New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-22
Peter Cooper,s Lessons to NIillionafres.

1
The following is Peter Cooper's speech a,
the Arcadian Club reception in New York
last week. 1t ought to be read by every
rich man in the world:
For the gracious manner and kindly
| words in which you have made me welcome
| to your hospitable home and more hospita.
! bic hearts, be SO good as to accept my cor
dial thanks; none the less sincere in that
| they come from a heart in which the pulsa-
tons OF eighty-three years have not en-
| feebled che appreciation of deeds of gen.
! crosby and kindness. When the sugges-
! tons Of the honor which you designed
| for me was communicated TO me, / con-
| TESS was reluctant to accede to your
wishes, because my acceptance seemed to
I imply consciousness on my part of desert,
which did not feel; and nv reluctance
was only overcome by the assurance that
! the recognition which you desired to make
of my Lifelong desire to do my duty to the
city OF my birth, and to my fellOw.men,
might be useful in helping others, and
especially the young, to do their duty in q
community in which SO much depends upon
the voluntary actions of ats individual men,
bers.
If, then, I have done OF accomplished any.
thing which really merits your good opin-
ion, let me say at once, and for all, that
have found and received full compensation
in the satisfaction which I have derived
from the consciousness of duty performed;
and that the experience of long life
enables me to say that money and efforts
expended for the general good are better
paying investment than any possible ex-
penditure for personal qualification. In
looking back, however, over my life, am
compelled to make a remark, in which most
aged persons will sympathize, and that is,
how much ! have seen come to pass, and
how little have been able to do in long
career, the cardinal rule of which has been
to render some equivalent to society, in
some useful form Of labor for each day of
my existence When l was born New York
contained 1884 inhabitants. The upper
limits OF tho city were at Chambers street.
Not single free school, either BY day or
night, existed. General Washington had
just entered upon his first term as President
OF the United States, the whole annual
expenditures Of which did not exceed
1905 900, being about sixty cents per head
OF the population.
Not single steam engine had vet been
built or erected on the American continent.
and the people were clad in hOmespun, and
were characterized by the simple virtues
and habits which are usually associated
with that primitive garb. ] need not tell
you what the country now is, and what the
habits and the garments of it's people now
are, or that the expenditure, per capita, Of
the general government has Increased tif
teen fold. But have witnessed and taken
deep interest in every step of the mar
Vicious. development and progress which
have characterized this century beyond all
the centuries which have gone before.
Measured by the achievements of the years
l have seen, am one of the oldest men
who have ever lived; but / do not feel old
and propose to give the receipt BY which
i a W. M l.
given a friendly welcome to new ideas, and
! have endeavored not to feel too old to
learn, and thus, though l stand here
with the SHOWS OF 80 many winters
upon my head, my faith IN human
nature. my belief in the progress of man
to better social condition, and especially
my trust in the ability of men to establish |
and MAINTAIN selt-government are as fresh |
and as young as when l began to travel the |
path of life. While l have ALWAYS recoo.
nlzed that the object of business is to make |
money IN an honorable manner, l have en-. |
deavOred TO remember that the object of |
life Is to do good. Hence have been ready |
to engage in all new enterprises, and with
out mourning debt to risk the means which |
had acquired in their promotion, provided |
lhey seemed to me calculated to advance
Inc general good. This will account for nv
early attempt to perfect the steam engine
TOR my early attempt to construct the first
american locomotive, for my connection
with the telegraph IN course of efforts tn
unite our country with the European world.
and tor my recent efforts to solve the nrA'
EN- OF economical steam navigation on the
canals; to all OF which yeu have SO kindly
'eferred. 1t happens to but few men To
change the current of human progress as il
lid to Watt, to Fulton, to Stephenson.
md to Morse; but most men NAV be- |
nearly to welcome iaborers to new
iel0 OF usefulness, and to clear
ne road for their progress This I have
rled to co as well in the perfectinp
mo execution Of their ideas, as in making
uch provision as my means have permitted
OF tne proper education of the young me-
names and citizens of my native CITY. in
rder TO Mt them for the reception of new
1eas, social, mechanical, and scientific:
oplng thus to economic and expand the
Intellectual as well as the physical forces.
no provide larger fund for distribution
nong the various classes which necessar
y make up the total of society. feel
nat nature has provided bOuntifully for
ne wants OF all men, and that we need
My knowledge, scientific, political, and re.
glOus, and self-cOntrol, in order to eradi.
ate the evils under which society has snf.
ered in all ages. Let me say, then, in con-
!uslon, that my experience of life has nor
immed my hopes for humanity; that INV
I'm is not setting in clouds and darkness
ut is going down cheerfclly in q clear
rmament lighted up by the glory Of God
no should always be venerated and loved
the Inhnlte source and fountain Of ali
ghf, life, power, wisdom and goodness