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 CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YOUK, 
 
 December Srd, 1875. 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 
 H. A. ROST, Steam Book and Job Printer, 3 North William Street. 
 
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,^' BANaUET 
 
 German Republican Central Committee 
 
 OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK, 
 December 3rd, 1875. 
 
 The German Republican Central Committee of the City of New York met 
 for the first time, during the campaign for free speech — free soil — free men and 
 Fremont. It was formed chiefly by those Gemian refugees, Avho — in 1848-49 
 — defeated in their brave strug'gle for lil)erty in their native countr}-, transferred 
 their allegiance to the American Republic. 
 
 By nature as well as by education, implacable enemies of oppression in 
 every shape, they enrolled themselves in the ranks of the party opposed to 
 slavery in this country. And there is little doubt that the bulk of the German 
 immigrants would have joined the Republican party, had they not been misled 
 by the name ''Democracy'' borne by the opposing party, which in their German 
 homes is synonymous with liberty and selfgovernment. 
 
 It is the object of the Gennan Republican Committee, thus called into 
 existence to recall their countrymen from the ranks of the false to the tnie 
 democratic party, and to afford to such of them as were unable to acquire a 
 knowledge of the English language on account of their arrival in this country 
 at a period of life when the struggle for existence engrossed their time and all 
 their efforts, facilities to take part in political discussions in their native tongue. 
 
 The Gennan Republican Central Committee has thus, through the agency 
 of its thoroughly disciplined district associations, contributed largely to the 
 success of the Republican party. Though others faltered, it never swerved 
 from its loyalty; not even when leaders, elated at their success, ignored its 
 claims and refused to give it credit for its share in the results attained. 
 
 To prove that no such views prevailed with the present leaders, but that 
 on the contrary its services were duly appreciated, the German Republican 
 Central Committee in the fall of 1875 demanded from the State Committee some 
 suitable ofKcial recognition. 
 
 This request was cheerfully acceded to, and Hon. A. B. Cornell, the dis- 
 tinguished chairman of the State Committee, announced to our representatives, 
 
that the State Committee had agi-eed to recommend to futm-e State Conventions, 
 the appointment of tlie president of the Gemian EepuhEcan Central Committee, 
 as a member ex officio of said State Committee, and also to m-ge, that the said 
 president and chaimian of the Gennan Executive Committee should be 
 appointed members ex officio of the regular Republican County Committee. 
 
 In recognition of that result and to celebrate the great victories of ] 875 
 in Ohio, Pennsylvania and in om- city — following so quickly on the unparalleled 
 defeats of the pre\'iou8 year, the Gennan- American republicans resolved on 
 holding the banquet, the proceedings of which are recorded in the following 
 pages. 
 
 The banquet was held at Arion Hall, St. Marks Place, on the 3rd day of 
 December 1875, under the auspices of the German Republican Central Com- 
 mittee of the County of New York, whose officers were as follows: 
 
 President : A. J. Dittenhoefer. 
 
 Chainnan of the Executive Committee : MoRRlS Friedsam. 
 
 Secretaries : Leopold Weil and Charles J. Guntner. 
 
 Special Committee of Arrangements for the Banquet: 
 
 Hennann Cantor, Chainnan, Otto Stropp, 
 
 Dr. Louis Naumann, Andrew A. Scheidler, 
 
 Carl Schwedler, John V. Mayer, 
 
 Dr. Hennann Muhr. 
 
 The following guests were invited, all of whom attended, excepting those 
 from whom the letters hereinafter printed, were received : 
 
 Hon. Roseoe Conkling, Speaker Husted, 
 
 Hon. Hugh J. Hastings, Senator Baaden, 
 
 Governor Salomon, Mayor Schroeder, 
 
 • Alderman Billings, Hon. Jacob M. Patterson, jr., 
 
 Alderman Hess, General J. C. Pinckney, 
 
 Hon. Thos. Mui-phy, Hon. Isaac H. Bailey, 
 Postmaster Thos. L. James, Police Comm'r Disbecker, 
 
 Hon. Wm. A. Darling, Hon. A. B. Cornell, 
 
 Collector Arthur, Suixeyor Sharpe, 
 
 Judge Gildersleeve, Judge Goepp, 
 
 U. S. Atty. Bliss, Dist. Atty. Phelps, 
 
 Sun-ogate Van Schaick, Recorder Hackett, 
 
 Governor Morgan, Frederick Kuehne, 
 
 Hon. A. H. Laffin, Comissioner Stiner, 
 
 Col. Spencer, Gilbert J. Hunter, 
 Hon. Salem H. Wales. 
 
 The banquet hall was richly decorated in a manner worthy of the cause 
 and of the guests. A profusion of light showed to advantage the rich 
 
evergTOons oncircling the walls. The flaii-s oi" tho United States were gracefully 
 intertwined with the colors of the Gennan Empire, and the busts of the first, 
 the martyr and tho pi'esent President were encircled in living flowers. 
 
 The guests were received by the conmiittee and after introduction to the 
 president, proceeded at 8 P.M. to the music of a brilliant march, composed for the 
 occasion, to the banquet hall, where in the course of the evening the following 
 addresses were delivered in answer to the regular toasts announced by the 
 president. 
 
 The president, Judge Dittenhoefer, before reading the first toast, 
 addressed the company as follows: 
 
 ''Gentlemen : — We have assembled this evening to congratulate eacli other 
 on the overthrow of Tammany Hall — that its power has been Ijroken, that its 
 prestige of invincibility has been destroyed. For the first time in many years 
 its entire county ticket, though composed of excellent men, was swept away by 
 the tide, and to add to the humiliation of this defeat, those of our candidates, at 
 whom its severest fii'e was aimed, were triumphant even above their colleagues. 
 The people, tired and disgusted with the Tammany organization, detennined to 
 throw off the incul)us, in spite of pamphlets which they laid aside for reading 
 till after the elections, took up the Recorder as if on puqjose to hack it to 
 pieces. And thoroughly and completely was the joT) done. Dollymount was 
 repeated on the 2nd of November in our city, when Gildersleeve and Hackett 
 with the rest of the team riddled the Tammany standard. 
 
 It is abnost incredible that in this hot-bed of Tammany Democracy, 
 Tammany Hall should have been so thoroughly routed — horse, foot and 
 cbagoons. And to that feeling of incredulity the loss of our State ticket is 
 owing ; for had our country friends believed that it was possible for us to break 
 down for them, as we did the Tammany majorities, they would have piled up 
 the Republican majorities for us. 
 
 Now we have noticed with unfeigned pleasure, that everywhere, even by 
 those least friendly, acknowledgement is made that the honor of and credit for 
 this splendid triumph, as also for the glorious victories in the West and in the 
 Key Stone State, were preenainently due to the German voters, who inspired 
 with an enthusiastic zeal for good government, sound financial principles and 
 with a deteiTnined hostility to the t}Tanny of the one man power, rallied to the 
 support of our candidates. 
 
 In view of these conceded facts, the German Republican Central 
 Committee representing over 10,000 voters of Gennan extraction, detennined 
 to have this celebration and resolved to invite you to join them in their 
 festi\'ities. 
 
 Now in bidding you one and all, in the name of that Committee over 
 which I have the honor to preside, a cordial welcome to this hall, I am sure I 
 will be pardoned for saying to you, invited guests, that what was accomplished 
 at our last election, can and will be accomplished again and again, if care is 
 only taken not to drive away from our party that large Gennan vote, composing 
 as it does, the only element of the foreign population from which recruits can be 
 drawn to om- ranks — a factor too important to be overlooked in making 
 political combinations. 
 
 It is the office of the Gennan Republican Central Committee to draw in 
 and to enroll these recniits — an office which cannot be discharged by any other 
 organization in the party. It secures for om* party the votes of those GeiTnans 
 
wliose aiTival in this country generally occurs at that period of life, when the 
 struggle for existence prevents them from gaining enough familiarity with 
 English to understand political discussions in that language ; a disability that 
 keeps them away from the regular District associations, frequently away from 
 the polls, and often exposes them to the danger of voting through misrepresent- 
 ation for candidates opposed to their Repuhlican ideas. And its field of 
 usefulness is enlarged hy the accession of those Germans, who, though familiar 
 with the English language, still prefer to take part in deliberations held in a 
 tongue and in a manner endeared to them by habit and by association. This 
 peculiarity of the Gemian-Americans may perhaps be ol)jected to or even 
 complained of by some of our friends ; but it exists nevertheless and it certainly 
 becomes the duty of wise leadership to use it in accomplishing desired results. 
 That stage in the leadership of our party I am happy to announce has at last 
 been reached. 
 
 The action of the State Committee, which through its distinguished 
 chainnan has assiu'ed us that the Gennan Republican Central Committee shall 
 in the future receive that recognition its sei^vices desei-ve, and the presence of so 
 many distinguished leaders and members of om- party at a Gennan Republican 
 banquet attest the truth of the announcement I have just made. Gentlemen, 
 I affain thank you one and all for voiu' attendance here to-night." 
 
 The jn-esident then announced the first regular toast: "The President of 
 the United States," and called upon General Sharpe, distingiushed in the 
 military as well as in the civil service- — a dashing soldier and brilliant orator, 
 to respond. 
 
 The general was most enthusiastically received and after some 
 facetious remarks, based upon the order of speaking between the 
 courses of the banquet, he said that he would pledge himself to be present 
 at every such celebration as the present one. When the Gemians entwined 
 the Stripes and Stars with their fatherland's flag they proved that, while they 
 were Germans by remembrance, they were Americans in heart and in action 
 and they had in every way proved their earnestness in the cause of American 
 republicanism. He knew that the success in Ohio and New York was very 
 largely due to the efforts of the Germans. The American Republicans 
 acknowledged it, and would always recognize it. He was well aware, too, that 
 they had never had more splendid unity among the clubs and associations, and 
 that they had all splendidly borne their part, and so had the journals of the 
 Gennan Republican Party fought a great fight, but he must make mention of 
 the most conspicuous of all the giants of the press. Was there ever a more 
 magnificent fight than was fought in that great political straggle by the great 
 front leader of journals against the head and heart of Tammany Hall. He 
 refened to the "New York Times". (Ai)plause). He might say also, that among 
 individual contributions to the victory, to no one man was the success of the 
 canvass more justly due than to that high-spirited, honest, and energetic man 
 and organizer. Gen. Chester A. Arthur. (Applause.) Take it all in all, it 
 was a fight in which every man had borne his part like a man, and of which 
 he might feel proud. It has been the fortune of Gen. Grant to be put in the 
 most conspicuous position in this countr}^ at the most terrible crisis of the 
 nation's history. One of the most tenible wars the world ever saw, found him 
 at its close the most prominent figure which history could make. The first 
 following presidential year found him the most conspicuous figure among the 
 nation's statesmen. (Applause.) Having led armies beside which Washington's 
 armies could be multiplied a hundred-fold, and having reached the highest rank 
 
among' tlie nation's statesmen, and having now, in this, the third year of the 
 second tenn of his administration, seen the completion of ttie measures for tlie 
 restoration of peace and harmony to the Union; having seen all this, I can tell 
 you, said the speaker — and I know what I am saying — that Gen. Grant has but 
 one thing more, one other desire to be gratified, to make the cup of his glory 
 full. It is no personal hope or desire — he has but a single thought ; I know 
 it myself, and that is that his own administration may be succeeded by a 
 republican administration. A foreigner has undertaken to make a picture of 
 the greatest characters forming a triumvirate in Ameri(;an history, and when his 
 work is completed, future ages will point with ])ride to that triumvirate, and will 
 mention the names of Washingtcm, Lincoln and Grant. (Applause.) 
 
 On the conclusion of this address, the president stated, that the next 
 toast : "Our party", would be responded to by the War-Governor of Wisconsin, 
 Mr. Salomon, who delivered a most eloquent and elaborate address, which was 
 continually inteiTupted by enthusiastic applause. 
 
 Hon. Salem H. Wales, the ])resident of the Dock Department, presented 
 to the Assembly by the president as "Our Prince of Wales", replied to the toast 
 ''The City of New York", as follows: 
 
 " It was not on your programme of the evening, that I should say anything', 
 but I find myself forced into the service, to take the place of our absent friend 
 the Hon. Benj. K. Phelps, who puts in the plausible excuse that he is detained 
 by illness. — You ask me, Mr. chairman, whether I want to speak before or after 
 the next course? My answer is that I want nothing-. I am like the boy in the 
 class, who, when called to his examination, prepared himself to answer off hand 
 and at once the exact question that oug'ht to come to him in the order of 
 position. — The Teacher put this question to him : '' Well l)oy, what do you 
 believe?" — the answer was, "I don't believe nothing." ''Well," says the 
 teacher, "you believe in the II(dy Apostolic church, don't you ?" The answer 
 was: "No, the boy that believes that, is at home sick with the measles." I am 
 called upon to respond to your toast to the city of New York. I hope my 
 friend Phelps, who was to answer to that, is not sick with the measles. New 
 York City is a great sulyect, and perhaps tlie most eloquent remark I could 
 make, would be to say nothing. But I can in the lang-uage of St. Paul, on one 
 memorable occasion, declare that "I am the citizen of no mean city". In 
 natural position, and in all that relates to trade and commerce. New York can 
 partly claim to be the metropolis of the west'Mn hemisphere. All she now 
 needs is to be g'overned wisely and well, that these advantag-es may not through 
 neglect and misgovernment slip away from us, and we be left to that gradual 
 decay which has marked the rise and fall of ancient commercial cities. We are 
 here to-night to celebrate with the German Republicans the recent vict(n'ies in 
 our municipal election. I am g'lad to jt)in in these festivities, and to mingle my 
 congratulations with you, that the result has brought promise of good to our 
 city. The officers chosen are generally men of ability and acknowledged 
 integrity, and we can hope that tlie result will in the end not disappoint the just 
 expectations of those who bore the front of the battles. The lesson taught by 
 this election is, that the people will, when the emergency oflf'ers, take good care 
 that no one man, or set of men shall arbitrarily decide who are to goveni them, 
 that eacli individual voter will henceforth decide, without dictation or inter- 
 ference, who he prefers in the administration of the city's estate. I wish here 
 to state that 1 propose hei'eafter to cultivate a better acquaintance with the 
 
German voter. I like the Gennans better than they seemed to have liked me, y 
 (laughter) and should it fall to my lot to nm again for Mayor even at a spring 
 election, 1 do not intend that the Germans shall be ignorant of the fact that I 
 am much in love with them. (Laughter.) I may not express ray admiration 
 of the form of Government of the Gennan empire, but I do admire tliat stm-dy 
 old monarch Kaiser Wilhelm, that old king, who could ride in his saddle day 
 after day, cheering on the allied hosts, in the great conflict with a power defiant, 
 and hitlierto almost invincible in arms, and who embodies in his policy the 
 broadest ideas of religious freedom, is certainly a character not to be despised, 
 but to be admired. I admire the veteran wamor Von Moltke — the great 
 war minister Von Roon — the gallant soldier Prince Frederick (Charles, and last 
 but not least "U user Fritz", whose record in the war gives promise that the 
 succession will fall into the hands of one worthy to govern a great and noble 
 people. Taking up the spirit of the reformation, the present dynasty of 
 Germany is planting the seeds of hope and promise, which shall endure through 
 the generations to come. 
 
 Having thrice visited and travelled through the greater part of Germany, 
 I have perhaps studied the character of your people more at home than in this 
 country — I have found them brave, frugal and industrious — they bring with 
 them those elements — and if every man, woman and child that comes to us adds 
 a thousand dollars each to the wealth of the country at the moment of landing 
 on our shores, how are we to estimate their worth and value to the nation, as 
 they distribute themselves througliout om varied industries, and hand back to 
 us the wealth of their labor and toil? They come not among us with the 
 Communistic notion that the Government is bound to provide for their support, 
 and it has often been a sm-prise to- me that so few Gennans have crossed the 
 threshold of my office to seek public employment — seldom has such a thing 
 ever occured. The German relies upon himself, and that alone constitutes for 
 him a high value in a country like this, which opens so many avenues to reward 
 patient industry. 
 
 It has often occured to me that the Gennan has failed to assert his right 
 to participate in the higher functions of Government. If I remember rightly, 
 Carl 8churz is the only representative German who has ever occupied a place 
 in the Senate, and although w'e may, and do regret that he left the Republican 
 party, where I think he should have remained and worked as he could work, for 
 all wholesome reforms. Still his record as a Senator was honorable, and he 
 retired fi-om his high place without a stain upon his integrity. He did credit to 
 his people. 
 
 The German, from his love of liberty and high sense of justice is properly 
 the ally of the Republican party, and I trust that this evening's banquet will 
 result in bringing us closer together in our party relations." 
 
 In response to the toast: ''Our guests," Hon. Isaac H. Bailey, the 
 gallant champion of a forlorn hope in the last congressional canvass of the 
 eleventh Congressional District, addressed the Assembly as follows : 
 
 ''Mr. Chairman: 
 As I look around among your "guests" to-night, in whose behalf yoxi have 
 invited me to respond, I am unable to find a single one on the platform, who 
 has earned that proud title to distinction which "independent jom-nalism" confers 
 only on men who have deserted their party and renounced their principles. As 
 far as I can obsen-e there is not a man at this board who has ever risen so far 
 above the monotonous common-place level of fidelity to the Republican cause, 
 as to abandon and betray it. On the contrary, all of them have adhered to the 
 
organization steadfastly tlin>ng-li tho varied chances and changes of its twenty 
 years existence — sharing its trinni[)lis with delight, beaiing its reverse with 
 patience — never growing lukewarin from a fancy tliat they did not receive the 
 C(msiderati()n due to them, never setting up their individnal will in hostility to 
 the recognized experiments of the ])olicy of the organization. Now, if, as we 
 are tanght in some quarters, it is a pro.f of hifty independence to be false to 
 your order and of patriotism to sneak oft" to the enemy, there is not a soul here 
 who can boast of these chiims to distinction. In earlier times, before political 
 pei-fidy was deemed a virtue, such people were well enough perhaps, but now 
 one cannot speak of them with commendation, scarcely apologetically without 
 incuri-ing the imputation of being a ''thick and thin" partizan, a term of reproach 
 which it is supposed to n^quire great courage to endure. 
 
 I infer, as 1 have no doubt all of you have, from the observaticms of the 
 gentleman who preceded me, (Mr. AVales) that he is so well satisfied with his 
 last experiment as a candidate for municipal honors, that it would not require 
 inordinate persuasiim to induce lain to try again. He has 'been pretty liberal in 
 his suggestions about tlie distribution of tliese favors, but it is easy to see the 
 cun-ent .in which his thouglits are running. I wish to comfort him with the 
 assurance, that I have not the slightest inclination to enter the list as his 
 competitor. My first, last and only experience in that line has wrought a 
 radical cure. I can exclaim in the couplet of John Hay : 
 
 ''Betwixt me and you I've been there, 
 And I'll not take any in mine." 
 
 I have a great mind, Mr. Chairman, to avail myself of the latitude this 
 toast gives me to indulge in the egotism of a retrospective glance at my ten 
 days campaign, a year ago in the eleventh Congressional District. It was 
 exciting while it lasted and disastrous in its result, but there were many features 
 about it that were instructive to me, and may perchance be not unamusing to you. 
 
 When I was nominated, I was assured that the District was Republican — 
 cars'ed out expressly to be carried — regarded as hopeless by the democrats so 
 much so that they found it hard to persuade any man to be a candidate. 
 Relj-ing upon these flattering representations, I entered the lists; when I came 
 to s'uiwey the field, I could'nt find any Republican grouud in it except that 
 curiously shaped strip of teiTitory known as the eleventh Assembly District. It 
 was difficult to compile a list of the voters because the district was new, and 
 the polling places had been changed since the preceding election. 
 
 Three d.ays after I was fairly in ibr it. I met my friend and neighbor 
 Hon. Abram S. Hewitt, himself a candidate in an adjoining district, and he told 
 me he had the figures and would give me a copy of them. We repaired to his 
 house, and there'l made the exhilarating discovery that the democratic majority 
 at the last state election was 2405! This was what that eccentric Liberal 
 Republican Deputy-Sherifl" Mr. Lanigan would call a "honey-cooler"! How- 
 ever it w^as too late then to recede, and there was nothing to be done but to 
 " stand the hazard of the die". 
 
 The first broad-side I encountered emanated from the "leading American 
 newspaper" as it modestly describes itself. This my excellent and intimate 
 friend Mr. Schultz, who with all his experiences had not then been cured of the 
 hallucination that a newspaper which prates of its independence, will retract a 
 misstatement, when it finds it has made one, wrote and i)ublished an answer to, 
 denying such of the strictures of this veracious organ as he knew to be 
 erroneous. Of course I knew this would be like flaunting a red rag before a 
 mad bull, only making the animal more furious. However, the second tirade 
 was relieved of its bratality by a liberal quotation from a letter, which I had 
 
8 
 
 written eight months pre\aously, which expressed my \news concerning the 
 revenue laws and their administration. I thoug-ht then, and still think, in spite 
 of their authorship, that they embodied very sensible and practical ideas on a 
 subject, about which New York was just at that time in one of its periodical fits 
 of craziness. It bore no reference to any particular case or individual, but the 
 independent editor, ever fertile in resomxes, garbled the document with an 
 interpolation which met this emergency. The original contained no paragraph 
 or line which I have since entertained the thought of disclaiming or qualifying. 
 
 Being apprehensive that Mr. Schultz might take notice of this effusion as 
 he had of the other, I made haste to write him a note, dissuading him from 
 such a purpose, reminding him that he was at a fatal disadvantage in an 
 encounter with such antagonists, as he would be obliged by his natural regard 
 for tnith, to make his statements confonn to facts, whereas they were under no 
 such restraining limitations. I was too late, however, for he had already 
 dispatched his card to a friendly evening paper. I guess that incident dis- 
 abused his mind of the notion that "independent" journalism was to be baulked 
 of its humor by any sense of its obligation to obey the ninth commandment. 
 
 One of the numerous imtruths with which this "independent" sheet 
 abounded, was that the name of my old and honored fi-iend William E. Dodge, 
 was used without his authority — the fact being that he had tendered me 
 personally his hearty support within forty-eight hours after I was nominated. 
 You can bear witness, Mr. Chainnan, because you were cognizant of the 
 circumstance, that Mr. Dodge not only accepted the position of Vice-President 
 of the ratification meeting, but being detained therefrom by illness, sent a 
 special message explaining and regretting his enforced absence. 
 
 Some well-meaning but superserviceable adherents of mine talked of 
 publishing a damaging chapter in the record of my opponent. I heard of it 
 and at once positively insisted that no such discreditable electioneering device 
 should be resorted to. The matter subsequently found its way into print through 
 no agency of mine or of the committee who had charge of the canvass. Never- 
 theless the "independent" oracle said of me : " He has gone into the gutter to 
 rake up an old police-story against his opponent". 
 
 When I mildly reproached the gentlemen who had been instrumental in 
 making me the leader of a forlorn hope, they comforted me with the suggestion 
 that the registry might prove more favorable than the last. As soon as the 
 books were closed it appeared that there was a falling oif in the small Republi- 
 can portion of the district, and an increase in those parts that were 
 overwhelmingly democratic. 
 
 Well, Gentlemen, you all know what a swash of democratic victories swept 
 over the country in 1874. There were so many of them that the enemy carried 
 the House high and dry and were for the moment encouraged to believe that 
 the long predicted "tidal wave" had really l)egun to flow at last. 
 
 I was carried under with the rest, bnt 1 derived some little consolation 
 from ascertaining that while the democratic majorities had increased almost 
 everywhere, 1 had gained 225 votes on the preceding canvass, the majority 
 against me being reduced from 2405 to 2180. The "independent" organ rose 
 superior to anything to matter of fact as arithmetic, and invented a set of 
 returns from every election district in the eleventh Assembly district. By this 
 fine stroke of ingenuity they made a difference of 1145 votes against me, 
 scoring up an adverse majority of 3325! And by the by this neat little piece 
 of artfulness served an amu^ing purpose afterwards. One of the weekly papers 
 which is especially notorious for gathering in all the floating fabrications that 
 have run their course in the dailies, dressing them up in elaborate English, and 
 palming theui off on credulous country readers as evidences of the pitiable 
 
decadence of virtue in tliis deo^encrate age, adopted it as the text of a 
 chanicteristic lioniily. It accepted these manufactured returns as correct — with- 
 out knowing of course the least thing about them — excepted the eleventh 
 Congressional district on the strength of them for the time Iteing from its 
 otherwise universal malediction upon mankind — and abused me savagely for 
 having l^een "craven enough" — these were its very words — to allow my friend 
 Mr. Schultz to publish the cards, which, as I have told you, I took so much 
 pains to suppress. "There's richness for you"! 
 
 I do not speak of these things now, on my own account. The annoyance 
 and indignation they occasioned me, has long since passed away. I was very 
 kindly and considerately treated by the best and most influential pa])ers in 
 circulation among us. The misrepresentations of which I was the victim are 
 probably no more glaring and offensive than a majority of candidates for office 
 are subjected to. But such outrages upon decency can hardly fail to deter 
 gentlemen possessing a reasonable degree of self-respect from consenting to 
 become targets for lilackguaidism and mendacity. 
 
 The effect of this indiscriminate detraction of candidates for office — whether 
 originating in malice or ignorance — upon the rising generation is utterly 
 demoralizing. The impression it makes is that public men are generally vicious 
 and unprincipled ; that honesty is an old-fashioned and virtually obsolete 
 quality; that anybody, w'ho is smart enough to keep outside the "den and 
 forfeit of the law", may play the knave without stemming the popular current 
 or incurring intolerable odium. Such a style of literature is doing more to 
 coiTupt popular morals than all the yellow-covered novels and flash publications 
 that ever found their way into circulation. 
 
 I have made this chapter of autobiography longer than I intended, and 
 have no doul)t you are glad it is finished. Recurring for a moment only to the 
 theme assigned me, I take pleasure in saying that I respect and honor your 
 guests because they have always been loyal and true to the grand old party 
 which has held in its keeping the very life of the nation ; because they are not 
 ashamed of it nor tired of it ; and I congratulate you upon its superb record, 
 healthful condition and auspicious prospects." 
 
 The president then introduced the eloquent Hon. Wm. A. Dakliistg, the 
 "darling-" of the German Republicans — as the gentleman designated to answer 
 the toast "Our recent victories". He spoke as follows : 
 
 "Mr. President and Gentlemen of the German Republican Central 
 Committee : 
 
 I tender 3^ou my sincere thanks for your kind invitation to be present with 
 you here to-night, and also for your kindly greeting. The occasion of this 
 festive gathering afft)rds me the opportunity to testify tlie appreciation which is 
 felt by all good citizens, of the great and good work accomi)lished by our 
 German fiiends in the late election, whereby they contributed so largely in 
 securing t)n our political battle-field the "recent victories". 
 
 In responding to this toast, permit me to say, no one is more ready and 
 willing than myself to give to them the full and merited meed of praise for 
 their part in this victorv. My own personal efforts in the contest have given me 
 many opportunities to tibserve and e.-timate the great value of such service — 
 the zeal and self-sacrificing work for the redemption of our great and beautiful 
 (but badly governed) city, as exhibited by our German lellow-citizens, has 
 never been more signally displayed or more effective in its results, not only in 
 the eastern portion of our City, so largely populated by citizens of German 
 descent, heretofore giving lai'ge majoiities for Tammany ilall, which you have 
 
10 
 
 completely revolntinnized, electing a Senator and three members of Assemblj'^, 
 but also electing other members, in my own and other districts, and thereby 
 contributing largely to the change in the political character of our State 
 Legislature. In fact I may say, everywhere throughout the entire City and 
 Count}' the same spirit was manifested, and the same glorious work accomplish- 
 ed, and I trust and believe, your claims to a proper recognition will not be 
 disregarded by the Republican party — an organization to which our German 
 fellow citizens should rightfully and naturally belong. Your character, instincts, 
 and every interest in common with good government, faithful execution of the 
 laws, should prompt them to ally themselves with that noble party, with its 
 noble record, and which has d(me so much for humanity. 
 
 Your proverbial love of liberty, order and economical govenrment should 
 ever be relied upon in upholding and protecting the institutions of a land 
 of free men. 
 
 Political victories have their counterpart in other beneficial triumphs; 
 peace hath its victory as well as war, the victory of successful executive 
 administration, produces the fruit of good government for all the people; there 
 is the victory of Diplomac}', in which the silent but sagacious minister moulds 
 the policy of nations for the nation's good. They are moral and social 
 victories, which secure happiness and prosperity in our homes and in our inter- 
 course with mankind, and there is yet another victory, and perhaps the greatest 
 of all, because the most difficult of achievement, — and that is man's victory 
 over himself. 
 
 The German emigrant has peopled om* broad and fertile prairies, and where 
 but yesterday was seen the scattered cabin of the pioneer settler, to-day we 
 witness the crowded city, with its busy hum of prosperous traffic, edifices of 
 learning and religion, whose spires pierce the skies, all the work and outgrowth 
 of an honest, industrious and frugal people. We say then, to all the brothers 
 of the "Vaterland'', come to us, and be of us, we welcome you to our broad 
 fields that wait for yoiu- strong arms to cause them to blossom wiA wealth and 
 happiness, living under the stan-y folds of our National banner, protected b}' its 
 power, helping to develope the great resources of our land, and secure for your- 
 selves and for generations yet unborn, the blessings of the best government 
 the sun ever shone upon." 
 
 To the seventh regular toast : ''The judiciary," Hon. Charles Goepp, in 
 whose elevation to the bench the Gennan Republican Central Committee, of 
 which he was a prominent member, felt highly honored, responded as follows: 
 
 "Forgive me for confessing that I winced a little on being invited to 
 respond, wdien the judiciary were to be "toasted". The wish that they may be 
 "toasted" is frequently uttered in regard to the judiciary, or at least in regard 
 to its honored members, for "swearing at the court" is, of all legal remedies the 
 one most readily administered. The wish, that they may not only be toasted 
 but may "respond" is an amplification of tliat remedy, for which the committee 
 of arrangements have established a valuable precedent. Having lately read 
 Longfellow's "Inferus", I have been mentally surveying the multitudes of the 
 "toasted" there so vividly depicted, and recalling the "responses" which virtually 
 constitute that magnificent poem, in search of some comfort, for the order of 
 which the suffi-ages of an inclulgent people have made me an unworthy member, 
 but in vain. The only member of the judiciary there mentioned appears to be 
 Chief Justice Minos himself; and he, though being, as what judge is not, con- 
 signed to the infernal regions, figures there not as toasted, but as toaster. His 
 responses consist in curlings of his tail, indicating by the number of rings into 
 
11 
 
 wliicli lie curls it, the number of tlie circle of liell to Mliicli tlie particular 
 culprit before liiiu is coudeuined. My utter inability to emulate the Chief 
 Justice in this particular, is to my uiiud another painful evidence of how much 
 I fall short of the capacity recpiired for the grave responsibilities I have 
 ventured to assume. The functions of Minos can never be mine; the best I 
 can hope for is to share his abode. 
 
 The judiciary then, aie toasted, l)ut hardly beloved. Tlu> public at large 
 when brought into contact with the order, are apt to imitate Palmerston in one 
 of the carricatures of Punch, when presented by Sir Colin C'ampbtdl with the 
 Royal Bengal Tiger. The prime minister holds a chair between himself and 
 the interesting captive, and says to the connnander-in-chief, *T am very much 
 obliged to you, I'm sure, but what is to be done with the beast?" What Sir 
 Colin Campbell did with the Tiger, is neither here nor there. But we all know 
 what the opinion of mankind does with the judiciary, — as personified in the 
 goddess, at whose shrine they are sujjposed to minister. It puts a sword into 
 the right hand of justice, a balance into the left, and a liandage on both her 
 eyes. Manifestly, l)ecause if not blindfolded, she might hit somebody with her 
 sword, or detect some obliquity with her scales ; because, if relieved of her 
 sword, she might use her hand to strij) off her bandage and keep her balance ; 
 and because, if relieved of her balance, she might open her eyes and strike 
 terror into evil-doers. 
 
 This is what the world has done Avith the judiciary for two thousand years. 
 A new fetter has been imposed in our country since the introduction of the 
 Ballot box. In this country the judiciary are forbidden to talk. What is a 
 man to talk about at a public dinner! Law? Minos and Rhadamanthos 
 forbid. Even the imagination of Dante was impotent to conceive the number 
 of ringlets in his tail by which the Chief Justice would have marked the doom 
 of him who had dared to talk his fellow-man to death with law. What then? 
 Public affairs ? l^ublic affairs constitute the domain of politics ; and it is the 
 discovery of our modern wisdom, that the judiciary must let politics alone. 
 Standing before the body politic in the attitude of a basin of clear water before 
 a pair of dirty hands, they must shrink from those dirty hands for fear of 
 muddling their crystal purity. Now, Mr. President, standing before your 
 mind's eye with a sword in one hand, which I cannot see to lift, with a pair of 
 scales in the other, by which I cannot see to weigh, with eyes blindfolded, lest 
 I should l)e led astray by the magic of your presence, with my mouth gagged, 
 lest I should corrupt my mind by discussing your affairs, how am I to respond, 
 when the judiciary are toasted? Well, I may say that I see signs of the 
 bandage being lifted, and the gag removed. Society has found, that keeping 
 its hand dirtyhas not made clean water cleaner. The judges have not meddled 
 with politics, but politics have undertaken to meddle with the judges, and we 
 are here to-night because that attempt has been frustrated and rebuked. Some 
 sort of connection between politics and honesty, in theory, has been detected, 
 and it seems to be thought that that discovery should T)e reduced to practice at 
 the cost even of bringing into action the judiciary, who are nothing more nor 
 less than the organ of the conscience of the people. Possibly a time is at 
 hand, when the voice of public conscience may be a little more welcome than 
 the voice of Minos or Rhadamanthos. All these signs may prove deceptive, it 
 does not become a judge to be sanguine. But this fact remains, that, for the 
 first time in our history an election lias been held, in which the judicial offices 
 principally engaged the attention of the voters, in which the leading issue con- 
 cerned the independence of the judiciary, in which that independence was 
 triumphantly vindicated, and in which the capacity of the people to appreciate 
 that blessing was made manifest beyond all question. I pledge you, gentle- 
 
12 
 
 men. The people of the City of New York ; may their servants be mindful of 
 the spirit in which they have been chosen." 
 
 In the absence of the oldest member of the Legislature, General 
 HuSTED, the bald eagle of Westchester, the Hon. I. Albert Englehart, the 
 youngest member, was announced to speak for that body. In presenting him 
 the chair stated, that he would be bestowing the highest praise on him, when 
 he assured the company that he would follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, 
 the Hon. Jacob Hess. 
 
 Mr. Englehart was greeted with cheers, and addressed the Assembly in 
 a brilliant and earnest manner. 
 
 The gallant Colonel of the Fifth, Hon. Charles S. Spencer, was 
 assigned to speak in behalf of the ''Army and Xavy", but being unavoidably 
 absent, sent a telegram which was read amid great applause. 
 
 CTeneral Joseph C. Pinckney, distinguished for his services to the country 
 and party, was called upon and spoke as follows : 
 
 '• Mr. President : 
 
 1 regret exceedingly that my honorable fiiend and soldier, who was 
 designated by your Committee to respond to the toast of the Army and Navy, 
 has found it impossibe to be present in consequence of business engagements, 
 which have called him out of the city. If he was here he would be able to 
 explain to you how we brought him over from the west side of the city to be 
 our candidate for Congress in this the German district, and how he suffered an 
 inglorious defeat in his first campaign. 
 
 It is not necessary to say that 1 allude to the gallant Colonel of the Fifth 
 Regiment. In his absence I have ))een suddenly called upon to fill his place, 
 and I am compelled to admit that I feel myself illy prepared' to do so. If 
 time would pennit, I might occupy hours in recounting the achievements of our 
 Army and Navy. How John Paul Jones in the Bon liomme Richard captured 
 the Serapis. This being one of the maiden effbrts of note of our infant navy, 
 people abroad were jileased to denounce Captain Jones as a pirate. When Jones 
 was called upon to surrender, he replied, " that he had not yet begun to fight". 
 Coming down to the war of 1812 with Great Britain, the history of our navy 
 is rei»lete with glorious victories. Grim old Hull with the Constitution captures 
 the Guerriere, Decatur in the United States, takes the "gilt work off" the 
 Macedonian and then he "takes her in". Who has not read of Perry's victory 
 on Lake Erie and of his memorable dispatch reporting the action : " We have 
 met the enemy and they are ours". 
 
 Cany yourselves back to more recent actions, with which you are all 
 familiar. The exploits of the little Monitor at Hampton Roads, of Captain 
 Winslow in the Kearsage, and that of old Commodore Farragut in the shrouds 
 of the Hartford at Mot)ile, with munerous others attest the glorious achieve- 
 ments ef the American Navy. 
 
 The Army is not less distinguished for bravery. Although not always 
 successful, it has distinguished itself by its heroic struggles on many a bloody 
 field. The tenacity of Washington, and the sufferings of the anny of the 
 Revolution at Valley Forge, the victories achieved by a Scott at Chippewa and 
 Landy's Lane, and the crowning ami decisive triumph of Gen. Andrew Jackson 
 over the trained battalions of Great Britain at New Orleans, all these are 
 remembered with exultation by every citizen of our Republic. 
 
13 
 
 The war with ]\[exic(» in 1847 bvoufjht to the foremost ranks of modern 
 chieftains a W infield Seott (ah-eady covered with f^hny in 1S14), a Taylor and 
 a Worth, whose victories are read with delight by om- children. 
 
 Come we now to the events of onr late civil war, which produced so many 
 hitherto obscure men and placed I'oremost among the military chieftains of the 
 age. With what a thrill of pleasure have we read of tlie terse sayings of 
 Grant, who at Donelson says: "I demand an unconditional surrender, 1 propose 
 to move immediately on your works"; or when remonstrated with for not 
 accomplishing miracles in a day said: "I propose to fight it out on this line if 
 it takes all summer!" 
 
 Then see glorious Phil. Sheridan, who after his ride of twenty miles find- 
 ing his array beaten, by his own energy snatched victory from the very jaws of 
 defeat. Said he on seeing the scattered condition of his men: "Boys, we are 
 going back to our camps. We are going to lick the enemy out of their boots," 
 and if anybody says he didn't do it, he don't know what he is talking about." 
 
 In conclusion General Pinckney recited : 
 
 "GOD OF THE FREE." 
 
 God of the free ! njwn thy breath 
 Our Flag is still for right unfurled ! 
 As broad and brave as when its stars 
 First lit the darkness of the world. 
 
 For Duty still its folds shall stream. 
 
 For Honor all its glories burn. 
 
 When Truth, Religion, Valor guard 
 
 The patriots sword and martyrs urn. f 
 
 No Tyrant's impious step is ours, 
 No lust of power on natures rolled — 
 Our Flag for fricmis a starry sky, 
 For foes a storm in every fold. 
 
 0, thus we'll keep the nation's life. 
 Nor fear the bolt by despots hurled ; 
 The blood of all the world is here, 
 And they who strike us, strike the world ! 
 
 Then still rear high thine Oak, North ! 
 South wave answer with thy Palm ! 
 All in our Union's heritage 
 Together sing the Nation's psalm ! 
 
 The toast "The Press" was answered by Dr. Immaxuel Auerbach, the 
 able editor of the "New Yorker Demokrat", the only German Republican news- 
 paper in the City of New York. 
 
 In answer to the toast : "The Ladies", the soldier with the silver tongue — 
 the handsomest man in the room, Col. Willard Bullard, responded in a 
 most happy and eloquent strain". 
 
14 
 
 Commissioners Stixer, Marshal and Disbeckeh, Postmaster James, 
 Jacob M. Patterson, Jr., Marshal Fiske, Dr. Hermann Muhr, former 
 president of the Committee, Frederick Schwedler and others therenpon 
 addressed the Assembly, and at 3 o'clock in the morning this banqnet, which 
 will ever remain a pleasant recollection to all who attended, was closed with 
 three times three cheers for the President of the United States, the Republican 
 Party, the invited guests and the officers of the Gennan Republican Central 
 Committee. 
 
 The following, among many other letters, were received : 
 
 Utica, N. Y., Nov. 25th, 1875. 
 Hon. A. J. DiTTENHOEFER, President. 
 
 My dear Sir : 
 
 Your telegram yesterday puzzled me, because nothing had reached me 
 before to explain it. 
 
 This morning however I have received, returned from Washington, an 
 in\'itation to attend a proposed banquet by the Grennan Republican Central 
 Committee. 
 
 I beg you and the Committee to receive my thanks for this honor, and my 
 warm assurance of interest in the occasion. 
 
 Our German citizens not only in New York, but elsewhere, have shown 
 that they are not indifferent or unwise observers of the cuiTent of public 
 questions, which concern them as nearly as any portion of our people. In Ohio 
 and in other States, as well as in this State, the action of Gennan sentiment 
 and Gennan votes has been most timely and valuable in advancing the cause 
 of honest government, of sound financial principle, of free education and true 
 progress. No one knows or feels this more than I, and my best wishes attend 
 your proposed celebration, and all else of interest to Gennan Americans. 
 
 The time is so near when I must set out for the session, that 1 am greatly 
 pressed by matters requiring attention, and may not be able to be present on 
 the day not yet fixed when the banquet will occur, but in spirit and in truth I 
 shall be with you. 
 
 Cordially, your obedient sei^vant, 
 
 ROSCOE CONKLING. 
 
 Western Union Telegraph Company, 
 
 Vice-President's Office. 
 
 New York, Nov. 23d, 1875. 
 Hon. A. J. DiTTEXHOEFER, President. 
 
 My dear Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your cordial 
 invitation to partake of the hospitality of the German Republican Central 
 Connnittee, at a banquet to-moiTow evening to celebrate the victories achieved 
 by the Republican party in the recent State elections, and regret that recent 
 domestic affliction will prelude my acxieptance on the Committee's courtesJ^ 
 
 The very general approval of the principles of the Republican party, by 
 the 'people in the several states, which have recently recorded the current of 
 
15 
 
 public opinion throuo-li the ballot-box, is a matter of sincere congTatulation Tor 
 all -who cherisli those principles; not only in tho satisfaction which we enjoy at 
 desirable resnlts accomj^lished, but as well in the promise it i^ives of the certain 
 success of the party, if its ])rinciples are fairly presented for approval to the 
 people of tho Nation at the Presidential election next year. 
 
 The Gennan Ivepublican Central Committee has a i'ii>-ht to rejoice at the 
 success of the Republican party this year, for the reason that the Gennans have 
 contnbuted largely to this result. Wherever the (Tcrnian element al>()unds, the 
 more decided has been the success of the Republican party. Cincinnati, Cleve- 
 land, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Poughkeepsie, and the German 
 wards of New York and Brooklyn attest the truth of this assertion. 
 
 The devotion of the German American citizens to the improvement of tlie 
 financial interests of the country ])y steadfast endeavors toward the earliest 
 practicable resumption of specie payments and the protection of our noble fi'ee 
 school system from all sectarian influences, is alike creditable to them and 
 encouraging to the party, which has incorporated these principles into its 
 political creed. 
 
 Yours very respectfully, 
 
 Aloxzo B. Cornell. 
 
 Peekskill, Nov. 1875. 
 
 Hon. A. J. DiTTENHOEFER, 
 
 Pres. Gennan Repirblican Central Committee, 
 New York City. 
 Dear Sir ! 
 I am in receipt of your very polite invitation to be present at the Gennan 
 banquet to celebrate the victories so gallantly won in the late political contest. 
 1 greatly regret that engagements of an imperative nature will preclude 
 the possibility of my being one of your guests on that occasion, l)ut in being 
 thus compelled to decline, pennit me to express my high appreciation of the 
 services rendered by the Germans of New York to the Republican party 
 of that city. 
 
 Trasting and believing that such measures will be adopted as will not only 
 conduce to the best interests of our Gennan fellow-citizens, but will also 
 strengthen them in their convictions, that their true political course is to stand 
 firmly and forever side by side with the party of liberty and progress. 
 I am very sincerely yours, 
 
 Jas. W. Husted. 
 
f 
 
jjIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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