St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-05
OUR BUSINESS MEN.
One of Their Number Pays Tribute
to Public BenefactOr.

OuO OA
to a Public BenefactOr.
P. H. Kelly responded to the next
regular toast, "Our Business Men," as
follows:
know no particular reason why
should have been selected to respond to
this sentiment in preference to others
of my associates far better able to do
so and in a more fitting manner, eX-
cept the kindly feeling which exists
between us. As token of that good
will | accept the duty imposed and re-
ciprOcate ii. 1t is an honor of Wh.cl
any man might well be proud to be del
egated, to speak for the live, energetic
business men of this great and thriving
city.
But proud as we are of our great pro-
greSS, aud commend as we well may
the business man who are with us to-
night, we can never forget such princes
by nature as well as in business as Nc
Ouillan, Raguet and GotZian, who were
among those who laid the foundation OF
our present
PROSPERITY BROAD AND DEEP.
To those men, of whom we have been
bereft, great credit is due for establish
ing the commercial supremacy of this
city, and placing it beyond question or
hope of successful competition. In this
work the railroads have been
intimately associated with the busi-
ness men from the commencement, and
none more so than the Northern Pacific.
The spirit of progress which has always
marked that great enterprise, has been
one of the bright examples and lncen-
tives which has enabled our business
men to accomplish so much. 1t has
been our work and effort, with st. Paul
as the distributing center
OF THIS NORTHWESTERN EMPIRE,
to supply the raiment for the people
and wants of the inner man, and II we
have at any time fallen short in this, 1t
has been because we did not have the
WhereWithal to keep pace with Mr..
Willard in the wonderful develOpement
he has produced.
With the completion by Mr.. Willard
of the work SO auspiciously begun by
Jaw Cooke the destiny of st. Paul as
great emporium was settled, and 1T is to
him and the great enterprise that he
carried into completion we are largely
indebted for being able to gather such
a galaxy of business men as
ARE HERE ASSEMBLED.
The business men of st. Paul-let me
speak of their composition. twenty
| five years ago there was practically no
| large number of business men in St.
Paul, but to-day you have acosmopolitan
tas well as metropolitan, body
the product OF the old as well as
the new world. Your native country,
sir, has contributed her just proportion.
Yours has contributed the best blood of
New England, and the middle and
Southern states send their representa-
tiyeS to swell the royal number. The
result is the broad and liberal cOSmOpOl-
itan spirit which has achieved such
commercial victory.
Thanks to Mr.. Willard, not only a
large portion of our own state, but Da-
kota, Montana, Idaho, Washington ter
ritOry and Oregon were added
TO OUR COMMERCIAL LIMITS.
1t was placing such field within our
reach which made the toast to which
respond possible as truthful senti-
ment.
In saying this do not ignore or for
get the advantages we have secured
through the energy and foresight OF our
honored fellow citizen, j. j. Hill, and to
him as well, the business men of st.
Paul accord the due measure OF praise.
To look back a quarter of a century,
who could have imagined a progress
Warranting such an occasion as this? If
our absent friend, Horace Thompson,
could look upon us tonight and see the
great Northern Pacilc railroad which
was
THEN ONLY A DREAM,
| linking as it were the two great oceans
with st. Paul as the pivotal center east
and west, what pleasurable emotions it
would awaken.
And we who have been so fortunate
ly grasp the immenSity of what
we have secured. But great as has
| been our progress, wonderful as
| has been the rapidity of our strides, we
can feel tonight that with this immense
system in charge of that superior rail-
road captain, Thomas +. Oakes, we are
| only on the threshold of what is to
| come.
The business men of st. Paul, CRATE
| full to the sagacious and public spirited
men who have placed an empire tribu-
tary us, doubly thank them for
placing at its head the cour-
teous gentleman. the able mana
ger, the accomplished business man
who stands the peer of the greatest and
the best. l think 1 echo the hearty
sentiments of my associates when say
"Glory and long life to
JAY COOKE, WILLARD AND oAKES."
Frederick Driscoll followed with a
neat little speech in response to the
| toast, "The Press" He explained at
some length the duty of the people to
the railroads, and paid high compli-
ment to the honored guests of the even
! ing.
MIR. Willard was called upon again
and referred to the many kind express
sions that had been spoken about him.
| After few remarks from Mr.. Oakes.
Thomas Lowry, of Minneapolis, was
called for and regaled the guests with
some of his choicest anecdotes. He
kept the tables in roar. The banquet
| broke up at late hour with three
cheers foi Willard and uakes.