The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-11-04
9UMULTU0uS
APPLAUSE
Greeted Mr.. Cleveland.
He Speaks Before the German-. Ameri-
can Cleveland Union.
Cooper Union Packed and as Many
More Turned Away.

mass-meeting tonight IN Cooper union
The large hall was packed with peopl,
and nearly as many more were unable t,
gain admittance. Enthusiasm was a
white heat throughout the proceedings
Tumultuous applause greeted Mr.. Cleve
land. Carl Schurz. Oswold Ottendorfel
and many leading German-American cit
liens as they came upon the platform.
Chairman Steinway introduced Mr.
Cleveland as a gentleman known, hon
ored, revered and beloved, not only ir
America. but the world over. Wher
the applause that geeted this introduc.
ton had subsidized Mr.. Cleveland spoke
as follows:
Fellow citizens: When | address you
as my fellow citizens | use the salutation
common on occasions like this, and one
which ordinarily carries with it no great
er meaning than a customary greeting.
1t seems to me. however. not amiss in
the presence of such an assemblage as |
see before me to consider what it is that
entities US to call each other fellow citi-
lens. 1t is at once apparent that we can
only apply these words to American fel-
low citi~Zens.-proud of the land in which
they live, proud Of American institutions
and devoted to the achievement of
american success and greatness. They
DO not require that those who come to
us from other lands and become our peo-
pie shall forget their old homes. but that
they do signify such an assimilation on
their part as leads them to contribute
whatever is valuable in the character
they inherit in the country Of their
birth to the fuld of American prosperity
and happiness.
It frugality ana industry are their ma
tional traits. those should be by them
contributed to American prosperity: and
if cheerfulness and love of song are their
national characteristics, these should be
contributed to American happiness.
Those who do these things in true fra
ternal spirit. and in cooperation with all
others who love the American name and
who also regulate their political action
by thoughtfulness and an anxious de-
sire for American welfare. entitle them
selves to membership in the grand asso-
citation of American fellow citizenship.
But there is another aud exceedingly
important meaning to be given to these
words which arise from an idea Of fair
and equal community of interests, which
they naturally suggest. If we are to be
truely fellow citizens we must not have
only the common division of the benefits
arising from association. but we must
contribute u share to the general re-
sponsibility of such a community. Our
citizenship grows out of our allegiance
and devotion to the government which
plalmG nllr nutrIptip Snnnnrt and wa onn
hardly be accused of straining the mean
ing of words when we insist that if we
are to be fellows in our citizenship, this
fellowship is only realized when we en-
Joy In an equal and just n the adj.
vantages of our citizenship.
Whether this is our actual condition is
at this time the subject of anxious popu
lar inquiry. We lind a political party SO.
Letting the suffrage of our people in
support Of a doctrine that this fellow
ship in our citizenship is secured when
the prosperity Of certain and especial in
terests is favored in the making of and
execution of laws, and is made a direct
charge upon the industry OF those not
within the circle Of governmental par
TALLY. As a result of the successful as
sertion OF this doctrine we find enormous
unearned fortunes in the hands of a few
individuals, while those who in an I'M
equal race patiently rely upon personal
thrift and sturdy individual effort. are far
in the a
Inequalities of fortune furnish no
grounds for discomfort when they are
due to differences IN enterprise. legiti-
mate opportunity or natural endowment.
When. however. they are traceable to
governmental interference in behalf OF a
small minority of our people at the ex-
pense of the remainder, nothing but de-
ception or partisan blindness of those
who suffer a prevent them from chal-
longing these injustices and demanding
the consideration due them by virtue Of
their fellowship in American citizenship.
| interpret the organization and activ-
ity of the German-American union as
protesting against the violation of the
rights of its members in this fellowship.
and | conceive this demonstration to be
those our fellow citizens who are de-
prived of an equal participation in the
advantages derived under free American
institutions.
Let US always remember that unjust
conditions are not due to any intirmity
in the principles upon which our govern
ment is founded. They are sufficient for
all our needs. Injustice is born Of
their perversion. We are led. therefore,
directly to the conclusion that the RENE
dy for unfair inequalities in the distribu-
ton of the benefits of our American cit
Izenship is in the hands Of the voters OF
the land, and that il there has been a
departure from the lights which should
guide the operations of our government,
it is for the people to demand a return
to safe channels.
Let me warn you. in closing, that the
struggle to secure the rectification Of
false methods and the dislodgment Of
selfish advantages Is not an easy task.
Attempts to csjole our voters. successful
in the past, are still continued and brib.
cry and corruption are still in vogue. 1t