The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-28
OITY INTELLIGENCE.
For Adathoaai ON, iutcqigcrcc Dec Fyta. page.l


wac held last night at The Academy Of Music
The assemblags gathered was a splendid one, such
ns IL seen only upon like occasions within the
walls OF the Academy, The entire proscenIum
ana the two upper rows OF boxes were oornpacty
nlled, and many most respectable people were
seated in The uppermost ners. Prof Hassler's or
shestra gave exceedingly fine music on the occa-
eion, executing, MS the officers and guests of the
association entered upon the platform, In lne
style, suppe's "Poet and Peasant as overture,
and afterwards some other capital pieces.
The platform was as we'll filled as the rest Of
the house, with an assemblage of gentlemen who
have made Philadelphia, In mercantile point of
view, what she now In. The same class of people
gathered Rt the Academy last night are seen ns-
sembled upon no other occasion than these anni-
versaries of the Mercantile Beneficial Association.
Mr. q. Ludwig, President OF the association,
and the officers of the association, formed semi
circle Of which he constituted the arc. .
Mr. Bunwig announced that Senator Oattell, OF
New Jersey, would take the chair. .
Mr.. Oattell therefore came forward amid hearty
applause, and saids
Ladies and Cientlemeu. When, fortnight ago, the
committee of the Mercantile Beneficial Association
honored me with an invitation to speak for them
to- night was obliged 10 decline the honor, upon
the ground thatm pressing engagements prepara-
tory to leaving home for the winter would not
and the occasion demanded Subsequently con-
sented to preside at the meeting but win, as l
thought, the distinct understanding that was not
expected to make n speech. ..-
So, ladies and gentlemen, beg to assure you That
NJ u
speech for although of late It has become quite
common for chairmen taking advantage OF their
early possession Of the hoor, to indulge in extended
remarks, and thus occupy the time properly be-
longing to the regular speakers, am sure you Will
agree with me in the opinion that IL Is custom
Umore honored in the breach thnn the Observance"
do not propose, therefore, to trench upon the time
Of the distinguished gentlemen who are to address
YOU tonight Nevertheless, as l am upon my feet,
! cannot refrain from saying word or two in
honor of the ennobling profession to which am
proud to belong and in advocacy of the claims of
no hpnp tOn
celebrate to- night
1 am sure 1 shall do no injustice to other honor.
able and important professions, or be consi tered
az disparaging them in the least, when claim
that in this goody city the mercantile profession
is the most important and influential OF alt The
manufacturing interest of our city ia an import
ant element of our greatness and one OF the sources
of our prosperity. 1t may be said to he the bone
and sinew and muscle of our body poltic but 1t is
trade and commerce that constitute the great heart
whose mighty pulsatone send the life giving cur
rent thi ough all the arteries ana veins of our ma
eerial interests,
twill not be denied that to the enterprise aud
energy and capital of our merchants we are
chiefly indebted for our magnificent system of in
ternal improvements our lines of railways, before
which even the Alleghenies bow their heads TO
make highway for the iron horse, as he speeds
over hill and valley, mountain and stream, as il
in chase of the setting sun; teegraphic wires,
stretching from the Atlantic to the golden shores
of The Pacific, and from the snow clad hills of the
north to the tepd waters of the Gulf annthilating
space, far as the transmission Of ideas are con-
cerned; our canals and local railways, which
open up our Inexhaustible supplies of coal and
coastwiee line of steamships, and a hundred other
kindred enterprises that have built up and pros
pered your great city, and developed the illmit-
able RESOURCES of your great common wealth.
The true merchant must necessarily be man OF
enlarged ideas and comprehensiye views Inc Inc
to the careful consideration of all the means that
can be devised to develop the resources anu pro-
mote the material interests of his country, HIS
own individual prosperity depends, more than
that of any other class on the general prosperity
OF the whole people, His interest lies in stimula-
or the mine; in facilitating and cheapenng travel
and in multiplying means of transportation In
short, whatever tends to promote higher eivili-
nation and increase the wealth and power OF ma
tion promotes the welfare of the merchant
The merchants OF Philadelphia have not been
unmindful of their duty and interest in this dl-
reetien and yet must ee per%e1 at 70
is TO keep pace with the spirit OF the age there
must be yet greater efforts and lotuer achieNe,
nents in this direction. You must enlarge and
strengthen your new southern line OF steamships
so anspiciously commenced, and so ably managed
by the present board of directors. You must put
a half rnilnon or even a million of dollars more
IN the enterprise to make it what 1t shoulo pe-a
Won mean inglorously 10 surrender what is left OF
, your foreign commerce. establish and sustain your
own line of transatlantic steamers, Looklhg , at
the stupendous march of your sister city IN TINS
direction, You must speedily awake 10 your duty
and interest before it too late. -
But more than this while claim for tue mer-
chants of Philadelphie that they nave always en-
)oyed high reputation for enterprise and honor
able dealing, also claim that they nave ADDED yC
heir fair fame by the exhibition of sublime spirit
of benevolence and philanthropy, worthy OF ali
commentator. There are, perhaps, htty enarit
able institutions in our city, sueh as hospitals
seylume, homes tor friendless children, Tor tnt
aged and infrm, for the blind, the deaf and DUMP
the insane, and many others when are tne piio'
of our city, and stand brilliantly out ike so many
gems in our crown of gloiy. .,...,. 49, -.
Go search the records OF those nsJltuJiohs *
generously provided for the relief OF suffering hu
Tnanity, and you will find that they have oeen es
tablished, supported ana endowed by the pTlncely
hbeTality of Philadelphia merchants. II yoU
would see striking illustraton OF what In ana a.
wonder marble palace, the finest specimen OF ar
chitectuTe in our land, ga thing OF beauty WnleE
is ioy forever" and look upon the happy faces 0
Two hundred orpban bows, who are housed and feC
and clothed and educated by the munlncen
charity Of single Philadelphia merehant-tht
late Stephen Gir8rd. ,.
are iestly distinguished for their enterprise a
merchants, and their benevolence as citizens ou
even more than this, and what TO me rs the crown
ing elorV OF philadelphia merchants of the pre-
sent day, is the record of their steadfast arotsn
and unfiinching devotion TO the cause OF tneT I'M
perilled country through the long night OF ctYi
war from which we have so recently emerged,
From the hour when the flag Of the Union wen
down at Sumter until IL was raised again IN tri
umph over its shattered and blackeneo walls SHni
the shouts Of a grateful people, the merchants 0
Philadelphia, with an Unanlmlty perhaps unp6Tal
leled, stood by the government in its gigant
struggle 10 crush treason and save the nation
lite-never waveriug in the darkest hoUrs-Te
spending promptly 10 every call Tor men o
money, and exercising a sublime faith that soone
or later the honor ana supremacy oI our gloTioU
nag would be proudly maintained. They 0dopte
as their motto the words Of the poet;
tSand by the f1ag-all doubts and treason scorninf
Believe with courage firm and faith sublime
That IL will float until the eternal morning,
Pales in it's glories all the lights OF timeN
God be praised for the earnest loyalty and IN
hinehing patriotism Of the InercnantS 81 Fhllhqei
phia, and all honor 10 the men VINO, 0istingUisne
Tor their enterprise, their in ellgenoe and integr
~ haV ad Cd ~ he hHnpVC