Morning journal and courier., 1889-12-13
FROM ALL QUARTERS.
IA SAD DROWNING ACCIDENT.

The Freight Depot At New Lon-
 don Destroyed By Fire.
 MERCHANTS, ASSOCIATION. The Annual Banquet In Boston Last
 Night = Noted Guests Present = Ex-
 President Cleveland's speech Wel-
 eemed with a storm of Applause -
 other speakers.
 BosroN, Mass, Dec. 12.-Over four hun dred of the solid business men of Boston and New England crowded the spacious apartments of the Hotel Vendome this eve- ming on the occasion of the annual banquet of the Boston Merchants' association. So great was the desire to see and hear the hon. ored guests of the association that the tick cts were all disposed of at a premium days ago and scores of applicants were dissp- pointed. From five to six o'clock 8 recep- tion was held in the hotel parlors at which many of the members of the association were introduced to the special guests of the eve ming: Ex-President Cleveland, Andrew Carnegie, Henry W. Grady and Hon. ". L. Putnam, of Maine. At six o'clock the march was taken to the dining hall, to music by the Germnnia orchestra which enlivened the two hours of the dinner with numerous selections. The hall was elaborately decor ated with banners and flowers. At the round table in the center sat Hon. Jonathan A. Lane, president of the association. At his right were ex-President Cleveland, Fl. w. Grady, Hon. w. l.. Putnam, Hon. P. A. Collins, Hon. John Lowell, Hon. Wm. E. Russell and Hon. Leopold Morse. while at his left were seated Governor Amss, Andrew Carnegie, General Clinton B. Fiske, of New Jersey, Hon. Homer Rogers, president of the board of aldermen, Francis Lynde Stetson, of New York, and Collector Saltonstall, all guests of the association. The following other guests were seated at the long tables on both aides of the president:
 Hon. Frank Jones, Editor E. B. Haskell, Hon. Josiah Quincy, ex-Governor Gaston, General John M. Corse, Hon. Alden M. Spear, president of the Chamber of Commerce; Henry B. Goodwin, president of the Exesu- tive Business association; Richard Briggs, president of the Merchants club; c. E. Choate, president of the Old Colony rail- road; Speaker w. E. Barrett, Hon. George G. Crocker, Hon. Thomas L. Jenks, Charles l.. Hutenison, president of the New York Chamber of Commerce, Mr. John Burnett, Edward Atkinson, Hon. s. N. Aldrich, as- sistant United States treasurer and ex-Con. gressman A. A. Ranney.
 It WAS 8:15 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 Governor Oliver Ames, who, in few words, welcomed the guests of the oc- casion. When he mentioned the welcome extended to the distinguished guests from New York, the assembly greeted the men, tion with loud applause.
 Governor Ames then turned to Mir. Cleve. land and said: "If wicked Democrats speak as we'll of me when I retire from office as Republicans now do of you,I shall be abund- antly satiafed." This sentiment was also loudly cheered.
 Homer Rogers, president of the Board of Aldermen, was then introduced and well comed the guests in behalf of Mayor Hart, who was absent from the oity.
 President Low then introduced ex-Preei- dent Cleveland, who was greeted with long, continued applause, shoots and cheers, the entire assembly rising and waving handker- chiefs and cheering again. MT. Cleveland spoke in strong. well modulated voice and was easily heard by all.
 MT. Cleveland said:
 Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen:
 When see about me this gathering o business men and merchants find it impos' sible to rid myself of the impressive though that here is represented that factor in civilized life which measures the progress of a people which constitutes the chief care of every en | frightened government and which gives to 1 country the privilege of recognized member ship in the community of nations.
 Our business men cannot if they would escape the responsibility which this condi- | tion casts upon them-a responsibility mos | exactipg and invested with the seriousness | which always results from just apprehen sion of mans relation to his fellow-man ant | the obligation due from citizen to his gov ernment. The scene of your activity is tn l commercial center of a great and ancien commonwealth, rich in patriotic traditions You have besides inherited trust whicl | shades with sober sentiment your obligation to your country and your fellow citizens With the birth of American trade there aros on this spot merchants of strong sense an enlightened enterprise, chiefs among thei fellows independent and self-reliant, willin to chance their success upon their own eHol and foresight, innexibly honest and intsnsel
 jealous of their commercial honor, Upo
 your wharves and in your counting room
 they wrought out their well earned fortunes
 Their ships were found in every ocean-patf
 and they made their country known in th
 trade transactions of the world. Abroa
 they gained willing confidence and credit
 their commercial integrity and probity, an
 at home they were the pride of their cour
 trymen.
 These were the old Boston merchants.
 You, their business heirs and successor
 will pardon me If remind you tonight thu
 the commanding influence of these men al
 not rest upon immense fortunes made in day, but resulted from their we'll know
 honor and.scrupulous good faith, which le ! them to concede to all even the uttermo fraction of right. The Boston merchant to-day has not less integrity and virtue tha his predecessors.
 Political sel6shneas cheapens in the minG l of the people their apprehension of the chal | acter and functions of tho government. IT independent thought and free political pre-
 erence of those whom fate has made depend , ent upon daily toll for hard earned bread q strangled and destroyed by Intimidation ar s the fear of loss of employment Vile, ul savory forms rise to the surface of our se tated political waters and gleefully antioipa in the anxiety of selfish interest their oppo
 tunity to fatten upon corrupted and dsbaucl cd suffrage.
 II This train of thought leads us to consid the imminent danger which threatens from the intimidation and corruption of ol 2 voters.
 It is too late to temporize with these evI
 or to speak of them otherwise than in | ], plainest terms. We are spared the labor = proving their existence, for all admit
 That they are terribly on the increase
 must concede.
 The condition annexed to the founding
 our government upon the suffrage of t n people, was that the suffrage should be fl \ and pure. We consented to abide by t honest preponderance of political orion, b
 we did not consent that free vote exprei
 ing the intelligent and thoughtful sen
 ment of the voter, should be balanced by G vote of intimidation and fear, or by an
 clean, corrupt vote disgracefnlly bought a
 treacherously sold.
 As it has been with civil service refer
 10 it will be with ballot reform, except tt
 the coming victory will be more speed
 achieved and will be more complete. II MT. Clevelands address aroused great (
 thusiasm and his points were freqpen
 greeted with cries of 'Goodl" and applau
 When this applause had ceased Presid,
 Lane introduced Henry ". Grady of Gsore
 who arose to speak on The Race Problem
 the South.n MT. Grady was received "
 the same enthusiasm which was elicited |. the mention of Mr. Cleveland's name, )s spoke for over an hour with great force [
 eloquence, and his treatment of his topic e
 dently met the hearty approval of his hs ers, for there were frequent cries of "Go
 Trueln and vigorous applause When in : peroration he described the affection of intelligent southern whites for the colo
 members of their homes, their colored nu,
 and house servants, illustrating the same = pathetic scenes on the battlefield and at
 rravasifle there were many rnOiat ayes h,