The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-01

0vht1pg i0r this purpose Aa an eeneps OF
ecst, saving of one per cent. m Interest eateis
Into the isbvicauon OF every article IL |
Cheapens prodoc,iOn- Tue question therefore |
arises whether, ia market where all reason
cent. the superior cheapness rf money does not |
invite the establishments OF iactoTiee OF every |
klno. These in their turn create capital. and |
help to keep down the rate OF interest. At all |
events, elk per cent seems not to have Indicted |
any visible injury upon Philadelphia. Upon this |
point you must oe the aIbiters.
From these brief illusions, we learn how wide
10 the range OF topics which engage the
attention OF the man OF business. His occupa-
tions lead him 10 the consideration OF the
deepest problems Of statesmanship and finance.
His eyes see aud his hands grasp the enos Of
the earth. The revolving seasons hrst proclaim
to him the dearth or abundance OF every land.
Oranges in foreign governments and their com.
M rcia laws are first kno Rn TO him. The social
babiis Of all peoples and their every want,
even 10 the mIDutesr, are conned and learned
by 1otc By this vigiant oDserVer. He presses
into his service every ait and science. Steam,
in all lis manifold applications, and electricity,
with It's more subtle and wOndrOus powers,
are his obedient slaves. The spirit of mercau-
tile adventure has explored our entire planet.
II prompted the voyages of Christopher
Columbus, Vasco de Cana, Drake, aud Magel.
Ian. Mercantile enterprise ls changing the
face OF the globe.
That men Of such executive ability must aud
sf Ould have commanding Influence is not to be
questioned. The legislation of our country Will
ore an0 more reveal tnaJ lDnuenCe. Inc re-
cent ore anlza'ion OF National Board OF Trade
eD' CtivCly concentrates 1t.
Familiar ACQUAINTANCE with the principles of
con merce ana finance, demanding, as 1t does,
much intellectual exercise, implies large
capacity for the enjoy n ent of the elegant arts.
These have ever iouBd in men of business
nun fcent patrons. When Athens shOne IN her
greatest spleDdor, and architecture, sculpture,
painting, and poetry made her most attractive
when the wIsest philosophers and most accom-
plIshed scholars resorted thither, and looked
upon her beauty with delight, it was then in
the elimination of her intellect, that her streets
were most thronged with merchants and her
wharves crowded with ships. Her fleets were
sailing in every sea, and her enterprise felt in
the most distant regions. The Acropolis,
crowned with majestic buildings, whose crumb.
ling RUNS exact our admiJ alton to-day was not
more an evidence of Athenan excellence IN art
than OF prosperous trade. The cultivated Greek
knew how TO blend the pursuit OF philosophy
and art with the avocatiOns OF the merchant.
Plato sold oil in Egypt and Aristotle kept
druggist shop on o street IN Athens.
Passing do sn the course of time to the close
of the mitde e ages, our attention Is arrested by
| the illus rious family of Medicl which supplied
| to aly from her own blood three generations
of dstiI guished merchants. Among these
were Cosn. o, surDamed the Great, aud Lorenzo
| the Magnificent. Their power was felt through
| out Italy and in foreign States. Mobiles sought
alliance with the family. The State leaned
upon them Tor counsel and support. The wealth
| OF many argosies flowed into their Golfers, aud
issued thence in streams of pIincely generosity
and daring enterprise.
And here in our own city we can boast of
| hoL orable names. From the ceiling oi this
| hall look down upon US the features of Stephen
| Girard. Sagacious, charitable, public spirited,
| and eDterprsing, his life comma ds our praise
| and deserves our imitation.
| As means of giving the business men OF
| Philadelphia their proper place and influence.
| this Commercial Exchange is of NO triHng inn
porlance. A spirit of fraternity has mark ed
| every step OF its progress, and 1t may be rea-
| sonably hoped Will continue TO the end. Per-
soaal antipathies and petty rivalries disappear
under the bepe6cent influence OF daily inter
| course. Genial sympathy and cordial CO ope.
ration supply their place. Upon the basis OF
| this healthy moral tone we build a sound judg-
ment OF public measures and commercial
necessities. Integrity and common sense lead
| their possessor on to wealth, aud in their train
| follow the purest manners aud the highest
| appreciation of the elegant in literature aud art.
| Thus the rounded man. symmetrical and
| complete, combination of executive ability
with finished mental culture, is found in the
| developed man of business. And here, in this
spacious hall, is college for the making of such
men. Let us be true to the principles which
| have heretofore governed us, and our success
shan be equal 10 the fullest measure of oul
hopes.