We stand to-night on the pinnacle of the third Century of American development.  Look back to the very beginning.  There stands the grizzled figure of John Smith, the Pioneer—­President of Virginia, and Admiral of New England.  Still united, we look about us and behold a nation blessed with peace and plenty, crowned with honor, and with boundless opportunity of future aggrandizement.  The seed planted by John Smith still grows.  The voice of John Smith still lives.  That voice has been swelled into the mighty chorus of 60,000,000 Americans singing the song of United States.  We look forward to a future whose possibilities stagger all conjecture, to a common ruler of John Smith’s ancient dominions; to a common destiny, such as he mapped out for us.  And with devout and heartfelt gratitude to him, a reunited land proclaims, “Whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” [Great applause.]

* * * * *

THE LEGAL PROFESSION

[Speech of John S. Wise at the annual dinner of the New York State Bar Association, Albany, N. Y., January 20, 1891.  Matthew Hale, the President, introduced Mr. Wise as follows; “The next sentiment in order was, by mistake, omitted from the printed list of sentiments which is before you.  The next sentiment is ‘The Legal Profession,’ and I call upon a gentleman to respond to that toast who, I venture to say, has practised law in more States of this Union than any other gentleman present.  I allude to the orator of the day, the Hon. John S. Wise [applause], formerly of Virginia, but now a member of the Bar Association of the State of New York.”]

MR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BAR:—­It may not be true that I have practised law in more States of this Union than any one present, but it is certainly true that I never did as much speaking in the same length of time, without charging a fee for it, as I have done within the last twenty-four hours. [Laughter.] At two o’clock this morning I was in attendance, in the city of New York, upon a ghost dance of the Confederate veterans; at two o’clock this evening I resolved myself into a deep, careful, and circumspect lawyer, and now I am with the boys, and propose to have a good time. [Laughter.] Now, you know, this scene strikes me as ridiculous—­our getting here together and glorifying ourselves and nobody to pay for it.  My opinion is, that the part of wisdom is to bottle this oratory and keep it on tap at $5 a minute. [Laughter.] The Legal Profession—­why, of course, we are the best fellows in the world.  Who is here to deny it?  It reminds me of an anecdote told by an old politician in Virginia, who said that one day, with his man, he was riding to Chesterfield court, and they got discussing the merits of a neighbor, Mr. Beasley, and he says, “Isaac, what do you think of Mr. Beasley?” “Well,” he says, “Marse Frank, I reckon he is a pretty good man.”  “Well, there is one thing