The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-09

U"NO man is so weak" said Mai. Mel
drim, who has not felt the aid Of the
bankers hand, no nation so strong as
not to need it. His smile is
more seductive than woman's charms,
his frown moro to be dreaded than armies.
He. has the greatest power on earth in his
hands, a power greater than warrior ever
welded, but if he be potent for good he is
equally liable to become an instrument
for evil. He must not forget the fact
that the foundation of a successful banker
is to be man of confidence, and when
he once loses the confidence of the people
nothing can retrieve him.
The contrast between the banker and
the money changer is that the one inspires
confidence, sustains every legitimate en-
terprise and stands by the debtor as long
as safe banking will Justify, while the
other continually croaks of bad times and
worse coming, whispers-and every whis-
perls sheer which stabs enterprise-that
no southern Investment pays and should
not be invested in. The banker always
seeks to advance the people, the money
changer, sordid and greedy, seeks only
Ior personal gain and tries to crush
others.
GEORGIA FORTUNATE.
1T is Fortunate" continued Mai Mel
drim, ''at this time in Georgia's history
that her bankers are conservative with
out being timid and liberal with
out being speculative. The result
is that GeOrgia's people have confidence
in her banks, and the banks deserve it.
To-day the bankers hold the veal or woe
OF Georgia in their hands, and fortunate
1t Is that her destiny in controlled by
men such as compose this association.
The confidence of the people of Lon
don saved the Bank of England, and the
time may come when the confidence of
the merchants of Savannah, Atlanta,
Augusta, Macon, Columbus, Americas
and every city in the state may be
necessary to sustain and uphold
the banks of Georgia, and they
will have it. Banks are made for the
people, to administer to their welfare
There should be no distrust of either by
the other. The future is full of bright
ness Glad earth is springing into
JOY at the prospect Of an abundant
harvest. The people of Georgia
have learned a hard lesson in tho school
of eXperience-the hardest school on
carth-and that lesson is to practice per-
sonal economy, with the result that Geor-
gia is to-day one of the strongest states
financially in the union
Let the bankers of Georgia." said
Mai. Meldrim, in conclusion, ''have
confidence in the resources of our state,
IN the integrity of our people and then
will the people of Georgia declare: The
bankers of Georgia are the trusted guar
dams of the people, the safeguard of every
thing that attains to Georgia s welfare"
THE DOLLAR EVERYWHERE.
'"The almighty dollar, unit of wealth
and power, the incentive to labor and the
reward of industry" was responded to by
q Gunby Jordan of Columbus in a happy
and witty speech, full of instruction
and advice. He said he felt like
the old negro who explained the
difference between exhorting and preach
ing as meaning that preaching was to pick
text and stick to it, while exhOrting
meant Jest roamin' about" Mr. Jordan
had asked for the sentiment to the "al-
mighty dollar" and when told there was
no special sentiment attached to it he
felt that he would have to roam about.
Mr., Jordan caught the crowd with the
following:
France has her lily,
England her rose.
Everybody knows where the shamrock grows
Scotland's thistle waves proudly on the hill,
But nothing equals our American dollar bill.
Mr.. Jordan then went into discussion
about the necessity of the almighty dol
lar to the success of everything even to
educating the heather. In speaking of
the heather, Mr.. Jordan said the dollars
for the missionaries must not be forgot
ten or the fact that dollars were required
to send dimes to the heather.
Mr. Jordan, after convulsing his audi
ence with laughter, turned to the more
serious question of the value of the dol
lar, holding that the one thing to make
everybody happy was a grown-up dollar
which weighed full measure. His speech
was long and loudly applauded.
MR.. CHARLTON ON GEORGIA.
"The state of Georgia, rich in field, for
est and mine, conservative in legislation.
sound in finance, the Empire State of the
South, -" was responded to by Walter O.
Charlton, Esq. His speech was most elo-
qucnt and he richly deserved the applause
accorded him. He said he felt that lawyers
and bankers were akin. The pages of C1eOr-
gia's pact history were frightened with
the achievements of the members of her
bar and her present prosperity could be
traced to her wise and conservative
bankers. Both, he said, are striving for
the glory of the Empire state, whose sons
have always been found where duty called
them, winning laurels in the field
of battle, praise for conservatism in leg
islatiOn and plaudits for so1ndness in
finance.
Mr. Charlton concluded with q beauti-
full and touching peroration on Georgia S
history in the past and the glories await
ing her in the future.
Col. George A. MERGERS RESPONSE to
the toast of "Woman" was the gem of the
event. In beautiful language filled with
wit, sentiment, seriousness and anecdote.
the speaker paid an eloquent and touch
ing tribute to woman, the banker ofman's
tcnderest affections.
Col. Mercer said he expected to have
found the sentiment attached to such a
toast at banquet of cold, calculating
fuanciers and bloated bondholders com
pairing woman to some sweet-scentcd
bank note of large dimensions or a bond
of gold, but he was agreeablv
surprised to find instead that
she was looked upon as more priceless
than rubies. He did not believe, how
ever, there WAS a banker within the
sound of his voice who would object TO
having his resources increased with de-
rosits OF rubies
Col. MERGERS well rounded periods of
tender tributes TO the wife, mother and
sister were greeted with applause every
few seconds, and at the conclusion Of
his speech he was given an ovation.
FAVORED CHECKS on HEAVEN.
After the regular toasts. Judge IT
MacDonell was called upon TO resuond To
1.-The lawyer Although taken
by surprise, without a moments no
tice to prepare himself, the iudge
replied in a brief speech full of wit. that
1 II. L. - III.