St. Paul daily globe., 1891-12-22
Ex-President Cleveland Has
Strong Words of Praise
for Pilgrims.
True AmePieaniSm Must Be
Cherished by Loyal Citi-
ZenS.
Eloquent Depew and Boomers
From Chicago Talk for
the Fair.
Gen. Palmer Sweeps Away
Baseless Charges Against
Managers.

NEW YORK, Dee. 21.-The New Eng
fand society, Of Brooklyn, gave its an
nual dinner tonight IN the assembly
rooms of the Academy of Music in
commemoratiOn of the twelfth ami
versary and the two hundred and
seventy-frst anniversary of the
Pilgrims. Hon. Catlin E. Pratt. presi-
dent Of the sOcity, presided. At the
guests table were Hon. David A. BoOdY.
Hon. Willard Hartlett. Hon. Ros-
well e. Horr, Gen. Horace Porter.
Hon. BENJAMIN Stillman and others.
At the conclusion Of the dinner. Presi-
dent Pratt made a brief address, after
which the tOasts. The President of the
United States" ana In Memory of
Gen. Sherman" were drank in silence.
Just at this moment eX-PreSident Grover
Cleveland entered the banquet room,
and was greeted with storm of ap-
plauSe. On being introduced Mr. CleVe-
land spoke as follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen: You
are by no means to suppose that my
failure heretofore to Ue present OH Oc-
easOns like this is accounted for by
any doubt l have had as to my QuaIifica-
first immigrant Of my name landed in
Massachusetts. down to the day of my
advent, all the ClevelandS from whom |
claim descent were born in New Eng
land. l resent. of course. with De COM
ing spirit, the imputatiOn that my birth
IN New Jersey constitutes me a for
eIgner and an alien; and l have never
been able to see any humOr in the sug-
gestIon that my native state is not
within the Union. To my mimi the
regularity with which she votes the
Democratic ticket entities her to a high
rank among the states that are really
useful.
Praise for Pilgrims.
I think all Of US are old enough to re-
member the prophetic words put Oppo-
site certain dates in the old almanacS.
about these days look out for SNOW"
If almanacs were now made up as they
used to be. it would not be amiss to set
opposite the latter days of December.
about these days look out for glorif-
cation of the Pilgrims" No one viii
deny that the pilgrims to New England
were we'll worthy of all that is done or
can be done to keep them i'll remem-
DTance. But we cannot recall their his
tory and what they did aud established
and what they taught without also
recalling that there have been pilgrims
from New England who, finding their
way TO every part OF the land, have
taken with them those habits, opinions
and sentiments which. having an early
origin in American soil, should be best
suited TO American life everywhere, and
should be the best guarantees in every
situation. of the preservation, in their
Integrity and purity, of American insti-
tutiOns.
We have heard much of abandoned
lands in New England. If farms have
been abandoned there, we know that
larger and more productive farms have
been developed in newer states by the
pilgrims from New England. If the
population Of New England has suffered
q drain, we shall find that the vigorous
activity lost to her has built up new
cities and towns on distant and uu-
broken soil and impressed upon these
new creations the truest and best feat
ureS OF American civilization.
True Amerfcanism
While all will admit the debt our great
country owes to New England in
fluences. and while none of US should be
unmIndful of the benefits to be reason
ably expected from the maintenance
and spread OF these Influences, a
thought is suggested which has further
relation to the NISSAN and duty Of the
pilgrims from New England and their
descendants. wherever they may be scat
tered throughout the land. If they are
at all true to their teachings and their
traditions. they Will naturally illustrate
in a practical way the value of educa-
ton and moral sentiment in the fOunda-
tlOnS of social life and the value of in
duStry and economy as conditions of
thrift and cOntentment. But these pill
grims and their descendants, and all
those who. with sincere enthusiasm,
celebrate Forefathers' Day. will fail in
the discharge of their highest duty if.
yielding to the temptation of an un-
American tendency, they neglect to
teach persisIently that in the early DAYS
there was. and that there still ought TO
be. Sucn thing as true and distinctive
Americanism. OF if they neglect to give
1t just Interpretation,
This certainly does not mean that a
spirit of narrUwness or prescription
should be encouraged. nor that there
should be created CT kept alive fear
concerning such additions to our popu-
latiOn from other lands as promise as
sanitation with our conditions and CO.
operation in our aims and purposes. 1t
does, however, mean the insiStence that
every transfer OF allegiance from an
other government to our own should
signify the taking ON at the same time
OF an aggressive or affirmative devotion
TO the spirit of American institutions.
1t means that with US a love of our gov
ernment for It's own sake and for what
II IS IS an essential factor of citizenship.
and that 1t IS only made full and COM
piete by the adoption OF the ideas and
habits Of thought which underlie our
plan OF popular rule.
Unworthy citizenship.
That man fills place III our citizen
ship unwOrtnily who regards it solely
as vantage ground where he may fill
his purse and better his condition 1t
means that our government is not suit
ed 10 a selfish, sordid people, and that
in their hands it is not safe.
This is a time when there is pressing
need for the earnest enforcement of
these truths: and occasions like this
cannot be better improved than by lead
ing US to such seIf-eXamination and
self-cOTTectlOn as shall fit US to illus
trate and teach the lessons of true
AmericaniSm. When we here recall the
landing OF the pilgrims. let us remem-
Der that they not only sought Freedom
to worship God" but they also sought
TO establish the freedom and liberty of
manhood. When we dwell upon their
stern and sturdy traits, let US Femem-
Der that these nurtured the spirit which
achieved American independence, and
that in such soil alone can its
fruits rlpen TO bless our people When
we contemplate how completely con-
science guided their lives and conduct.
let Us resolve that conscience shall find