
J. Y. Johnston.
J. J. Williams.
H. W. English, G.
G. W. Keeler.
Andrew J. Kelly.
A. J. Whitely.
W. Keeler and J. Y.
Johnston were named a committee on perma
nent organization. The following persons
were recommended for and unanimously
elected permanent officers for the year:
President—Harvey W. English.
Vice Presidents—J. J. Williams, C. E. Ir
vine, E. T. Owens, J. G. Spratt, W. K. Rod
gers.
Secretary—Thomas L. Gorham.
Upon taking the chair Mr. English expres
sed the great pleasure it gave him to meet a
few of his old comrades in arms after a
separation of more than thirty years. He
then gave an exceedingly interesting historic
al summary of the causes, progress and re
sults of the Mexican war. Letters were read
from the following named veterans who
were unable to attend the reunion : A. Mur
phy, F. E. W. Patton, W. H. Rodgers, E.
T. Owen, Henry Schneple, Jas. H. Batterton,
J. N. York, Caleb E. Irvine, and John Cala
way.
A brief address was delivered by J. J.
Williams, in which he referred to the large
and valuable territory that had been added
to the domain of the United States as the re
sult of the war with Mexico, and to the
claims which the survivors of that war had
upon the government.
Upon motion, the Secretary was instructed
to procure and keep a book in which should
appear the names, residences and ages of all
veterans of the Mexican war residing in
Montana, as well as the battalion, regiment
or company in which they served.
The following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That when this meeting adjourns,
it adjourns to meet at Helena on Wednesday,
in Fair week, Sept. 8th, 1880, and that all the
veterans in Montana be requested to mat
with us at that time.
Messrs. J. J. Williams, G. W. Keeler and
J. Y. Johnston were appointed to reporta
memorial to be presented to Congress pray
ing that pensions be granted to survivors of
the Mexican war. The committee presented a
memorial for the purpose named, and the
same was adopted.
At this stage of the proceedings, Major K.
C. Walker appeared, and, on behalf of the
citizens of Helena, invited the veterans to
partake of a banquet at International Hotel
at 8:3d o'clock p. m. The invitation was ac
cepted and the thanks of the veterans ex
tended therefor.
The meeting then adjourned until Septem
ber 8th, 1880.
GENERAL FAKKAR'S SPEECH.
One of the most pleasant of the surprises
of the banquet last evening was the unexpect
ed presence and speech of General Benjamin
Farrar, of St. Louis, who arrived in Helena
the evening before. Gen. Farrar is a brother
of Mrs. S. T. Hauser and a nephew of Capt.
William Clarke, of the Lewis and Clarke ex
pedition, and of General George Rodgers
Clarke, "the Conqueror of the Northwest,"
and is himself honorably identified with the
history of his country in peace and war, be
having served in the army during the rebel
lion, commanding a portion of the time a
brigade, we believe. Called to his feet unex
pectedly by a toast to "Our Guests," he as
tonished the persons present by one of the
most glowing, eloquent speeches of the even
ing, in which he painted the beneficence of
the Union and the loyal pride which every
citizen should take in its grandeur and per
petuity. His recital of some of the gr ea£
events of the war and the heroic nam# l£
had given to history was signally felicit 00 *
and brought down rounds of applause.
Gen. Farrar has spent the greater portion
of the last eight years in Germany *
gium, and doubtless felt more deeply tba&
those who have not widened their observa
tion by foreign travel how infinitely superb
to all other countries is this of ours. Wha *
ever may have been the cause, the g°° *
manly, stalwart talk had in it the eleme nt 0
true eloquence—earnestness.

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