We are going to have another thing soon, but the hard times have put it back; and that is the Joseph Warren Monument. [Applause.] We are going to report progress here. It took twenty-five or thirty years to build Bunker Hill Monument. We began it some time ago, but the panic came along, and then the hard times followed. But we have got a little money; we have a good lot secured; we have received cannon enough from the government to make a statue; and by and by, when we get a President elected, and business becomes good again, we are going to start out; and we are coming to every man in this hall and make him subscribe for the Warren Monument. [Loud applause.] I am glad it meets with so hearty a response. I know that all we need to raise money to build this monument is to call upon the people ; but it takes a great deal of brass now to ask a man to give something outside of the family. But the time is coming when we can do it, and when we adjourn to-night I hope we shall adjourn to meet at the dedication of the Joseph Warren Monument. [Longcontinued applause.] Twenty-third Sentiment. "THE ROXBURY CARPET-BAGGER." They come from every compass point, And occupy each vacant space; And as the native son goes out, The "carpet-bagger" takes his place. INTRODUCTION BY THE CHAIRMAN. I have the pleasure of introducing to you, for the purpose of responding to this toast, a gentleman who has represented you with honor and credit in the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Commonwealth Hon. ALBERT PALMER. [Applause.] RESPONSE OF HON. ALBERT PALMER. MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN : I say sincerely that, amid the feast of sacred and ancient memories of which we have come to partake to-night, I feel like an intruder, and that I should have no right to be introduced to this audience except under such an equivocal title as the toast-master has announced "The Roxbury Carpet-bagger." I could not persuade myself to consent to respond to it, gentlemen, if I thought there was a single one of the revered fathers of this ancient town who has not spoken; and, if there is one here who has not spoken, and who will not speak because I take up the time, and I find it out, I will never forgive myself, and you will never forgive me, for this intrusion. I appeal to the ministers here if I overstate the matter when I say, in the language of the old Scripture, that we are summoned here to-night to go round about our Zion, and mark her bulwarks and count the towers thereof, that we may tell it to the generation following. Mr. President, I am glad of the opportunity to say to-night that I recognize in the sentiment which has been read the welcome of Roxbury to every incomer to this ancient city who comes here with the earnest desire to co-operate with the fathers in building up into a greater and higher prosperity this honored city of the Commonwealth. [Applause.] I thought at first there would be no constituency here to whom I could speak, as a carpet-bagger," in Roxbury; and yet I am reminded that this very city is a monument to the activity of those ancient "carpet-baggers who landed here some two centuries ago. I heard, sir, from your lips of one of the first apostolic "carpet-baggers" who pitched his tent on this hill, and made every inch of that soil sacred for all time to come. [Applause.] 66 I am reminded, Mr. President, of another carpet-bagger — of that hero and statesman, Governor Dudley - who lived here and helped to make it famous for all time to come, even to the end of the world. And I am also reminded, by the sentiment which has been read, that Roxbury is a carpet-bag city, and that Massachusetts is a carpet-bag State. She welcomes them all to her borders; and then, in the activity of her intellect, and in all the distinguish ing energies that press forth on every side, she sends them into every city to plant anew and re-establish, all over these United States, all those ideas which flourish in the city of Roxbury and the State of Massachusetts. [Applause.] Gentlemen, I know there is some venerable father of this city who will yet speak to us to-night, and, in concluding, will offer you this sentiment: We The Old and the New Founders, Fathers, Sons and Carpet-baggers. will all clasp hands to-night in one common supplication to the God of our Fathers, that He will bless forever this dear old city of Roxbury! [Applause.] GENTLEMEN: I take sincere pleasure in presenting to you a representative of an old and honored family of Roxbury, a worthy inheritor of the name he bears, J. HERMAN CURTIS. [Applause.] RESPONSE OF J. HERMAN CURTIS, ESQ. GENTLEMEN : I am most happy to be present at the festive board on this occasion, and to meet my old comrades of the "Norfolk Guards." I noticed among them many with whom I stood shoulder to shoulder on Bunker Hill fifty years ago, at the laying of the corner-stone; and quite a number that were in that famous Salem march that my friend Tucker spoke of, when we left Salem at four o'clock in the afternoon, to march to Roxbury, with knapsacks and blankets. I do not doubt that many of the boys in blue suffered much on the forced march to reach Gettysburg in order to save Washington; but I doubt if they suffered more than our men did, as we were under the most strict disciplinarians, who knew no such word as "tired." We have heard much said about old Roxbury by my friend Clarke. No man spent more money than I to defeat annexation of West Roxbury. When the war closed, West Roxbury did not owe a dollar; and we were the only town in the State in that condition. We enlisted men, raised money, and carried on many improvements; and we paid for everything as we went. But when that fatal day came, we were defeated; we became a part of Boston, and accepted it with a good grace; and with such an administration as we have had for the past three years, I, for one, feel proud of being a citizen of Boston. [Applause] I see a great many here whom I know, and a great many whom I do not know; but I am particularly pleased to see so many of the "Norfolk Guards" and take them by the hand. Before we left our head-quarters a roll was presented to every man to sign his name and age, and I was surprised to see how many of that number were threescore years and ten. I will detain you no longer, gentlemen, as there are a great many here who will interest you much more than I can. [Applause.] Twenty-fifth Sentiment. "THE DAY WE CELEBRATE." The hourly sands are running out from this, our festive meeting, We love its honorable names, and all its friendly faces; [Loud applause.] The Last Sentiment. GEN. SWIFT said: I have now one special toast: "The Better Half of Roxbury - The Women." I propose that it be responded to by three cheers. The company enthusiastically responded to the call with three rousing cheers; and then there were cries of "SWIFT!" "SWIFT!" from all parts of the hall. Gen. SWIFT responded as follows: GENTLEMEN : I thank you for the warmth of the reception you give me, but I have actually exhausted myself in these poetic attempts, and I dare not trust myself to common prose. If I live I hope to meet this people once more in another celebration; but I have retired for the present to private life. [Applause and appreciative laughter.] CLOSING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN. GENTLEMEN : - In behalf of Old Roxbury, and of all those who love and honor her name and her history, I thank you for your attendance to-night. Let not her name die out with the century just closed, but let it go into the century to come. This sentiment was loudly applauded, and three cheers were given for Gov. Gaston. The company joined in singing "Auld Lang Syne;" and thus ended a celebration never to be forgotten by every participant, and which occupies no insignificant place in the long list of local ceremonies commemorative of events which made the Centennial Year of the American Republic a possibility. |