St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-12


by Hon. A. j. Whiteman.
Mayor r. A Smilh-Presiding.
Hon. Albert Scheffer-Toast Master.
Senator Scheffer said it gave him
pleasure to welcome them to that fes-
tive board in the name of the mayor,
the common council and the citizens of
ST. Paul. The first toast Oh the pro-
gramme was 1.-The State of Min
nesota." 1t was magnificent
subject! The state of Minnesota
state that claimed men that
were proud, self-reliant and brave, and
women who were modest and beautiful
and made splendid wives. [Applause.l
The young and spritely chief executive
of the state, Hon w. II. Merriam, will
respond to the toast. [Applause.l
Gov. Merriam, rising to respond, was
received with hearty cheers. He said:
1t has grown into custom with the
people of the Capital City to tender to
the members of the legisla-
ture banquet at some time during the
session. This is emlnently proper, and
in no happier manner could they make
evident their respect for the honorable
body that makes the laws for the gov
ernment of our state. In conformity
with this custom, the present legislature
is tonight the guest of the city of st.
Paul. Naturally, part of the pro-
gramme upon such festaI occasions
are responses to toaStS of gen.
eral state and national interest,
among which the one you have assigned
to me is necessarily prominent. | feel
sure. however. that | shall be allowed
your kind permission will not confine
myself strictly to the theme prescribed;
for, while the history of our great COM
mOnwealth is fraught with interest, and
though its marvellous growth and pros
perity are subjects upon which we dwell
with loyal affection. ii would be difficult
for me to say anything that lips, more
eloquent than mine. have not most fit
tingly diScoursed upon. Therefore, in
the few words l may have to say, |
will venture to pass the boundaries of
our state, and will ask permission
to speak upon matter that .is now en-
crossing the national thought, and one
in which all of you, as citizens of Min
nesota, are interested. Within few
days there will gather in the city of
New York, citizens from the various
parts of the Union, for the Iaudable
purpose of concentrating great and
primal event in the history of the re-
public. On the 30th day of April, 1889,
the first president of the United States,
Gen. Washington, was duly inaugurated,
and it has been determined to celebrate
the Tooth anniversary of an occasion,
that. recalling the blessings and pros
perity that have come to us in the in
terVening century, proves to have been
one of the most importantin the history
of any people upon earth. A 100 years
in the life of a nation founded upon
republican principles, and maintained
by the popular voice, have passed
away, and have but served to strengthen
and cement the fabric of our national
commonwealth. The constitution given
by our fathers has stood the test OF
time, and to-day is the foundation upon
which rest the liberties and freedom of
q people, that in wealth. intelligence,
culture and industry, are second to
none.
During the century past the revo-
lutiOnS that have occurred in our social
and industrial development have sur
passed the widest Imagination. Our
rapid increase in population, the mar
Vicious growth of our commerce, our
vast internal improvements, and an ed
vocational and social era constantly
evolving better and higher civiliZa-
ton, have been the wonder of the
world. Nothing but the assuring pages
of history could convince US that the
chain of events that have led our ma
ton up to its peerless present are not
tales cOnjured from the brain of fiction.
We may dwell with pleasure
upon this his history SO replete
triotic citizens: and with honest pride
can point to the remarkable incidents
of our nations growth. in this the cen
tennial year of the Inauguration OF the
father OF the republic. Our advance
ment has been wonderful, our success
Intoxicating. All thoughtful citizens,
however grateful for the good fortune
that has come to them in the past. will;
even if inSenSibly, endeavor to forecast
the future: and upon this occasion,
when we are gathered to accept the hos
pitallty of the capital city, it Will not
be amiss in me, as the representative of
the state and of the people, to say few
words as to the problems of this future,
and prosperity of Minnesota and the
great Northwest. This section of our
country offers inducements to the home
seeker probably uneQualed in any
other portion of our land, and thus
these questions are of paramount inter-
est to us. The next half century will
tend to still further development; and
if the past is a criterion, we may look
for practical absorption of the unOc-
cupied land in the great West, and may
expect that the vast breathing spots
of a now veuturesome and restless pop
ulatiOn will have been secured TO the
settler. Dense and more dense will
the throng become of people eager
for livelihood, and intent upon pro-
Viding for themselves and their families
the neceSSarieS of life. Competition in
business and industrial operations will
be sharper, and we, as a nation, shall
see a repetition of circumstances so
common in older and more thickly pop
ulated lands. With this increase in
population. and the needs that will fol-
low in its wake, we will be met by con-
ditions new to us, and new to a govern
ment founded on principles like our
own. We must devise means to meet
this new state OF affairs. You and all
other true Americans must, perforce,
admit the existence of the prob
lem, and that time will de-
mand its solution. An eminent Eng
liSh author, in recently edited book,
comments, in tlattering words, upon
our past, and gravely speculates as to
our future. ] quote his words: 1.-The
future of the United States during the
next half century sometimes presents
itself to the mind as struggle between
two forces, the one beneticent. the
other malign. the one striving to
speed the nation on to a port of safety
before this time of trial arrives. the
other to retard its progress. so that the
tempest may be upon it before the port
is reached. And the question to which
one reVertS in muSing on the phen0m-
ena of American politics is this: Will
the progress now discernibe towards a
wiser public opinion and higher
standard of public life succeed in bring
ing the mass of the people up to the
level of what are now the best districts
in the country before the days of pres
sure are at hand9 Or will existing