The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-21
JEWELERS. BANQUET.
Ex-President Cleveland Delivers the
Speech of the Evening.


Ex-President Cleveland Delivers the
Speech Of the Evening.
NEW YORK, Nov. 20.-The sixteenth an
nual dinner OF the New York Jewellers
Association was held at Delmonico's this
evening. Covers were laid for 200. Presi.
dent Henry T.. lde occupied the chair.
Among those present were ex-President
Cleveland, II. L. Hastings. of Hartford;
Charles W. llancher, Of Wheeling; A. Il.
Bigel0w, of Boston; Colonel shelter, Of
Washington, and w. IL. lIennegan, of Balti-
more.
The speech Of the evening was delivered
by eX-Presldent Cleveland. Responding 10
the toast "Our Country" MIR. Cleveland
said: The sentiment assigned to me sug-
gests a theme so vast and 80 animatiug
that | am embarrassed in my attempt to
deal with it. You will certainly not eX-
pect me, on this occasion, TO voice all the
thoughts and feelings which the mention OF
"Our Country inspires. II | should do
this. should merely tax your time and pa
tience by the expression OF reflections which
spontaneously fli your minds. Besides, IL
! should launch upon this subject in
true American style, | know could not
avoid the guilt Of making Fourth Of July
speech late in the month of November. |
hasten to declare that do not fight shy Of
my subject because do not love IL. On the
contrary, love it SO well that am anxious
to observe all the proprieties related 10 it;
and | cannot rid myself of the Idea that our
American eagle scars higher and better in
the warm DAYS Of July than in the cool at
m0sphere of the present season.
And vet am far from believing that at
any time and in any assembage of Ameri-
cans the setiment, "Our Country is not
proper one to propose, though have some
times thought that it speaks so el0quently
for itself that il needs no interpreter.
There seems absolutely to be no necessity
for arousinL enthusiasm On this topic, and
there is not the slightest danger that
any Of Us will forget what we have
accomplished as nation, or what
we propose to accomplish, or that we will
fix too narrow limit upon the progress.
development, and greatness Of our country.
sometimes those who, unfortunately, can
not claim this as their country. accuse Us
Of dwelling, with some eXaggeratiOn, upon
these things. but every American is entirely
certain that such imputatiOns arise from
ignorance Of it's achievements or
from envy and disappointed rivalry.
At any rate, il is our habit 10 gl0rify our
country, and we propose 10 continue II
We can stand any amount Of it without
disturbance, and whether others like il not
we know and we propose to declare on
every occasion that America IN the freest
and the best and the greatest country on
the lace of the globe. That proposition is
not original with me, but he's been n settled
fact Ia the America mind for many years.
THE WORD OUR"
Though this might be said to dispose Of
the subject by short cut, and though |
have declined to deal with il in all its
aspects. the American disposition TO glorify
our country is strong with me, and | am
disincllucd to abandon NV allotted senti-
ment in a manner quite so summarly. II |
am TO retain it for a few minutes, know OF
no better way TO deal with it than to divide
IT, and consider one branch or part Of my
text. as is sometimes done with a long
text in the pulpit. !, therefore, propose to
say something about tho word our" As
related To the sentiment 'Our Country" b"
This il our country because the people have
established IL; because they rule il; because
they have developed il; because they have
fought Tor it. and because they love il. And
-tiil each generation Of Americans holds
il osly in trust for those who
shall come after them, and they are
charged with The obligation TO transmit il
as strong and sound as il came 20 their
hands. Ii is not ours TO destroy i is not
ours to sell, and it rs not ours 10 neglect
and injure. II is ours as our families are
ours. and as our churches and schools are
ours-to protect aud defend, to foster and
improve. As its strength and it, fitness Ia
reach its promised destiny depends upon
its unity, one Of our highest duties toward
it is 10 cultivate anc encourage kiudliness
among our people. to the end that all may
heartily cooperate IN performing the terms
OF our tr'st.
80 sECrIONALfsM OR MONOPOLY.
As il exists for Us all. 80 all should be
accorded an equal share in its benefits. Ii
is 50 constructed that Its work is badly
done, and its operation perverted when spe-
clal and exclusive advantages are awarded
| to any particular class of our poo
pie. II we permit grasplng selfish
ness 10 influence rs IN the care Of
our trusts. we are untrue 10 our oOliga.
tiOns and our covenants as Americans.
! our country is "Ours" for the purpose Ol
securing through its means justice, happi'
ness. and prosperity to all, and not for the
purpose Of permitting the selfish and de-
signing TO be enriched at the expense Ol
! their lellOw-c0uniTymen
1t IS our duty then % uerend and protect
our country while II remains IN our hands
| from that seliishness, which, If p5rmi tied,
will surely undermine il, as clearly as 10 Il
our duty 10 defend it against armed enc
mics. Nor are we discharged from our OBJ
| legations as trustees Of our cOun
try If we merely preserve il In
the same condition as when we
received it. The march Of progress and
civilization throughout the world imposes
on US the duty Of improving the subject o.
our trust so that it may be transmitted Il
others in such an advanced condition O
prosperity and growth as saall bear witness
TO our faithfulness and our devotion TO IL
interests. lie who hid his talent In nap
| kin and added nothing 10 il was condemned
as unfaithrl when called upon 70 give al
account Of his stewardship.
Let Us rejoice. then. in the greatness o
''Our country" but let us remember that b
will be our blame If it is not made greater
Let us boast Of the country which is "ours,
but let our bOasting be tempered with th'
reflection that its possession is charget
with sacred trust. Let u
constantly bear in mind that whil'
IL is ours 10 use periodically, AID transmi
TO coming generations. our relation 10 II Il
made more serious by the fact that III III
broadest and most solemn meaning on
country is something which, as the exam
pie and interpreter Of freedom, belongs 4
the world, and which. in its blessed mission
belongs to humanity.