The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-03-15
MAYOR HEWITT ON STRIKES,
ETC.

Mayor Hewitt. since his declination to
review the Hibernian parade on st. Pat
rick's Day has received flood of letters
warmly commencing his decision, and
not one questioning it, 1t is refresh
ing spectacle to the rest of the country
to see that New York has at last Mayor
who possesses sufficient common sense
to refuse to crafty every purely foreign
org IMITATION which may ask a favor
from him as the price of its vote.
In like Independent manner. he spoke
at recent reunion of the Alumni of
Williams College. which was held in
New York. Mayor Hewitt, after little
pleasantly by way of introduction
"But l want to tell you, gentlemen, "
said the Mayor impressively and en-
phatically, THAT you hive some very
difficult problems to grapple with. and
these problems cannot be settled by dec.
lamation or empiricism. How we are
to settle them is great and burning
question. Is it to be by the sword or by
reason and reflection? Surely the world
has knowledge enough to take up these
problems and solve them, and say just
what privileges they should enjoy. The
underlying principle of all flaw is that
every man has right to control his own
Individual actions and manage whatever
property he has accumulated in any
way he pleases.
This great, vital right is in danger,
and in danger from two olasses-the ig-
norant rich and the ignorant poor, 1t is
the mission of you gentlemen and of all
graduates of colleges to train the intel
lects of people so that they can lay down
sound premises and draw just conclu-
sions from them and so reason out the
adjustments that must exist in order
that every class may have its rights and
no class be deprived of its rights.
"History tells Us of the barbarons des.
potism that once existed in Europe and
of the cruel despots of Africa who used
to cut off the heads of their subjects at
the rate of 100 day.
"Think of the problem with which
you are confronted today. For ages the
world has been trying to get rid of ty-
rants, and has been trying to get politi-
cal freedom. What was the rule Of the
tyrants of old compared with the des
potic claims made in this country today
that it shall be in the power and name
of one man-call him Powderly or call
him Arthur-to paralyze the industry of
the United States? Was there ever in the
history of man despot who laid claim
to any such power as that? At any
time in the history Of the race has it
ever appeared that conclave of ten or
dozen delegates should be sitting in a
room. as they are tonight, to determine
whether the bread and fuel shall be
withheld from those that are willing to
work for the support of themselves and
their families? Who is to stand up in
this crisis and speak the truth? If the
men who have been raised in colleges in
the mathematics, and in the humanties
are towards, and because they want
votes are afraid TO get up and speak the
truth, then God save the Republic, for
man can't do it.
But have faith in the people of the
| United States who for one hundred
years have maintained good government
in this country. We spent SIX billions TO
save the fame and fabric of the Union,
and know that they would spend twice
the sum to save its substance and es-
sence."
The Mayor was listened to with rapt
attention, and when he concluded the
hall rang for five minutes with cheers
and applause. Then everybody crowded
about him 20 shake his hand and con-
graduate him.