Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-03-06
Golden v OrdS

rnIaE CpoPEa'S LESSON To MIJoNNAIRis
The following is Peter Cooper'S speech at
the reception, recently given him 10y the
Ar,alian club. New York. 1t ought to De
real hv every rich man in the world
For the gracious manner and kindly words
IN which you have made me welcome to your
ho~lijabic home and more ho>pitahle hearts
e-b good a. To accept my cordial thanks
none the les sincere in that they come from
q } cart in which the pulSationS of eighty
three years have not cnicehlcd the appreca-
ton Of deeds of generosity and kindness.
When the suggestion of the honor which
You designed iormc was communicated to me
confess was reluctant 10 accele To your,
wishes, because my acceptance seemed to I'M
ply consciousness on my part OF desert,
which DID not feel and my reluctance was
only overcome by the assurance that the rec
o.nition which You desired 10 make of my
lifelong desire to do my duty TO the city Of
my birth and TO my tell0w-men might he use
FIJI in helping Others. and especially the
young. to do their duty in community in
which 50 mach depends upon the voluntary
actions Of its individual members. If, then,
| have done or accomplished anything which
really merits your good opinion, let me say
at once. and for all, that have found and
received full compensation in the satisfaction
which have derived from the consciousness
ofduty performed and that the experience of
a long life enables me to say that money
and efforts expended for the general good are
n better paving investment than any possible
expenditure for personal qualification. In
looking back. however. over my life, | am
compelled to make n remark. in which most
aged persons will ~ympathize. and that i,
how much have seen come to pass, and
how little have been able TO do ina long
career, the cardinal rule Of which has been
10 render some equivalent to society, in some
useful form Of labor, for each day of my eX-
istence. When was born New York con-
tanned 1881 inhabitants. The upper
limit, of the 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 ex-
pendtures of which did not exceed 2,00o.-
600, being about sixty cents per head of the
population. Not a single steam-engine had
yet been built or erected on the American
continent. and the people were clad in home
spun. and were characterized by the simple
virtue and habits which are usually aSsociat-
cd with that primitive garb. | need not
tel you what the country now Is, and what
the habit, and the garments Of it, people
now are, or that the expenditure, per- capita,
Of the General Government has increased
iiiteen-fold. Bat have witnessed and taken
deep interest in every step Of the marvel
lous development and progress which have
characterized this century beyond all the
centuries which have gone before. Measured
hv the achic,eme of the years 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 have preserved
my youth. | have always given friendly
welcome to new ideas. and have eEdeayored
not to feel too old to learn, and thus, though
stand here with the snow Of 50 many win
tiers upon my head, my faith in human nature,
my belief in the progress Of man 10 a better
social condition, and especially my trust in
the ability OF men to establish and maintain
Self-s0yernmcnt. are a. fresh and IL young
as when began to travel the path of life.
Nhile'l have always recognized that the OBJ
lect OF business is to make money in an hon
or.ble manner, have endeavUred To remem-
her that the object of life i to do good.
Hence have been ready 10 engage in all
new enterprises, and without mourning debt
to risk the means which | had acquired in
their promotion, provided they seemed to me
calculated to advance the general good.
This viii account for my early attempt to
construct the first American locomotive, for
1uy connection with the telegraph in a course
d Il.
ropeah world, and for my recent efforts to
solve the problem of economical steam nayi-
CATION on the canals TO all of which Won
have 50 kindly referred. 1t happens to but
few men to change the current Of human
pr, gress a. it did to Watt, to Fulton. to
Stephenson. and to Morse but most men
lnay be able to welcome laborerS to a new
hcid of usefulness. and To clear the road for
their progress This have tried to do as
well in the perfection and execution Of their
ideas, As in making such provision a. my
means have permitted for the proper educi-
ton of the young mechanics AMI citizens of
my native city, in order TO fit them for the
reception of new ideas, social, mechanical.
and scientific hoping thus To economic and
expand the intellectual aS well * the phvSi- !
cal forces, and provide larger fund for dis
among the various classes which |
makeup the total ofsocety. | feel |
that nature has provided bountifllly for the
wants of all men. and that we need only |
scientific. political, and religious,
and seli-control in order to eradicate the
evils under which society has suffered in all
ages. Let me say then, in conclusion. that
my experience Of life has not dimmed my
hopes for humanity; that my sun is not
setting in clouds and darkness. but is going
down cheeriully in a clear armament lighted
up by that glory of God, who should always
be yenerated and loved as the infinite source
md fountain OF all light, lie, power. wis
lom and goodness.