Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-12-20
BEFORE BOSTON MERCHANTS
EN-PreSidsnt Cleveland Delivers an
Address at a Banquet.
His FOrcible Style Makes a Visible
Impression.
Andrew Carnegie Pays a High Tribute
60 Mr.. Cleveland.

| BoSToN, Dee I2.-Over 400 prominent
business men of Boston and New England,
crowded the apartments of the Hotel Ven
dome. this evening, on the occasion of the
annual banquet of the Boston Merchants
ASSOCIATION. At the round table in the
center sat Hon. Jonathan A. Lane. preSi-
dent OF the association. At his right were
| ex-PreSldent Cleveland and Henry W.
GRADY, W. l.. Putnam, P. A. Collins. John
Lowell, VIM. Z. Russell and Leopold
Morse, while ON the left were seated Gov.
Oliver Ames, Andrew Carnegie. Gen Clin-
| ton b. Fisk and Collector SaItonstall all
| guests of the association.
After reading letter of regret from
James Russell Lowell. President Lane
proceeded in brief speech to introduce
Gov. Ames, who welcomed the guests to
the occasion. President Lane then intro
| duced eX-PreSiGent Cleveland. who was
greeted with long-continued applause
| shouts and cheers. Mr.. Cleveland spoke
| as follows:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN
| When | see about me this gathering of
business men and merchants, find it im-
| possible to rid myself of the impressive
thought that here is represented that
factor of civilized life which measures the
| progress of a people, which constitutes
| the chief care of every enlightened govern
ment and which gives to the country the
privilege of recognized membership in the
| community of nations.
Our business men cannot if they would.
escape the responsibility which this con
dltlon casts upon them-a responsibility
| most eXactlng and invested with the seri-
BUSINESS which always results from a lust
ON, Of = l., L,
low man and the obligation due from a
citizen to his government. They can find
no preteXt for indifference IN the
Selt-cOmplacent claim that under American
institutions as in other times and in
foreign lands, business men and merchants
have only gained recognition of their
Importance and value. as it has been
forced from government in which they
had no representation and from rulers who
looked upon their vocation with contempt
they cannot abSolye themselves from loyal
duty to government which has at all
tunes invited them to Il high place in pub
lie counsels and which has ALWAYS un-
grudgrngly conceded their INDISPENSABLE
value in the growth and progress of our
republic.
These 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
clal 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 de-
iance and opposition was made
to ,odlous and unfair imperial
legislation affecting colonial trade: and the
| first battle by Americans for liberty of the
person and for freedom from unjust and
| oppressive restraint upon business. was
fought within sight of your warehouses.
ou have besides inherited trust which
shades with sober sentiment your obliga-
tlon to your country and your fellow citi-
zens. 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 up
on their own effort and foresight. infIex-
IDLY honest ana intensely jealous of their
| commercial honor. Upon your wharves
| and In your counting rooms they wrought
| out their well earned fortunes. Their
ships were found In every ocean-path, and
| they made their country known in the
trade transactions of the world. Abroad
| they gained willing confidence and credit
| by their commercial integrity and probity,
and at homo they We're the pride of their
| cOuntrymen.
These were the old Boston merchants.
| I ou, the business heirs and successors.
| will pardon me if | remind you tonight
| that the commanding influence of these
| men did not rest upon immense fortunes
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 citizenship.
| They Iealously watched the operations of
their government and exacted from it only
economy and honesty and 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 predeces-
| sors; but surely we are not called upon by
the fear OF controversy, to close our eyes to
| the tact that this government is vastly diff
ferent. There Is among our people less
| of meaning embodied in the sentiment
that the government upon which we have
staked all our hopes and aspirations,
requires for its successful maintenance
a patriotic regard for the aggregate of the
happiness and prosperity of our people
and willing consent for a fair distri-
! button of the benefits of our free institu-
tions. a. d.
Equal rights and impartial justice are
| stlpulatlons of the compact we have enter
ed into with each other as American citi-
zens; and so nicely adjusted is this plan Of
our political association, that favoritism
for the sole advantage of any section of
| our membership. inevitably results in an
encroachment upon the benefits Justly due
to others. But these things sit so lightly
| upon the conscIences of many that a
| spirit OF selhshness Is abroad In the land,
| which has bred the habit of clamorous i'm
portunlty for government aid In behalf of
special interests - imperfectly disguised
| under the cloak of solicitude for the public
good.
Can we see no contrast between the
sturdy self-relisnce Of the Boston merchant
in the days that are past. and the attitude
you are invited TO assume as dependents
upon the favor Of the government and
benefciaries under its taxing power? Is
there not a difference between the ideas
that formerly prevailed concerning the Just
and wholesome relations wl-ieh should exist
between the government and the business
of the country, and the present tendency
toward government partnership in trade
And was there hint IN former DAYS that
especial advantages thus once secured. con-
stitufed vested right which In no event
should in the least be disturbed?
Political selfshness cheapens in the
minds Of the people their apprehension of
the character and functions of the govern
ment; it distorts every conception Of the
duty Of good citizenship and creates an
atmosphere IN which iniquitous purposes
and designs lose their odious features II
begins when perverted judgment is won
10 the theory that political action may be
used solely fox private gain and advantage
and when a tender conscience i quieted
by the ingenious argument that such gain
and advantage are identical with the pub
lie welfare. This stage having been
reached and sclf-interest being now fully
aroused. agencies are used and practices
permitted IN the accomplishment of its
purpose. which. seen in the pnre light Of
dislnterested patriotism. are viewed with
fear and hatred The independent
thought and free political preference If
those whom fate has made dependent upon
| daily toll for hard-earned bread. are straYa-
gled and destroyed by intimidation and
|, the fear Of loss Of employment. Vile. un-
J sayory forms rise to the surface Of our agi-
tated political waters. and gieefuliy antici-
pate In the anxiety Of selfish interest. their