Evening Star Newspaper, November 21, 1895, Page 11

AN HONORED GUEST Gov. Shepherd Dined by Citizens, aS A REMARKABLE TESTIMONIAL Tributes Paid to the Genius That Redeemed the City. REPRESENTATIVE MEN PRESENT Interesting Local History Told in After-Dinner Speeches. NOTABL ADDRESSES —— ‘The Cinner tendered to ex-Governor Alex- ander R. Shepherd last evening by citizens of Weshington was in many respects a re- markable event. It was a testimonial to the character and personality of the one man to whom more than all others is due the. credit for the new and greater Wash- ington. In the general turnout of his old friends as well as the presence of many younger men, who have appeared on the Scene since the time of Gov. Shepherd's active labors in this city, was given strik- ing evidence of the honored place he holds in the esteem of his fellow townsmen. There was not a speaker who did not in scme way or other refer to the fact that Washington fs the monument which Shepherd builded to himself and that the freedom of the city is his to He is in the hcus of his friends, who bade him a welcome home such as has been accorded to few men. The dinner was given in the great ban- quet hall of the Arlington and something over a hundred] gentlemen sat down about the Icng tables. What may be called the old regime was represented by some of those who had held the highest office in the gift of the citizens in the days of the old city corporation, and there were pres- ent several of those who have. borne the respensibilities of municipal government since the day of the territorial goverument. There were present representatives of all the varied interests of a great city with- out regard to creed or politics, all as- sembied to honor the guest of the evening. Besides the hosts af the evening there were present a number of. specially invited guests, whose prominence in official life or whose connection with Gov. Shepherd made it eminently appropriate that they should -be present to dignify the occasion. Gov. Shepherd has been a resident of Mexico, actively engaged im business at Batopilas, for a number of years past, but many took occasion last evening to say that his absence from his native city had already been too prolonged, and the sooner he returned to live here the better the peo- ple of. Washington would like it. For a half hour before the banquet began there was an informal reception in honor of the governor, and the big parlors of the Arlington were thronged. Many of those present were old personal friends of Gov. Shepherd, and tor every one of these, es well as for the younger men, he had a hearty handshake and a pleasant word. At & o'clock the doors leading into the big banquet room were thrown wide open, and to the Inspiring strains of an orchestra hidden in a bower of plants the line of march was taken up toward the tables. On entering the banquet room the scene that opened to the view of guests was one not soon’ to be forgotten. There have been many banquets in Washington, but few where the wealth of floral decoration could compare with that of last evening. The great room had been transformed by the florist’s art into one great bower of chrys- anthemums and American beauty roses. The walls were completely hidden behind masses of palms and other potted plants, which were banked all the way to the ceil- ing. Along the north side of the room ran one long table, at which were seated Col. James G. Berret, the presiding officer of the evenirg, Gov. Shepherd and the other invited guests. At the right of Gov. Shep- herd. were Col. J. M. Wilson, superintend- ent of public buildings and grounds; Com- missioner Truesdell, Justice Bradley of the District Supreme Court, ex-Commissioner Samuel E. Wheatley, ex-Commissioner John W. Douglass, Mr. George Quintard of New York, Chief Engineer Melville of the navy, James R. Cummins, Frank Robinson, and Robert Dunlop. At the left of Col. Berret were Justice Brown of the United States Supreme Court, ex-Commissioner M. M. Parker, Dr. J. E. Rankin, president of Howard University; Justice C. C. Cole of the District Supreme Court, United States Senator Stewart, ex-Mayor Matthew G. Emery, Mr. Henry A. Willard, Dr. B. L. Whitman, president of Columbian Uni- versity; Mr. Crosby S. Noyes, Mr. J. H. Bresliu, Mr. Berlah Wilkins and ex-Gov. William Pitt Kellogg. From this main table ran four other tables at right angles, forming a sort of gridiron, so arranged that from every seat there was an unobstructed view of the speakers. In the center of the room was a mound of plants and flowers, and the groups of palms about the walls were relieved by immense bunches of American beauties, held in place by big bows of white or pink sash ribbon. The tables themselves were well nigh hid- den from sight by flowers, so that there was little more than room for the plates and glasses. Those who were seated at these tables were Mr. M. W. Beveridge, Mr. J. W. Babson, Mr. R. O. Holtzman, Mr. Byron S. Adams, Mr. ard D. Easton, Mr. Harry P. Godwin, Frank T. Howe, Mr. Ralph L. Galt, Mr. . S. Roose, Mr. W. A. Hungerford, Mr. Jas. Barr Aldis B. Browne, Mr. Victor Kauffmann, Mr. R. M. Larner, Mr. William H. Dr. W. S. Har- ban, Mr. W. 5 Mr. Rudolph Kauffmann, Mr. William B. Gurley, Mr. Wil- Mam Mearns, Mr. W. FP. Powell, Mr. James P. Willett, Mr. Robert Portner, Mr. Leroy Nid a in Joyce, Mr. Wil- Mr. Isadore Saks, Mr. George H. L. Cranford, Mr. E. J. . Mr. Charles E. Kern, Mr. John Mr. J. L. Smithmeyer, Dr. Z. T. T. F. Mills, Mr. Samuel & n, Mr. Cluskey Cromwell, Mr. Henry apin Brown, Mr. Tom C. Noyes, itch, Mr. C. J. Bell, Mr. Wil- -kson, Mr. E. F. Droop, Mr. Charles Mr. George W. 3 Baum, ge Heurich, Mr. Levi Wocdbut ment, Mr. Thomas Somerville, Gen. S. S. Burdette, Judge 1. Kimball, Health Officer Weodward, Col. William G. Moore, Mr. W. F. Mattingly, Mr. Francis Colton, Mr. Lewis Clephane, Mr. W. Scott Towers, Mr. George W. Cochran, Mr. Frank I. Noyes, Mr. Colin Studds, Mr. Jam: . Oyster, Mr. Frank Hume, Mr. William A. Wimsatt, Mr. Wil- Mam Wall, Dr. R. D. Donaldson, Mr. Frank P. Morgan. Mr. George E. Lemon, Mr. Hallet purn, Mr. George C. Gorham, Mr. Ernest . Walker, Mr. David R. McKee, Mr. J. Nota MeGill, Mr. W, Hamilton Smith and Mr. John F. Waggaman. ‘The other hosts who were unavoldably prevented from being present In the flesh, they were in the spirit, were Mr. Enoch , Mr. C. C. Willard, Mr. Frederick C. . Mr. James L. Norris, Mr. Thomas Mr. Tallmadge A. Lambert, Mr. A. T. Britton, Mr. Frank A. Richar Mr. John Maczurtney, Mr. Francis G. } lands and Mr. J. Maury Dove. ‘The banquet, it is unnecessary to say, was in elt {ts appointmenis worth: on, The menus were chaste and sim- in style—heavy eards on which the leg- dnd was engraved in plain script. From a gestronom‘e point of view, of course, there was noth'ng lacking to make the occasion a complete success. But after all this part of the evening was not to be compared to the part that came with the coffee and cigars, when a number of able speakers took occasion to say in eloquent words what the people of Washington really think of the man who did so much for his native city. The various speakers touched upon different phases of his career. It was about 10 o'clock when Col. Berret arose and be- gan the oratery of the evening. The speeches made were of more interest of the great and value than is ordinarily the case with after-dinner efforts. Besides the personal tributes to the guest of the ¢vening, they contained much worth preserving cuncern- ing local history. Col. Berret’s Remarks. - Col. James G. Berret, who presided ai the Eanquet, in his address said: > “The object of our gathering here to- night is to tender to our distinguished guest assurances of 4 cordial welcome on the part of the citizens of his native place. 1t must be highly gratifying to him, as it is to myself, to recognize these gentlemen representing the several classes who make up the greatness of every community, the young men, the middle-aged, and myself, the appropriate representative In point of rs of the older men. As one of the oldest inhabitants of Washington and having had associations for many years with its public affairs I Tecall vividly the history of the times in which our honored guest was an active Participant. He came into power first as the chief of the board of public works un- der the administration of that highly hon- orable citizen, Gov. Henry D. Cooke. The plan that our guest inaugurated if carried out to {ts logical end will render this cap- ital what the nation bas a right to expect of it, the rival of any capital city of the old world. “When I remind you gentlemen that these things were accomplisued under cir- cumstances most extraordinary, and which would have had the effect of causing a man of ordinary courage to have qualiled In the presence of obstacles, which, 1 re- gret to say, in the end could not be wholly evereome, notwithstanding the prestige of that extraordinary soldier who at the time Was at the head of this government as its President, and who I know considered it a high privilege to stand by and sustain the efforts of our guest in his administration of the affairs of the city. Yet such was the potency of opposition led by men of high character and distinguished eminence of this community that the prestige of the President's great name failed to give him that support to which his services entitled him and the result was a voluntary exile on the part of him who contributed so much to make Washington what it now Is. “Gentlemen, time brings its rewards as ell as its punishments. Seven years after our honored guest left this city to find em- ployment in g neighboring state he return- ed to Washington unheralded, but not un- known. A meeting of citizens was called in one of the public halls to meet nim. I went there and I found a representative class of gentlemen such as I have never witnessed in my long life at ariy public meeting. The object of their gathering was to testify to their appreciation of the valu- able services which had been rendered to this community by Alexander R. Shep- The result of the meeting was an ovation, coupled with a tender of the free- dom of this city to our honored guest and such an ovation has never in my judgment been accorded to any other man in private life in this country. “Now I did not agree with the change in our form of government, but I have lived long enough to see its wisdom, but Con- sress only went half far enough. The next move they should make should be in the direction of building up this beautiful cap- ital and making it what its illustrious de- signers intended it to be. -One thing to be done should be to relieve it of all personal taxation, the effect of which should be to bring upon us a popula- tion desirable from every point of view. After this is accomplished I would go one step further. As I grow older I feel that I grow a little more progressive in my ideas and in this spirit I would relieve the peo- ple of this city and of thls District of all taxation. (Laughter.) I would do it for the great reason that such action would vindicate a great principle, for which our fathers of the revolution fought, and that is no taxation without representation. I now call on my friend, the ex-governor of the District of Columbia.” Mr. Shepherd’s Response. When Mr. Shepherd rose he was greeted with enthusiastic cheers, hosts and guests rising to thelr feet and waving their hand- kerchiefs. It was sorae moments before he could speak becavse of the greeting he re- celved. Then he said: “The best of books tell us that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country and his own home. This gathering toaight and the honor you have conferred on me in this banquet do not bear out this declara- tion. What could be more gratifying than to receive honor and consideration such as you bestow on me tonight. Here are gaiher- ed the friends and companions ef my boy- hood and early youth. Others, who are the friends of my manhood, and who have been -my associates and friends in the various private and public enterprises which have helped to make this city a nation11 metropo- lis and worthy the name of its illustrious founder—Washington. And I am glad and proud also to meet many who differed from me in the administration of affairs nere some quarter of a century ago, but whom the logic of events has transferred into friends. “I recognize and appreciaté the manliness and good feeling which makes them my hosts on this occasion. “After all, to have the friendship and good will of one’s fellow-citizens in the place of one’s birth and where most of one’s life has been spent, is about the best reward that can come to any man, and no heritage can one leave more lasting and more to be desired than a pleasant, fragrant memory of honest sustained effort in the line of duty and unselfish development. I believe that I can say truly that in the sixty years which have elapsed since my eyes first saw the light in this my beloved native city that I have endeavored to do my duty in whatever sphere of life it pleased God to call me—have endeavored since arriving at man’s estate to keep my manhood intact, and never know- ingly to have turned my back on a friend or toward a foe. “That I have your kind and affectionate consideration and that of my fellow-citizens of Washington, as well as ‘housands of Americans who only know me as having borne part in the regeneration of our capital, is a matte} of Intense satisfaction and de- light to me, and I can only thank you from an overflowing heart, and wish you, one and all, all that Is good in life and hopeful in the futur ‘Toastmaster Parker. Col. Benet then presented Mr. Myron M. Parker as toastmaster of the evening. Mr. Parker, before calling upon any speak- ers, said: . “The toastmaster has an advantage be- cause he is never expected to make a speech, but I cannot fail to express my great appre- ciation of the privilege of being permitted to be present as one of the hosts on this oc- casion. I was of the younger element of this city at the time Gov. Shepherd was making such a magnificent city, but I was one of the loyal boys, and have grown more loyal in my appreciation of Gov. Shepherd as time has passed, and I take second place to no one In my admiration for him. There has been a great deal of talk in Washington about where we should place the statue of Goy. Shepherd. This country has so many distinguished men that now statues to their memory occupy most of the desirable places in the city. Most of Gov. Shepherd's ad- mirers will tell you that all of Washington is a monument to him. But there should be some more distinctive place, and if in the Greater Washington on the heights there does not seem to be an appropriate place for the statue, I recommend that we put it on the top of the Washington monument. (Ap- plause and laughter.) There it will look off Cine work which Gov. Shepherd did so well.” Mr. Parker then requested the secretary, Mr. Cluskey Cromwell, to read letters re- ceived from invited guests and others who had been unable to attend the meeting. From Absent Ones. These included letters from Justice Ste- phen J. Field, ex-Representative J. H. Ketchum, one of the first board of District Commissioners; District Commissioner Ross, ex-Congressman Archibald M. Bliss, Col. Fred D. Grant, Bishop Hurst, chancellor of the American University, and Bishop Keane, rector of the Catholic University. Commissfoner Ross wrote: “I have not words at my command to ex- press my estimate of the value of ex-Gov. Shepherd's work in the District of Colum- bia. “He had the genius to discern that the city over which he presided was in some re- gards pre-eminent among the great munici- pallties; that it was the political center of a nationality destined to surpass all other | governments in beneficence, In strength and in dignity; and that, privileged as it was to reflect the luster of such a government, Washington should excel in all things which tend to make a municipality great and use- ful. He recognized the truth that by his endeavors to make Washington peerless among the cities of the world he was not only furthering the interests of the good people resident in the District of Columbia, but that he was also promoting the highest interests and fostering the patriotic pride of ail the people of the United States. “In 1871 the time had arrived when anew | The THE EVENING STAR, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1898-SIXTEEN PAGES. ay Washington, in keeping with the govern- ment it represented, was required; and there was also demanded a man to con- struct the new Washington. “As In other historic periods, the man ap- peared, equipped for the work. By his strong and resolute personality he accom- plished results in months which would to others have been the work of a decade. His broad shoulders bore heavy burdens; he suffered abuse and hostile criticism; but he laid broad and deep the foundation for a growth and development upon all lines of municipal improvement, which has had the grateful recognition of the entire people of the District of Columbia. “All honor to Gov. Shepherd! The new ‘Washington is, and ever will be, a monu- ment to his genius, to his courage and to his lofty conception of the destiny of the capital city of his native land.” Mr. Justice Field’s letter said: ‘I desire to express my high apprecia- tion of the great work ac-omplished by Gov. Shepherd twenty years 2go in creating this capital upon the plan contemplated*by Washington. The strong opposition then aroused against him has long since given Way to hearty commendation in this com- munity and in the country at large.” Mr. Bliss wrote: “Alexander R. Shepherd has erected for himself a monument that will endure while our republic exists, hav- ing by his genius and courage made it pos- sible for Washington to become the most beautiful clty in the world.” Mr. Ketchum, writing from Dover Plains, Y., said: “The debt of gratitude which the citizens of Washington, and the citi- zens of the whole country, owe to Gov. Shepkerd is more justly appreciated now than it was twenty years ago, and that debt of gratitude will go on increasing at compound interest as the years roll by, and the whole country comes to see the magnificence of the new Washington. “IT join you heartily in ing honor to th2 man who Is truly called the creator of this superb city.” Col. Frederick D. Grant, who wrote from New York, said: “I am delighted to see that the citizens of Washinzion appreciate the splendid qualities of Gov. Shepherd a mar who was a close and valued friend of my father, and who, like many of my father’s other friends, was of great service to the community in which he lived, and to his ccuntry at large. It is a pity that more of the larger cities of the country have not preduced Aleck Shepherds.”” Justice Brow: Specch. Justice Brown of the United States Su- preme Court paid a glowing tribute to the work of Gev. Shepherd. He said: “Gentlemen and fellow citizens: If I thought that I was appearing tonight in any official capacity as a justice of the Supreme Court I should hesitate before re- sponding to this call. I should even hesi- tate to appear here at all, because as I un- derstand it, to the men who are forced to take radical courses, override prejudices and trample down conservative ideas, the judicial power is not very welcome. It is gererally considermd to be a good deal of a nuisance. If there is anything in the world that a man who fs put in a position such as Gov. Shepherd occupied, which was to carry on ceriain radical reforms in buildirg the new capital for this country, if there is anything in the world that such a cne hates, it is to be bothered with in- junctions. (Laughter.) And if the story I heard tonight 1s true that when he was upon the point of tearing down a market house he got all the judges out of the city and gave them a good dinner, it only shows how we yield our official duties to the lusts of the flesh. But. gentlem: I have not had until tonighi a personal acquaintance would call upon a distinguished representa- tive of the city, and for the time being one of the Commissioners of the District govern- ment. “One who did much in his private capacity t6 beautify Washington,even at his own expense, and who commands to a large extent the confidence of this communi| Commissioner Truesdell was then presented. Commisstoner Truexdell’s Speech. Commissicner Truesdell said: “I regret that Commissioner Ross is not here to speak for the municipality this evening, but I am always glad of an opportunity to say a good word personally for our distin- guished guest and to join in any demon- stration in his honor. No one who witness- ed the great tramsformation in our city, wrought by him, or who now visits the capita: for the first time, could fall to take rote of the fact, that this beautiful city, in which every American feels the deepest pride, and which excites the admiration of the world, is a monument to two men, the great Frenchman who planned it and our honored guest and fellow-citizen who laid the foundation for its present beauty and future greatness.” Mr. Truesdell then referred to the negl2ct with which Congress had treated the cap!- tal city, which had struggled as a strug- gling village through seventy years of pre- carious existence until, in February, 1571, when, with a population of 109,000 and a debt of five milifon dollars, a per capita In- debtedness larger than we have today with all our magnificent improvements, the ter- ritorial form of government was estab- lished, and the District of Columbia be- came for the first time in its history one municipality. Conditions in 1871. “The population of Washington,” contin- ued Mr. Truesdell, “had increased between 1860 and 1870 from 61,000 to 109,000, an in- crease of 48,000, of -which increase about one-half were colored and the residue made up largely of government employes, drawn here by the temporary but very large in- crease of work in the executive depart- ments during the war period, but who were not generally bona fide residents of the District. Neither of these classes of peo- ple increased the wealth of the city greatly or its ability to bear the additional burdens of debt.” He showed that the assessment of real estate in 1871 was as follows: Washington, $68,5 Georgetown, 34, 467; total, The: debt was $5,000,000, or .0684 per cent of assessed valuation. The ment in 18% is: Washington, $161,- 31; Georgeto $7,751,615; county, $23 748,670; total, $192,555,016. The debt is $1 000,000, or .004 per cent of assessed valua- tion. But as the United States under the organic act assumed one-half of the debt, it is only .047 per cent of the assessed valu- ation, He then referred more at length to the crippled ccndition of Washington, both physically and financially, in 1871, and con- tinued: The Work of Regencration. “It was at this critical period in the his- tory of this city that Alexander R. Shep- herd, alded by a few far-sighted and pub- lic-spirited citizens, undertook the appar- ently hopeless task of lifting the city from its helpless condition to a place worthy of its position as the capital of the repub! and to arouse Congress from its lethargy to a sense of its obligations and duty to the city. Such was the task which Shepherd had set for himself and his brave asso- clates, and such were the conditions under with Gov. Shepherd, but I can see in his face that he was the man for the occasion. I have come here tonight simply as a cit!- zen ard taxpayer and a permanent resident of Washington, and I take this opportunity to meet you not as raembers of the bench or of the bar, but as my fellow citizens. My affection for the city of Washington is great and I could talk upon the mildness of its climate, the width of its streets, the smoothness of its pavements, and above all things, of the excellence of its munf- cipal government, not by any means for- getting the number of tts equestrian stat- ues. When Gov. Shepherd left Washing- ton he left it a city of magnificent dis- tances. He has come back to find it a city of equestrian statues. But we have still more of these statues to come, and the question is what are we going to do with them? “But I claim the privilege of a taxpayer and of a citizen of Washington to say I am proud of its present beauties, and of the possibilities of the future. I think the plan of this city is a most magnificent one. I think it was a most happy thought to have these great avenues cutting into our streets as they do. It was a happy thought to name the avenues for states of the Union, I think that custom almost necessi- tates and will justify naming of certain parallel streets by numbers. But when it comes to naming streets for letters of tie alphabet I think that is utilitarianism run mad. I have no prejudice against letters of the alphabet. 1 would as scon speak dis- respectfully of the equator as of the al- phabet. (Laughier.) But when I see let- ters of the alphabet used as names for streets I wonder what they have done to us that they should be punished in this way. “How easily this thing could have been done in another way, by which we could have paid a very proper tribute to the cap- itals of states, by substituting them for let- ters of the alphabet. Suppose, instead of A street, we had said Atlanta street, and thus honored the empire state of the south. Or we might have called it Albany street and honored the empire state of the north; er Austin streei, and honorec the great state of Texas. How easily to have a euphonious rame in the place of B street. There is [3os- ton, the beautiful capital of the grand old state where I was born; or Bismarck, the capital of North Dakota. For C street we could have substituted Columbia, 8. C., or Columbus, Ohio. For D there is Dover, in Delaware. I know we have no capital be- ginning with F. Let E street go, or we might call it Erie. F could g§e way io Frankfort, the capital of the grand com- monwealth of Kentucky. Hartford or Helena could take the place of H. There is Jefferson or Jackson for J street. Madison or Montgomery could take the place of M, and Olympia, the capital of Washington, could be used a9 the name for O street. P for Preston or Providence. Who would rot prefer such names to P street. Q—We have Quebec, not a capital of any state at present, but it probably will be some day. R can take its choice between Richmond and Raleigh; S, Salem: T, Topeka, Kan.—Kansas a little peculiar, still giving a good name to a street; or there is Tallahasse, the capital orida, and so on. of pba you will think Iam scolding. 1 am no stranger here. I am one of you, and I claim the privilege of a taxpayer, not only to praise or criticise, but to scold if neces- tarthan Lam. | know it Is the finest clty of the country. When I lived in Detroit, I said there were only two places I would rather live in, and they were Boston and Washing- ton, and I think I would prefer Washington. J] want Washington to be not only the finest city of the country, but I want it to be the flenst city of the world.” tuastmaster, Mr. Parker, said he But no one is more prou! of Washing- | which that task was to be performed. Con- ditions which would have appalled and dis- couraged a leader of less courage, less res- olution and less force of character, but not him. He had never failed in any undertak- ing, had never disappointed the people, and was not to disappoint them now. The Pante of 1873. “If our distinguished guest showed cour- age In the beginning of his public career, he showed a higher courage and more bril- Nant qualities as his task progressed. With- in two years from the organization of the territorial form of government the panic of 1873 burst upon the country like a clap of thunder in a clear sky. The day of reck- oning, long overdue, but still unexpected, had come—liquidation of the war debt had begun. To stop the work then would have brought failure and disaster upon the Dis- trict. The difficulty of meeting increased taxation, rendered necessary by the magni- tude of the work under way, at a time when the people were overburdened with private debts, contracted at a ruinous rate of interest, increased the army of enemtles which had pursued Shepherd from the be- ginning, and made them more bold and ag- gressive in their attacks upon him. All sorts of charges and abuse were heaped upon him, and financial difficulties multi- plied to an alarming extent, but every charge was refuted and every new financial difficulty overcome. Brought Congress to Its Sense of Duty “By sheer force of character and ability he brought Congress to realize to some extent its obligation to the District and secured ap- propriations which, though small, assisted greatly, but were even more important as a step toward the assumption by the United States of its equal part in providing for the obligations and expenses of the District. Slowly but surely; and in spite of financial difficulties, public.and private, which few men, if any, ever encpuntered before, and in spite of enemies in arid out of Congress pow- erful enough to have overwhelmed any other man. Gov. Shepherd pressed forward, and while not fully completing tne work he had commenced, pushed. it in taree years to a point where its completion at an early day was certain. His triumph, while not as complete as he cduld-have wished, was suffi- cient to entitle him to the respect and grati- tude of his counfrymen wiile the city of Washington stands, : The Support‘of Gen. Grant. “He fought a great and successful battle for his native city and his country, but like most great men was‘abused, traduced, mis- represented and ratsfinderstood at the time. During all his greatest trials and struggies neither Grant nor his friends lost confidence in him or withheld their support. But the persistent cry of extravagance, corruption and unlawful and arbitrary methods, at lasi induced Congress to stay his hand and place the District government under a comnis- sion, President Grant promptly nominated Lim to be the first Commissioner of the Dis- trict, but his enem'es were numerous and pewerful enough to prevent his contirma- tion. The Bonrd of Audit Vindiented. “His complete vindication, however, came premptly and most unexpectedly to his encmies. The board of audit, composed of the first and second controllers of the treas- ury, expert accountants and able law after a careful and thorough inv of the accounts of the hoard of put ic works, not only extended unfinished contracts at the so-called board rates, but they and the first board of Commissioners extended these contracts over new work not embraced in the original contracts, and expended sev- eral million dollars at these so-called ex- travagant rates, in carrying out the plan which Shepherd had outlined but not yet commenced, Never was an accused man’s vindication from false and _ slanderous charges more complete, and never were a man’s enemies more completely routed. But time, which evens all things, was destined to bring = even a more complete vindica- tion. The Court of Claims had held in cer- tain suits brought by contractors under the late board of public works that payment under board rates, when not made in accord- ance with a written amendment to the con- tract, were unlawful, and should be set off against anything found to be due. A More Complete Vindication. “Congress, at its very last session, directed that in all such cases board rates should be allowed, and not deducted when settlement had been made in accordance with such rates. “Broken in fortune, though victorious in his great task, he was obliged to seek the opportunity of mending it in a foreign coun- try, which his native clty could not give. And now, upon his return to the city for which he has done so much and sacrificed s0 much, we meet him with open arms and loyal hearts, and say: ‘Welcome! Thrice wel- come, home!” “Behold this splendid superstructure. which the foundation you lald has made possible! And we say, because we can say it truly, that twenty years of absence has not dimmed the luster of your achievements nor lessened the debt of gratitude which rests upon your countrymen for them, but has orly served to increase the respect and affection which the citizens of the District of Columbia entertain for their first citizen— their greatest benefactor.” Senator Stewart. Mr. Parker, in introducing Senator Stew- art, referred to him as having always been a friend of the District of Columbia. “I did not come here expecting to be called on for a speech,” said Senator Stewart, “but T cannot refrain from referring to the past. which, from the remarks made this even- ing, is so vividly before me tonight. When the war closed it left the streets of Wash- ington, which had been macadamized in the ordinary country fashion, in a most deplor- able condition. The war had converted Washington—a country town as it was—into a most horrible mudhole, so much so that visitors proposed to remove the capital to avoid the mire of Washington. Nothing was more common on the streets, as you met strangers, than to hear the suggestion that it was the duty of this great gover! ment to get out of such a mudhole. Mov: ments were started in the west in various elties and localities for the removal of the capital. It became a subject of popular dit cussion. The country had become involved in a vast debt, and the people felt poor. It was impossible to get appropriations in ad- vance, and for awhile the fate of Washin: ton was in the balance, for before the war it was between the sections, the north and south, neither willing to improve it; both fearing that it would not be permanent, and in that impoverished condition the chances seemed against the locality selected by the father of his country as the national capi- tal. One man decided the fate of the cit, and that man was Goy. Shepherd. “I remember well the conditions of this city when I first visited it as a Senator in 1864-5. When we arrived at the Capltol steps my escort asked me what I the of Washington. I told him that it needed taxation to an extent thac would the property more than it neede: . Governor Shepherd proceeded to construct the city, and for three priations follow The democ in the meantime, was cursed with a Tweed in New York, and the exigencies of the case de- manded a Tweel for Washington, and an investigation followed in order to tind that ne “I was on the,committee that made the investigation, and the efforts to find the Tweed were proceeded with with an energy unparalleled in the venom of hate against a man of enterprise, and as that investiga tion progressed and hundreds of the peo: ple looking for a Tweed had made their statements, one morning we called on the man who was being attacked for an expla- ration of what occurred, and In the sim- plest words that the English language con- tains, he told us the story of what he had books, done. He presented to us his lette: containing the letters he had addr the men who made propositions proving the city. There the matter ended and day after day these charges came, and as uniformly the refutation came. Judge Thurman, known as the Old Roman, took me aside one morning and said to me: ‘This ig the most remarkable man I have ever met in my life. In courage, Jn honesty of purpose and in indomitable energy I hi seen no parallel to him.” “The report of that committee In detail will show that every charge of corruption was refuted, every charge of bad faith was successfully disposed of, and a record of energy ind patriotism was presented which will remain to Governor Shepherd The city of Washing- ton is his monument, and the record of his of marble or brass. work here is imperishatle. It will show that this young man born in the capital city arose to the emergency of difficulties never experienced before, and created a city that will make every Amricea proud. I testify to what I know of the great work of this man in creating the most magnifi- cent city in the world. Justice Bradley. Justice Bradley of the Supreme Court of the District when called upon by Mr. Par- ker, said: “I think that if my friend Par- Ker had realized the relation existing -be- tween myself and the honored guest of this occasion he woul] not have expected me to say anything. “A few days ago I came across a state- ment that may be of interest on this oc- casion ard that was in laying out the plan of the city of Washington, L'Enfant dfs- appointed Gen. Washington. Streets were not made to conform to the topography of the locality nor to the natural drainage of the crecks and rivers. It occurred to me if Gen. Washington had lived to sce this day he would have felt no disappointment whatever, for a grade which in that day appeared to be forty-five feet to a square or between two stréets was to our friend Shepherd as a matter of small importance. He found no obstacle in tie torty-five foot grade, (Laughter and applause.) He over- came it. Gov. Shepherd has been to me not crly a source of pleasure in his com- panicnship, but he has been an insiructor | to me in law, for in acting as his attorney I find I learned a great deal of law, and am therefor under great obligations to him in that particular. But I am glad to say while cn ‘my feet that I consider it not only an henor to be associated with him as a men,ber of the same family and call him my brother-in-law, but I am proud to have been accorded the privilege of calling him my friend.” Col, Wilson. When Col. John M. Wilson, superinten- dent of public buildings and grounds, was introduced, Mr. Parker referred to him as one of the most popular superintendents of public buildings and grounds ever in this city. Col. Wilson told the beautiful stery of the building of King Solomon's Temple, and how the workmen had come across an irregularly-shaped stone which would not jit in the wall and they judged it was the result cf a blunder. and buried in weeds and debris. completion of the building was fcund that the key: and one of the old master masons remem- bered the stone that was thrown aside as worthless. The irregularly-shaped ne vi brought out from among the weeds ere it had long been neglected and it ing stone, perfect in every de- tail and exactly what was required for the completion of the tempte. Tnen Cel. Wilson iikened ex-Gov. Shep- herd to the keystone of the temple, having been in exile for years when the people finally saw the real purport and motive of his work and could juige it dispassionately they found him to be the perfect k “But there is more work before u ad Col. Wilson. ‘Chere are the boule- rds to be constructed, crounds that have er. swamys to be transformed into parks and cther work to ve done. Let us bow our heads and bend our knee that we m he endowed with the wisdom, ene noMility of character and foresight of the great man who is with us this evening, so that m the prosecution of our work we may sue- ceed as he succeeded,” President Whitman, Presiden: Whitman of Colunbian Univer- sity was next Introduced, and satd: t would be strange if I shovll not be ‘Ming to respond for that very Important ch of our life, educational instt tutions. Every ite: the District of Coty in value ten-fold by Gov. Snephord, c‘tizen of the Distric: of Columbia is under Tt was thrown aside When the obligation to him tor-making it possible for ; Washington to become the tional center of the country. “I have known a gcoc many great educa- men who 1 have dug their graves in thetr lifetime, but Skepherd is the first man I ever knew who built his monument before he was ready to use it. Gov. Shepherd has earned the best epitaph ever written. Any one turning aside from Cheapside einto Bt. Paul’s Churchyard will come upon the epitaph of Sir Christopher Wrenn, ‘If you would see his monument look about you.” Such is the epitaph of Gov. Shepherd. This city in all its beauty is a tribute to him.” Mr. Theo. W. Noyes. Mr. Parker referred to the presence of the senior editor of The Evening Star, who, he said, had been always a supporter of Gov. Shepherd, and to whom Gov. Shep- herd had never appealed for advice and sup- port in vain. Instead, however, of calling upon Mr. Crosby S. Noyes for a speech, he would call upon his son and associate, Mr. Theo. W. Noyes, who fully represented the young men and the new Washington. Mr. Noyes said: “When I look upon the venerable gray hairs and the- equally vererable hairless expanses that give distinction to so many intellectual heads visible here tonight, I realize that I am one of the infants of this occasion, and I appreciate the propriety of; the suggestion that I should respond for the young and new Washington, but if I were the Methuselah of this gathering in- stead of one of the younger generation I would still hesitate, as I do now, to at- tempt to fittingly characterize ghe man whom we honor tonight. In his name the accent is upon Alexander, the conqueror, and not upon the Shepherd. He is no gentle shepherd, reclining in the shadow of the wide-spreading beech and feeding milk to lambs, but he is a warrior shepherd of the type of David of old, brimful and over- flowing with nervous energy and concen- trated power, a man who makes and over- comes enemies, a man who delights to beat down obstacles—action incarnate, deter- mined force personified. “Snepherd’s ambito'n, his controlling, ab- sorbing purpose, was to raise his native city from the dust, and after rendering her attractive in the eyes of all men to place her in the honorable positoin to which, as the nation’s city, she was entitled. “My father, who has brought up his boys to take off their hats to A. it. Shepherd, was a fellow member with him of ihe com- mon courcil of the city before the territor- lal government y formed, and had an intimate knowledge of his innermost thoughts and plans. Many a time I have heard my father testify to the unselfis ness, even the self-sacrifice, of Shepherd's labors for Washington. He burned with indignaiton at the sneers aim2d by foreign- ers and other visitors at the despised cap!- tal at a time when, through the repudl: tion of national obligations and through the Imitation of cramped local resources +1 d ideas, the city was a national reproach.” Mr. Noyes described the helpless, hopeless condition of Washington before it was re- deemed by Shepherd, and added: “Shepherd also saw the nation, which had in the be- gin & undertaken the work of capital making, and then abandoned it to the fee- ble local population, watching the situation with indifference, and par: the growth of local strength by ho stantly over the city’s head the threat of capital removal. Shepherd recognized the only means of revolutionizing these cond!- tions, and he had the courage and will te adopt this means, and to follow ‘t unflinch- ingly to success. “The city was hemmed in, its develop- ment was checked, access to its heritage of rational affection and patriotic pride was denied by vast, obstructing walls, built high through local shortsightedaess and congressional neglect. Shepherd became a mighty battering ram leveled at these cb- structions. “In the crash of the collision this engine was, for a time, overturned and broken, but the obstructing walls went down forever. They can never rise again. “Shepherd a miracle among bosses in that he entered hfs boss-ship richer than he came out. The voluntary exile which fol- lcwed his reign was not, as is customary among bosses, to escape the terrors of out- raged law or to spend ill-gotten gains while dodging the conundrum ‘Where did you get it? but to earn monéy through hard work to retrieve his shattered fortunes. He is unique among bosses in that the motive of his hoss-ship was not mercenary self-seek- ing. but public spirit, efvie pride, the whole- scme ambition to promote the welfare of his native clty. He was a boss in that his in- domitable spirit was master of the situation in every emergency. He impressed those with whom he came Im contact as Daniel Webster impressed the Englishmen, who described him as ‘a steam engine in breeches.” “The most important outcome of Shep- herd’s campaign fs that the nation has now indorsed the capital's promise to prosper, and the nation’s ward increases daily more and more in the favor of its guardians, the ‘American people. The swelling prospects of other places that attract men may col- lapse, mineral deposits may fall,’ tariff changes may ruin a manufacturing town, lickle commerce may flow in other channels, but the fortunes of the capital and of the republic are now inseparably interwoven, and while the United States endure and flourish, Washington, the natJon’s city, will show forth the republic In mintature, re- sponding in Its own growth to the national development and prosperity. “In all this beautiful city which owes eo much to him there is no distinctive monu- ment to Shepherd; no school is named for him, nor any street, save Shepherd's alley, which under any other name would stheil as sweet. But it has been happily sug- gested that Shepherd finds his most fitting monument fn the city itself and in the grateful regard of every thoughtful Wash- ingtonian. Remembranee in bronze or ma: ble is appropriate and may yet come., For today Young Washington, whom I repre- sent, can in no way more greatly honor Shepherd than by catching the inspiration of his unselfish loyalty to his native city, his inflexible and irresistible determination to substitute honor for contempt in the world’s opinion of that city, and by appiy- ing this force to the removal of present ob- structions in Washington's path and to the upbullding of the future capital Thus though Shepherd in the flesh may be far }away in Mexico (where I have President Diaz's word for it he is as highly appreci- ated as he can be in Washington) his spirit and influence will prevail here as they did a quarter century ago.” Mr. Noyes enumerated a number of the P lems and needs of the present Wash- ington in respect to which the energy of a Shepherd would find ample field of »pera- tien and In conclusion said: “We have beard of Old and New Wash- ington on this side of Boundary street and of Greater Washington, greater in area, on the other, but Young Washington, ‘he newer Washington for which I speak, the true greater Washington of the future will be not this or that portion of the Fee District, but the whole vast city extending to the District’s farthest limits, and ais- playing every characteristic feature of a modern, model capital; and in this metrop- olis, the national obligations to which will be fulfilled ungrudgingly and with pride, the people wil act unitedly for the city welfare, not wasting strength or neutratiz~ ing one another's labors in jealous, fac- tional wrangling. “Let all of us, deriving inspiration from the spirit of this occasion, act well our parts in hastening the day of this Newer, Greater Washington.” The toastmaster then called upon Mr. Berlah Wilkins, “‘t brilliant and enter- prising editor and proprietor of the Was ington Post,” but Mr. Wilkins had with- drawn from the banquet hall. Mr. Simon Welt. Mr. Simon Wolf, in responding to a call upon him, said: “Alexander R. Shepherd needs no words of encom!um. He knows best in the days that have gone down into history as to what I was to him, and needs no vindica- tion of the ideas and plans which he en- gendered and so successfully carried out. In the northern part of the city the Ger- mans at that time had a property known as the Schuetzen Park. There was an im- mense hill on the road leading to the park. I went to Shepherd and said the exigencies of the occasion made it necessary that we better Ingress and egress to ‘Why,’ said he, ‘that Is the ng in the world. That hill will to come down.’ poken of Shepherd the planner and constructor, but we have said nothing ‘bout Shepherd the man. When yellow fever struck the south and Memphis was In gloom and despair, ’wnen men and ma- terial were needed, I went to Gov. Shep- herd and said let us organize a commission to help them. He was prompt to respond, and today there is no name more honored in the clty of Memphis than h’s, for no one contributed more to the alleviation of their suffering than he. “There is one characteristic of Gov. epherd, and that is one in which Bis- marck excelled. When Bismarck was ask- ed about anything he always told the truth, and that was so unusual that it al- ways misled the European diplomats. He knew what he wanted and dared to say it “As ages come and go and time rolls on,” said Mr. Wolf, “the capital of this great country and the name of Alexander Shep- herd will be associated. By his life he will have typ'fied what is only possible in these United States—that men are born noble and need no patent of nobility to be handed down to coming generations.” Ex-Commixsioner Douglass. Mr. Parker referred to “that small army” of ex-Commissioners of the District of Co- lumbia, and called upon ex-Commissloner J. W. Douglass. Mr. Douglass related an anecdote illus- trating the way in which Goy. Shepherd did work. He had occasion to make com- plaint about a well that stood in the middle of the sidewalk near bis house. There was no good reason why the well should be kept there as there was other means of se- curing water In the neighborhood, and at 9 o'clock one morning he stated the case to Gov. Shepherd. When he went home from bis office that afternoon he found the pump gone and men with carts were there ready ad fill up the are That, he said, was sim- ply an example of the promptness that characterized Gov. Shepherd's’ manner of “ote Shep 4 epherd, he said, was held in hi; esteem by Gen. Grant. Mr. Dovglass = at that time commissioner of internal rev- enue, and he had occasion to frequently go to the White Honse in order to consult the President about a system for the retronch- ment of expenses that was being inaugur- a L Shepherd was frequently spoken said Mr. Douglass, “and on cg ca sion of that kind it was very evident that Gen, Grant had the utmost confidence in him. He enjoyed th!s confidence of the President from first to last. I know from my personal intercourse with the President ae oS Grant was Gov. Shepherd’s friend “Senator Stewart said som: thing about Mr. Thurman's estimate of Gov. Shepherd. I want to tell you what Mr. ‘emish Wil- sen of Indiana said of Gov. Shepherd after | two years of investigation. He told me that that investigation did not result in the finding of one penny of the goverament’s money wrongfully in the hands of Gov. Shepherd, and he regarded him as one of the ablest men in the management of muni- cipal affairs that this country had ever pro- duced. “In 1871 I lived on the corner of 17th and F strects.- Thai was one of the frst streets to be torn up. It was dug down eight feet, which exposed springs, and made a hor- ribly urhealthy as well as muddy condl- tion, and gomebody got out an injunction ond the street remained in that condition for about a year. Then Gov. Shepherd be- gan work in all parts of the city. It was easy enough to get out an injunction when one street was being cut down, but it was pretty hard to have an injunction. served on 20,000 men and carts at the same time. That was the only way to do it. The thing was commenced and it had to be finished, and the result is we have a city today of which we are all proud, and it is confess- ecly the most beautiful city in this country, and before the century has passed, ef the wide world.” Ex-Commissioner Wheaties. Ex-Commissioner Wheatley spoke of his recollections of the work of Mr. Shepherd. “It has been claimed by a great many people that the energy and enterprise of-our city has been found in men who have come here from other states. But we point to the example of Gov. Shepherd to show what has been done by a native of our District. He was condemned by many white carrying out his great work, but time has taught us that his methods were the only methods that could have been pursued with success. We honor him for what he has done and we hope that we will have more Shepherds to seep on the work which he has inaugu- rated.” Mr. Geo. C. Gorham. 2 Mr. George C. Gorham, who was the next speaker, said: s “I have sometimes seen a dirty little boy, regged and with hair unkempt, turned over to some one to be washed. I have seen tim kick and struggle and scratch, but finally he was overcome and has _ been washed and given clean clothes and sent to bed, and he has slept and awakened the next morning a real nice and clean little boy. Twenty-five years ago this city was like such a little boy, dirty and ragged. Never did any little boy kick so hard against being scrubbed, but he was scrub- bed. He was taken by a strong arm. He was given a dose of soap and water and given clean clothes, and as time has gone by he has grown to be a handsome and respectable ornament to society. “This splendid assemblage tonight, with all the people of the city whom it represents, compose that little boy, grown up, and here we have the power that scrubbed him. Let us all congratulate ourselves that we ere clean and wholesome, and now the little boy bears no ill will toward the man who had him cleaned. “As a personal griend of Goy. Shepherd's I find no need now to recall the kicks and struggles. It has all been forgotten. Now and then a voice may be raiged, as in some Indian village, when all the other dogs cease barking and snarling, some little belated cur lets out a yelp. But he does not disturb anybody. There are only friends eround Gov. Shepherd now. I don’t believe he five enemies In the District of Columbia. doubt whether he has one. He is here t remain, we hepe. It is our destre that we shculd have his advice to promote ihe fu- ture of our city, and we all heartily welcome him to our midst.” Mr. Breslin. Mr. James H. Breslin was introduced. Mr. Breslin spoke of his former acquaint- ance with Governor Shepherd and of the unwholesome condition of the city previous to Governor Shepherd's work. “I will give a thousand dollerr." said Mr. Breslin, “toward a monument to be erected for Governor Shepherd, and I think we ought to do it now. Let_us ercct the monument while he lives. Let him ride by and look at it. A movement of thi kind would be participated in by people all over the United States. It would not be confined to the city of Washington. Alexander Shepherd is a man of the people. He is not a politician.” Mr. Wm. F. Mattingly. Mr. Parker called next upon Mr. Wm. F. Mattingly, who gave an interesting account cf occurrences before the investigating co:mmittee, showing what trivialities were relied upon to do injury to Shepherd, and then as a friend from boyhood of the guest of the evening patd a most eloquent iribute to his personal qualities. Mr. Wm. S$. Roose. Mr. William S. Roose spoke of Gov. Shep- nerd’s enterprise as a citizen. Gov. Shep- herd had attracted much capital here, an@ together with others he had builr 208 houses in all parts of the city. He in that way had done much to develop the cits Col. W. G. Moore. Col. William G. Moore, superintentent of the metropolitan police force, spoke briefly, but with feeling, about the great work of .Gov. Shepherd and the danger wh'ch ihe governor had encountered in carrying out @ policy that was strenuously opposed by many citizens. “Gov. Shepherd and I had been boys to- gether,” said Maj. Moore. “We had 2cown up together and knew each other well. He told me once that his great ambition was to make Washington what ft oughi to be— the grandest city in the world. - Mr. E. F. Droop. The last speech of the evening was made by Mr. E. F. Droop, who spoke in praise of the energy and ability and foresight of Gov, Shepherd tn carrying out the wort o, ime provement of Washington city. A Statue Fund Proposed. ‘A letter was received last night too late to be read at the dinner from Mr. A. 8. Solomons, which said: “As a rule some great charity or temple of learning should be established to mark such an important era, but this occasion is unique and an exception to the rvle, and should be emphasized by a visible ev of affection In the form of a colossa! of -ex-Governor Alexander R. Shepherd, standing out in bold relief upon some plaza or park, for with him, as with other should not wait for great men to die before acknowledging their upselfish works ia the interest of the community at large “Let this spontaneous uprising of a peo» ple’s love assume the form of a popular subscription, with a limit of $25, for the largest single contribution, and # com- mittee be raised Immediaiely, with full power to carry the project into effec :. “Inclosed is my check for the limited amount named, payable to the order of Chas. J. Bell, who, permit me to nom'nate as treasurer of the ‘Shepherd testirmontal fund,’ and let it be understood that the statue of our friend will surely be unveiled, with appropriate ceremonies, not later than the 20th of November, 18M, and my God in His mercy protect and spare him alive to be present on the joyous occasion. Whi important business compels my bodily al sence from your gathering I am with you both in heart and sou! ‘After the dinner last evening Mr. Robt Dunlop told Col. Berret to draw on h'm fof a thousand dollars for the statue fund ore posed by Col. Breslin.