The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-12-18
AMERICAS GREAT DANGER
LIES IN BALLOT BOX CORRUPTION.
Ex-President cleveland Talks Hard Sense
to the Boston Merchants-Grady on
the Race Problem Carnegie
Deals in Statistics.


Bosrox, Dec, 12.-Over four hundred of
the solid business men Of Boston and New
England crowded the spacious apartments
of the hotel Vendome this evening on the
occasion OF the annual banquet of the Bos-
ton merchants association. So great was
the desire to see and hear the honored
guest of the association that the tickets
were all disposed of at premium days
ago, and scores of applicants were disap-
pointed.
At the round table in the center sat the
Hon. Jonathan A. Lane, president of the
association. At his right were ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland and Messrs. II. w. Grady,
". L. Putnam. P. A. Collins, John Lowell,
William T. Russell and Leopold Morse,
while at his left were seated Gov. Oliver
Ames, Andrew Carnegie, Gen. Clinton i.
Fiske OF New Jersey and Collector Salton-
stall-all guests of the association. The
gentlemen who are the guests of Henry
w. Grady in New England were also the
guests of the association at the banquet.
1t was S:l5 o'clock before President Lane
called the attention OF the gathering. After
reading letter of regret from James Rus
sell Lowell, he proceeded in brief speech
to introduce Gov. Ames, who welcomed
the guests of the occasion. When be men
toned the name of the distinguished guest
from New York the assembly greeted the
mention with loud applause Gov. Ames
then turned to Mr.. Cleveland and said:
If wicked democrats speak as well OF me
when l retire from Office as republicans
now do OF you, 1 shall be abundantly sat
isfed"
This sentiment was also loudly cheered.
President Lane then introduced ex-PTesi-
dent Cleveland as one who, strong in his
personality, would speak strong words to-
night, which would be heard all over the
land and across the sea on behalf OF pure
politics and those reforms which are now
sweeping all parties before them.
Mr. Cleveland was greeted with long
continued applause, shouts and cheers,
the entire assembly rising and waving
handkerchiefs and cheering enthusiast
cally. Mr.. Cleveland spoke in a strong,
well-modulated voice, and was easily
heard by all. His address was as follows:
"AIR CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN-When
I see about me this gathering of business
men and merchants, L find it impossible to
rid myself OF the impressive thought that
here is represented that factor in civilized
life which measures the progress o. peo-
pie, which constitutes the chief care of
every enlightened government and which
gives to a country the privilege of recog-
nized membership in the community OF
nations
''Our business men cannot, If they
would, escape the responsibility which
this condition casts upon them-a response
bility most exacting and invested with the
xrh oh al. 70
lust apprehension OF mans relation to his
fellow-nan and the obligation due from
citizen to his government They can find
no pretext for indifference in the self
complacent claim that under American in
situations, as in other times and in foreign
lands, business men and merchants have
only gained a recognition OF their import
ance and value, as it has been forced from
government in which they had no repre-
sentation and from rulers who looked
upon their vocation with contempt. They
cannot absolve themselves from loyal duty
to a government which has at all times in
vited them to high place in public coun-
sells, and which has always ungrudgingly
conceded their indispensable value in the
growth and progress Of our republic.
'Thsse considerations plainly point out
your responsibility and duty as members
of the guild Of business and as belonging
to the fellowship of trade.
"But we cannot avoid other reflections
leading in the same direction and related
to you alone-the business men of Boston.
The scene OF your activity is the CONNER
cial center of a great and ancient common
wealth. rich in patriotic traditions. 1t was
upon the waters OF your harbor that the
first active and physical defiance and op-
position was made to odious and unfair
imperia, legislation affecting colonial trade;
and the first battle by Americans for lib
erty of the person and freedom from I'M
Just and oppressive restraint upon BUSH
ness, was fought within sight of your ware
houses.
you have besides inherited trust
which shades with sober sentiment your
obligation TO your country and your fell
low-citizens With the birth of American
trade there arose on this spot merchants
of strong sense and enlightened enterprise
chiefs among their fellows, independent
and self-reliant, willing to chance their
success upon their own effort and fore
sight, Inflexibly honest and intensely ieal-
Gus Of their commercial honor. Upon
your wharves and in your counting rooms
they wrought out their well-earned for
tunes. Their ships we're found in every
ocean-path. and they made their country
world. Abroad they gained willing conf
dence and credit by their commercial in
tegrity and probity, and at home they were
the pride OF their countrymen.
"These were the old Boston merchants
"You, their business heirs and success
sors, will pardon me If i remind you to-
night that the commanding influence OF
these men did not rest upon immense for
tunes made in a day, but resulted from
their well-known honor and scrupulous
good faith. which led them to concede to
all. even the uttermost fraction of right
Nor did they forget their duties OF citizen
ship. They jealousy watched the opera
tons of their government and exaeted
from it only economy and honesty and a
Just measure Of care and security for
themselves and the interests they had in
charge.
.The Boston merchant of to-day has
not less integrity and virtue than his pred
ecessors; but surely we are not called
upon, by the fear of controversy, to close
our eyes 10 the fact that this environment
is vastly different There is among our
people less OF meaning embodied in the
sentiment thatthe governmentupon which
we have staked all our hopes and aspira-
tons, requires for its successful mainten-
ance patriotic regard for the aggregate OF
the happiness and prosperity of all our
people and a willing consent to fair dis
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