The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-26

day in honor of his becoming a summer
resident of the county. Over 200 guests
arrived at Buzaard's Bay at IL o'clock on
special train from Boston. On their
arrival Mr.. Cleveland held a public re-
ception, which was continued until 1890.
Att o'clock dinner was served in honor
Oh the occasion, at which over 500
persons were seated, the presiding
officer being Henry c. Thatcher, of Var
mouth. After short speech of welcome
by Mr.. Thatcher, Mr.. Cleveland re.
sponded upon the subject of ex-presi-
dents OF the United States, saying:
"Mr. Chairman and Ladies and Gentle
men: More than eighteen hundred years
ago lawyer pertly asked the Divine
Teacher, Who is my neighbor?' The
answer given to this question is quito
familiar to us and is embodied in the
parable of the good Samaritan. Lean
assure you that this parable is here in
troduced for the lesson it teaches rather
than for the purpose OF suggesting that
its incidents have any appropriateness
to this occasion or it's surroundings.
II see no similarity between nv situa-
tion and the man who went down from
Jerusalem to Jerico and fell among the
thieves. suppose that when you greet
me as your ncighbor to-day you have in
mind the fact that have como among
you TO spend at least q large part Of
each year and that intend to maintain
this sort OF residence here as long as
the expense OF farming and fishing ena.
bles me from slender purse to meet
your rate OF taxation and the cost of
provision. In the meantime it is NV
intention to be good neighbor. No
quarrels can go over my line for have
none. keep no chickens and nv cattle
do not run at large. suppose have
pretty decided political opinions and /
Judge from the election returns of this
country that they are not such as have
heretofore received the utmost sympa-
thy and encouragement in this part OF
the country.
Notwithstanding, however, my posi-
tive knowledge that the large majority
of my new neighbors are in state
Of delusion politically, I shall not
quarrel with them on this subject nor
permit myself to become a political
sscoid. must be peaceful and neirh-
ooriY even If see my neighbors go to
political destruction before my eyes
Resides, there are prudential reasons
why l should in present circumstances
be politically docile."
Referring to himself as an ex-Prcsi.
dent, Mr.. Cleveland said 81 have
never failed to be profoundly sensible
OF the generosity and confidence of nv
countrymen in making me the recipient
OF the greatest honor that can be be-
slowed on any man; but what re-
member most wildly in connection with
the great office OF President are its
responsibilities and the labor and the
anxiety attending an attempt to do the
work which the people had entrusted to
me. The impression made upon the
mind and heart Of one who stands daily
face to face with the American people,
charmed with the protection of their
rights and the advancement of their
varied interests, can never be etfaced,
and scarcely gives room for the gratifica-
tion naturally supposed to attach to
high exalted place.
II am led to mention in this connec-
ton as spur to official labor, and as a
sign OF political health, the watchful-
ness Of the people and their exactions
from their chosen representative to
whom they have confidcd their highest
trust. II they are exacting and critical
sometimes almost to the point of nius-
tice this is better than popular Needless
ness and Indifference concerning tho
general conduct of public servants. 1t
has always seemed to me, beyond the
greatness of the Office and the supreme
Importance of its duties and responsible
lilies, tie most impressive thing con-
nected with tho Presidency is the fact
that after its honor has been relin-
pushed and after its labor and rcspon.
slbility are past, we simply see that
citizen whom the people had selected
from the ranks to do their bidding for a
time, and to be their agent in the dis
charge Of public duty, has laid aside
the honor and the work OF the highest
Office in the world and has returned
again to the people to resume, at their
side, the ordinary duties which pertain
to every day citizenship.
Here he is or should be subject to
the same rules of behavior which apply
to bis fellow-countrymen and should be
accorded the same fair and decent treat
ment, unless he has in some way for
felted 1t. But 1T must be adMitted that
our people are by no means united in
their IDEAS concerning the place which
our eX-Presidents ought to occupy or the
disposition which should be made of
them. or course the subject would be
relieved Of all uncertainty and embar-
rassment II every President would die
at the end OF his term. This does not
seem, however, to meet the views OF
those who under such an arrangement
would be called upon to do the dying,
and so some Of them continue to live,
and thus perpetuate the perplexity Of
those who burden themselves with plans
for their utilization or disposition. a
very amusing class among these anxious