Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-04-24

sver, and bis chief province s nov that charity FOL
which this Society Is instituted and in this cause
1God gives him stout arm aud wide field.
Nj. starky was frequently Interrupted by ap-
planse and bis remarks were Allied with happy im-
agery
II. The Queen-GOd bless her (lutEoduced by I
ieW appropriate remarks by hr, Walton)
4usie-GOd save the Queen-Solo by Mrs Mil-
lei, with chorus by select singers aud the whole
company This was hnely suug and performed.
III, The Prssident Of the United States.
Ausic-Ths star spangle9 Banner, Solo BY
Miss Mary ssgur, chorus by Messrs. HolbroOk
s,anlsy, Rouse, as above. joiRed by the company
With tlns effect.
w. England aud America
Nusie-'A fine old English Gentleman" !" fol
lowed by yankee Doodle"
Hon. VIM. Slade, jr., responded. HO bore to
the St. George Society the greeting Of st. John
and st, Johnathan, whose descendants live here
by Lake Erie. He had always had an abiding
faith In ST. George, and earnestly believed that be
fought and conquered the Dragon. England and
America--father and son-mother and dauk kh1I-.
the honor Of one Is the glory Of the other. Let
them ever be united in sentiment and power.
Tho Mayor. absent, could not respond in person,
but the President read letter from him,
" Our Sister Societies,
song-''Ys banks and braes are Bon doom" /"
by select singers.
Mr. J. G. Grannis responded to the toast by
saying that the prosperity Of country de-
pends upon the virtue Of its people, and their
devotion to its laws, its customs, and its ma
H.
need be anticipated from foes without or enc
mics within. Where these are not, no amount
Of wealth, or physical power or military dis
play, can insure it against ultimate decay and
desolation. The earth may bring forth Of its
abundance, the commerce of the seas may
pour into its lap the wealth of every cline,
you may bind it together with bands of iron,
you may hedge in every accessible point with
firm hresstwork of navies and armies, yet
II the people do not love Virtue and search
after her as for hid treasures es-if they care
not for the prosperity of the country, and re-
spect not its traditions and hea rken not unto
its laws, then are the Constitution and the
laws as worthless as the parchment on which
they are written, and the day is not far dis
tant when its glory win depart and its scep-
tire be given to another.
The first duty q citizen owes 20 his country
is devotion to its welfare and regard for its
laws. This America of ours is a glorious
country, but it does not quite cover the whole
globe. 1t doubtless surpasses any other coun-
try in the variety Of its climate and produc.
tons, the fertility Of its SOIL and the intelli-
gence Of its inhabitants. It has made, and
is still making, the grand experiment of q
government entirely free, and we have great
faith in the final success of the experiment.
But there are other patches upon the earth's
surface where the sun shines, and there are
other nations where the idea that man was
born free has found support and encourage
ment.
We are all citizens of this great Republic
some by birth, others by adoption, but none
the less citizens for that and we have an
equal interest in its welfare. I am not sir,
one of those who look with fear upon such as
sociations as this. OF those who believe that
because Englishmen gather together under
the banner Of St. George they thereby engen-
der and keep up distinct nationalities and
local prejudices. If Englishmen did not re-
gard with affection and reverence the land of
their birth and ancestry, by what rule could
you rely upon their devotion to any country
Because you gather together in honor of the
memories and traditions Of the land of your
fathers, it cannot by any means follow that
you disregard the institutions under which
you now live. l hold that an Englishmsn
must of necessity love Old England. Her
history commands respect. A little island,
covering but a small portion of the earth 8
surface, she has caused all nations to pay
tribute to her. Queen among the monarchicsl
governments of the old world, she is herself
the best exemplar among them ALL of the
benefits of the representative system. In her
form of government falling far short Of a re-
public, she has shown no inconsiderable re-
gard for the rights Of man. Cherish, then,
the institutions of this country, but never for
get that you are the sons and daughters of
the mistress of the seas, and that in her pros
perity you have special interest.
While as we believe the tendencies of these
| Associations is not to foster local prejudices,
the design is certainly far otherwise. An
Association formed for the purpose Of dispens-
ing charities among those of your own coun-
trymen who are in want, and for social inter
course, cannot fail to do good Your isolated
man makes the bad subject. 1t is the man
with lean and hungry look who makes war
upon the general welfare. Your hearty,
earnest man, who revels in the delights Of
social intercourse your "fst sleek-headed
men, who sleep o nights, almost invariably
make good citizens. Society after all is the
great humanizer.
"Man, in society, is like q flower
Blown in its native bud. 'Tis there alone
His faculties expanded in full bloom
Shine out, there only reach their proper Use.'
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