The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-13
BEFORE THE BUILDERS.
MR.. CLETELIND. RESPONDS TO THE
TOAST "OUR COJNTRY"

] fOnal Association ot BulllerS tnl~ tNeNhi4A ~
Lenox Lyceum blythe Mechqnics' and Trades
Exchange. Of this city Covers were laid for
five hundred. W. q. Smith. president of the
Exchange, presided. and ex-Presd mt Cleye-
land Morgan Schuyler, General james }.
Taper. Of Chicago W. H. Sayward Of Bos-
ton: President J. H. Yarnold, Of the New York
Board Of Aldermen; Arthur McAllister, Of
Cleveland, and J. J. Tucker responded to
! toasta
lIr. Cleveland responded 10 the toeaf Our
Country" lie said
MI President and Gentlemen,- When
American citizens are gathered together on
occasions iihe this. and the'h0ur ot feAstlng ~
supplemented bv toast aud -entiment, II Il
surely ftisug that Our Country should be
prominent among the topics proposed Tor
thought and speech Evidence IS TINS tlr-
nished of the ever present love and shecNoh
OF our people for their country promtgng
them ut all times and IN all places 70 yleid 70
her ready recognition and homage. .
The conspicuous place which this sentl-
ment occupies in American thought Is the re-
suit Of our relations 30 the land which we
possess and 20 the Government under which
we live Our vast domain belongs O. our peo-
pie. They have fought Tor II and have laDOreu
hard for its DEVELOPMENT and growth. Our
i
| lished by and for Our people, and - ~ stained
and ministerei AZ their behest. subjects OF
other lands less free than ours, ana those VINO
owe obedience 20 governments furtnef re-
moved from populaf control. may boast OF
their country IN spirit OF natural prlue ano
patriotism. and as sharers IN rs splendor rNu
Il ~. They thus exhibit their submission and
allegiance and % aabitual regard for constituted
authority But the enthusiasm which warns
our hearts at the mention of Our Country
grows out # lur sense of proprietary ana IN
diVidual right in Amer can institutions. ~ IS
mingled with 10 servile gratitude to any ruier
for ~cant freedom generously conceded 10 US;
nor with admiration of monarchica pOmp and
splendCr The words "Our Country suggest
10 Us not only q broad domain which IS ours;
bnt also government which Is ours, DaSed
upon liu viii, protected and guarded by our
love and Affection yOuchsahng to us freedom
limited only by our selt-mposed restraints;
and securing 10 Us As our right absolute ana
impartial Justice.
When we consider the extensive growth Qf
our cOuntry-its cities and villages, ana all
the physical features which contribute 80
much TO give TO II foremost place IN tne ciV-
iliZatiOn Of tie aQe-we are bound 70 acknON-
ledge that the builders of our land have had
/ mucb 4 lC with securing fOl Us the com
mnnding position we hol1 among the nations
of the earth. II may indeed be smd That an
tha nations which have evel existed nave hke
Us been largely indebted ior the grandeur
and maenifcence OF which they could boast,
to those belonging 10 the vocation repre-
sented in this assemf'r II Will be impossible
"a find a complete description cf ny couoFy,
ancient or modern which does not ineri q
r the size aud character 0f its buildings, ahftA
public and priya,e edihccs
II 10 not intend 20 do injustice, IN the en-
thnsi .sIn # this nour. 10 ANY Of the trades
and occupations which have contributed 10
make our country AM other countries great.
But truth qld canior exact tie confession
that the chief among these occupations ID an
times past has Deen that ot the builder ne
b.~an his work I'm the early days o. created
things. and has been broad among the sons
If men ever since The builders advent Was
sionalized hv "a service 10 mankind Ot which
not another craft can boast. No one
has the hurdihoui tO deny that the cOgstrue-
tion Of the ark was the turning point IN the
scheme for the perpetuation OF the human
race. The builders work IN that
emergency saved mankind from
watery grave: and If We suheI NJ
the hands of his Successors in these modern
times We should allow his first Job 10 plead
loudly in hls behalf. II in these days We are
VeXed by the failure OF the builder 10 observe
plans and specifications let us bear IN mlnd
that ina his tirsi construction he, fortunately
for Us followed them implicitly The gopher
wood was furnished the ark was pitched
within and without II was built three hundird
cubils long. fifty cdbits broad. and ihlliy
cub'ts high the window was Put in. the door
" laced n the side; aud it had lo"el'
second. and third story. II we
are now end then prompted al
most 10 profanity because the builder
hes not conn .eted our house within the Ilme
agreed let "a recall with gratitude the tact
that the ark was fully completed ana hnishrd
In q good and WorEnanlike manner aud actu-
allv occup ed seven days before the Watt OF
81. q. 4 Ne
Ike paralysis steals over rs when a long dc-
count for extra work Is placed before "ur
afrrhtcd .ycs let Us be Teconciled 70 our
fate Or the thought that there was no charge
for extra work IN the construction oI the ark.
and that the human race WAS saved without
tba; cxaspelating incident
I'VE sometimes hear things which are cil-
culated 10 convey the ln preston that there Is
an irrepressble conflict raging between our
builders and the rest Of 1ur people. II any
such thing exists. desire 10 suggest IN behalf
ot the builders that IT may 10 great extent
arise from the uncertainty prevailing among
employers concerning then wants and what
they can afford to have. These are days when
the free-bOrn ana ambitious American citizen
does not like 10 be Ou1dOne by his neighbor
or any one else IT, rs a result Of tins. a
man with $4,000 10 spend for home Is
| determined To have one ~ good anc rs
extrayagant a. that of another man who has
twice the amount 20 invest for the same pur-
pose. the builder certainly ought not L. be
blamed if he fails TO perform that miracle;
On the other hand il has sometimes seemed
10 me that when an honest, conhdlng man APP
plies 20 a builder for an estimate Of the cost OF
!. construction which he contemplates. be
ought 10 receive more definite and trustworthy
figures than those frequently submitted TO
him. ! am inclined 10 think. however, that
on the whole the relations of the builder
with his fellOw-men have been fairly
arnicable. II this were not 50, and if disputes
and misunderstanding were ordinary incl
dents of building contracts. II IS quite appsr-
ent that the buildings which have been put
NJ in OR country would have caused enough
OF ouarrels not only to endanger our social
fabric bat t. transfer much Of the wealth now
in the hands of builders and their patrons. TO
the poo ketS of the members of that peaceful
and hoAest profession TO which have the
honor 10 belong Though this latter result
would Lot be altogether mOurnful. the legal
profession afe 30 patriotic and so easily salts
ned that | am quite certain they are con-
tented with existing conditions.
1.-The National Association OF Builders gives
promise in its declared objects and purposes
Of much usefulness. II recognizes the fact that
the relation It's membe.s bear 10 vast numbers
Of our wage-earners furnishes the opportunity
for them 10 do an important and benencent
q - z \. a.