Chamber of Commerce by electing for Mayor next
week, one of your younger members, the son of one of your older and
most distinguished members, my honored friend, Mr. Low. [Applause.]

It is certainly especially pleasant to be here this evening, Mr.
President and gentlemen, when we meet together, men of commerce, men of
finance, lawyers, journalists, physicians, clergymen, of whatever
occupation, all of us, I am sure, patriotic citizens, to congratulate
each other upon what occurred at Yorktown a hundred years ago, on the
19th of October, 1781, and to express our hearty honor and esteem for
these distinguished descendants or representatives of the gallant men
who then stood with our fathers as their associates and helpers.
[Applause.]

It has always seemed to me one of the most significant and memorable
things connected with our Revolutionary struggle, that it attracted the
attention, elicited the sympathy, inspired the enthusiasm, and drew out
the self-sacrificing co-operation of so many noble spirits, loving
freedom, in different parts of Western and Central Europe. [Applause.]
You remember that Lord Camden testified from his own observation in
1775, about the time of the battle of Concord Bridge, that the
merchants, tradesmen, and common people of England were on the side of
the Colonists, and that only the landed interest really sustained the
Government. So the more distant Poland sent to us Count Pulaski of noble
family, who had been a brilliant leader for liberty at home, who fought
gallantly in our battles, and who poured out his life in our behalf in
the assault upon Savannah. [Cheers.] And it sent another, whose name has
been one to conjure with for freedom from that day to this; who planned
the works on Bemis Heights, against which Burgoyne in vain hurled his
assault; who superintended the works at West Point; who, returning to
his own country, fought for Poland as long as there was a Poland to
fight for; whom the very Empire against which he had so long and so
fiercely contended on behalf of his country, honored and eulogized after
his death--Thaddeus Kosciusko. [Cheers.]

Germany sent us Von Steuben; one, but a host, whose services in our war
were of immense and continual aid to our troops; who fought gallantly at
Yorktown; and who, chose afterwards, to finish his life in the country
for which he had fearlessly drawn his sword. [Applause.] France sent us
Lafayette [loud cheers], young, brilliant, with every