The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-08

of the mayors table. As the party
walked down the main aisle of the auditorium
all the assembled diners stood up in recogni-
uoh Oh the presidents arrival and the band
played Hail to the Chief" The presidents
party stood back of their chairs with bowed
heads while Bishop Potter made the opening
prayer OF grace and the dinner was begun at a
signal from the banquet directors. At the con-
cluslon OF the invocation Mayor Grant rose and
read the list of toasts. Gov. Hill was intro
duced as the first speaker and ne rose and well
coined the guests in the name of the state.
Following Gov. HIPS welcome ex-President
Cleveland introduced and responded to
the toast Our People. speaking thus:
The mention OF people may well suggest sober
meath the divine thought when the promise was
given to the children o. Israel II will take you 20
i Sie Ior people or | will be to you God" This
Iuea OF Glvine relationship to people is always
recognized in the ferveDt ut;eTance Yea, happy
that people whose God is the Lord" Wherever
human government has been administered in
tyranny, in despotism in opposition, there has
been found among the governed warnings for a
freer condition and the assertion Of mans nobility
These but the faltering steps of human nature in
the direction of the freedom which is birthright
ana they presage the struggle OF men to become a
free people and thus reach the plane of their highest
and best aspirations. In this relation and in their
the peoule is the voice OF God
The influence OF these reflections is upon me as
speak OF those, who, alter darkness and doubt and
struggle burs; forth in the bright light of independ
and liberty became Our peoplef'-fret de-
termined and Observation-Disclosures the wonder OF
the universe, proclaiming the dignity of man and
invoking the aid ami favor Of Almighty Goa. In
out to the world, I'VE the people Of the United
States, in order 20 form more perfect uuion estab-
lish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for
the common defense, promote the general welfare
and secure the blessings Oi ibert ourselves and
our pOserity. ordan and establish this constitution
for the United States OF America" Thus 'our peO-
ple' q daV assumed a pinpe nations n
the earth. Their mission was teach the fitness Of
man for self-gOvernment and their destiny to
and national greatness.
One hundred years have passed. We have su-
nOuncsd and approved 10 the world mission and
made our destiny secure. viii not tamely reCite
our achievements They written on every page
of our history, and the monuments Of our growth
and advancement are all about Bat the value OF
these things is measured by the funesS with which
people have preserved their patriotism. their in
tegrity and their devotion to Tree institutions If
eugrossed in material Advancement or diverted by
the turmoil OF business and activity, they have not
held fast the love of country aud that simple faith
in virtue and enlig htenment which constituted the
hope ana trust oI our fathers all that we have built
rests upon foundations indrm aud weak. Meeting
this test, we point to the scattered graves
OF many thousands OF people who
have bTavely died in defense of our
national safety and perpetuity, nutey bearing tcs-
timony 10 their love Of country and TO an invnci-
bic living host standing ready TO enforce our national
rights and protect land. Our churches, oar
schools and universities and OUT benevolent institu
look out from every hillside testify TO the value
people place upon religious teaching, upon advanced
education and upon deeds OF charity. That the peO
pie still jealous OF their individual rights and
freedom is proved by the fact that one in place
power has dared openly 10 assaIl them. The enthu-
siasm which marks the celebration of the centennial
o. the Inauguration Of their 6rst chief magistrate
shows the popular appreciation of the value Of the
Office which, in our plan Of government stands
above all others for the sovereignty of the people,
and is the repository of their trust.
Surely such people can he safely trusted with
their free government, and there need be no fear
that they have lost the qualities which nj them 10 be
its custodians II they should wander. they will
return to duty in good time. If they should be mis-
led they will discover the landmarks none too
late for safety and ii they should even be corrupted
they will speedily be found seeking with peace offer
ings their countrys holy altar
Letus, then, have an abiding faith in "our peo-
Pile" Let petulence and discomfort with popular
action disappear fore the truth-that in any and
all circumstances the will OF the people however it
NAV be exercised is the law of our national exist
ence-the arbiter absolute AID unchsugeable by
which We must abide. Other than existing situ-
atOns policies can only justify themselves when
thew be reached by the spread OF political inteli-
gence and the revival of Uhselhsh and patriotic in
terest in public affairs. Ill-natured complaints OF
popular Incompetence and self-righteous assertion
of superiority over the body OF the people, i'm
potent and useless.
But there is danger, lear, that the scope OF the
words "our people" and ali they import, are not
always fully apprehended. IL Is only natural that
those in the various walks OF life should see 'Our
peOnleh within the range OF their own vision and
ind lust ahou them the interests most important
and most worthy the of the government. The
rich merchant or capitalist in the center of wealth
and enterprise. hardly has glimpse OF the country
blacksmith at his forge or the farmer IN his Held
ard these IN their know but little OF the labor
ers who crowd our manufactures and inhabit their
own world OF toll or Of the thousands who labor in
our mines If representatives of every element OF
population and industries should be gathered together
they would find but little Of purely selfish aud per-
Sopal interest in common; aud. upon a superficial
glance. but little would be seen 20 denote that only
one people represented Yet in the spirit OF our
all md
personal interest, are common brotherhood and
are 'our people" all OF equal value before the law,
all having by their suffrage the same voice ~ gov
ernmental affairs all demanding with equal force
protection and defense and all in their persons and
property equally entitled 10 their government
The diversity OF our interests though the source
OF b0undless wealth aud prosperity, has tendency
10 press "our people apart. This condition de-
mands OF us counter-f0rce of herslity and tolera-
tion toward each other and enlightened regard for
the condition of every individual who contributes 20
the aggregate of our national greatness This aggre
gate fOstered and incr ased by united, earnest ana
unselfsh effort, will yield a fun return for indi-
yidual enterprise and labor without
drying up the fountains OF br0thery
kindness and forbearance upon which the political
health Of people depends This centennial
time which stirs our pride by leading to the
temptation OF our tremendous strides in wealth and
greatness, also recalls 10 minds the virtues and
the unsehsh devotion TO princile OF those who saw
the first days of the republic let there now be n
revival Of our love iCrthe principles which our c0un-
try represents let there be at this time new con-
secraion TO the cause OF mans freedom and equality
and a Quickened of the solemn responsibility
assumed before the world by every man who wears
the badge Of 'our people"
The future beekons Us on. Let us follow with an
exalted and ennobling love of country and with
daunted courage. Though clouds may sometimes
darken the heavens they shall be dispelled and we
shall the how OF Gods promise set clearly in the
sky. and shall read beneath il, blazing in radiant
characters the words ''Our people"
Mr.. Cleveland was warmly greeted and gave
way to Gov. Fitzhugh Lee OF Virginia, whose
response to the toast, "The States, was heartily
applauded. When the applause had subsidized,
Chief Justice Fuller called TO speak TO
'srhe Federal Constitution" After the chief
Justices address. President Harrison was INTRO
duced. As the chief executive arose TO speak,
he appeared tired out and even paler than
usual. He stood with his hands on the back of
his chair and spoke clearly and distinctly. He
spoke to The United States of America" as
follows:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND FELLOw-CTTIzENs-l should
be unjust TO myself what is more serious ] should
be unjust 70 you IL did not take
this first and last opportunity TO express to
you the deep sense OF obligation and