The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-18
PATRIOTIC ADDRESS
BRIEF SPEECH by EX-PRESIDENT
HARRISON AT NEWARK.
His Reply To President Scott. Who
Presented the Medal Of the New
Jersey Historical Society.

NEW YORK, May 17.-Benjamin Harrison
the only living ex-President of the United
States, is at the Fifth-avenue Hotel. He re-
fuses to discuss politics in any form. Mr..
Harrison came from Indianapolis as far as
Newark over the Pennsylvania railroad TO
receive a gold medal The programme said
that ''this medal was struck by the New
Jersey Historical Society to commemorate
the foundation of the constitutional govern
ment of the United States and the Inaugural
ton of Washington as the first President,
April 80, 11S9" Mr. Harrison arrived in
Newark yesterday at 2:O9 p. m. Some 200
men gathered at the Market-street station
and cheered the eX-President as he alighted
from sleeping car, accompanied by his
private secretary. Then he was escorted
TO the Essex Lyceum, where the medal
was. The hall contained about 800 people,
who applauded with voice and hands as
Mr.. Harrison ascended the platform. On
the stage were Mayor Lebkuocher. Adju-
tant-general William 5. Stryker. who is
vice president OF the historical society;
Messrs. Murphy, Miles and Jackson and
President Samuel H. Pennington. President
Scott, of Rutgers, presented the medal and
Mr.. Harrison spoke in reply. He said in
part:
L
with you in these interesting exercises
under circumstances more auspicious. The
whirl and haste of a thousand miles by rail
has left my head little unsteady. Q-augn-
teri II is travel only; nothing else. Q-augh-
teri
in which this society is engaged. Ii fur
nishes 10 your children the material upon
which their patriotism may feed, and while
| set the love of the union, the great arch
that binds the State, above the love OF
State yet do believe that a pride in ones
own State and neighborhood is a whole
some influence always for good. (ApplauseD
within the last two years it has fallen
in my way TO renew and to extend earlier
studies in connection with the formation
of the Constitution of the United States
l had in mind the honorable and advanced
position taken by New Jersey before and
in the constitutional convention TO which
allusion has been made | have no doubt
that it had in part its origin in the broad
craftsmanship and thought of some OF your
leading men, but there can be no doubt that
the adherence of New Jersey TO the doctrine
of national control of all impost duties
was greatly stimulated by the fact that
New York. across the bay from you, had
laid onerous duties upon the product of the
Jersey farms-I-aughter)- well as. upon
the cordwood that comes down the sound
from Connecticut. Iaughter)
80 it is. however. that our thoughts are
often turned in the right direction, in
direction that is not selfish but broad. by
some individual experience. l almost trem-
BILE as I read the story of the formation of
our national Union Fortunately God gave
us in those times many men of broad in
tellect many men who were capable OF ris-
ing above the mean and selfish interests of
the locality. to take in with the sweep of
their thoughts the great horizon of ma
tional life. And yet We are amazed TO find
how long and how selfishly some States
that had peculiar commercial advantages
struggled against the essential and neces-
sary thing One would have thought that
men did not need to be much above the
tyrants were impossible -Qaughter)-and
yet, as I have said, it was a strenuous and
protracted fight to secure this concession
TO the national government.
Il recall gentlemen. with pleasure that
great trip through your State i'm 1889. when
with every demonstration of honor to the
time being held public office, the citizens
OF New Jersey and OF New York
worshily commemoratted the establish
the inauguration of the civil government
under the Constitution.
"It will be to me great pleasure to
add this medal which your society has
generously voted and which this soclety's
representative has so graciously presented
to other souvenirs of a great occasion
And now. my countrymen. one word
This society, as | have said. is organized
for retrospect, but retrospect that is
full of instruction and that takes hold of
the future. If these incidents of early life
in New Jersey were merely "reminiscences.
or if YOU did not find in the example of
these pioneers and in the example of these
heroes in war and these leaders in civic
thought inspiration Tor the tuture, your
society would have a less worthy subject
of study and pursuit. But. my country
men in all these things there is inspiration.
we are taught lesson that should infu-
ence us as citizens in dealing with these
great questions that are before us now for
settlement. Great applause) We shall not
lose hope of the right solution of every
public question. We shall not lose hope
that the glory OF the flag shall be aug
mentel as the years go on. ApDlause.)
We shall not lose hope that the granite
foundation upon which government has
been established shall endure long as
we find in the hearts of our fellow-citi-
zens veneration for those who framed this
government and love for those who died
that il might be established" loud and
continued applauseD
Two hundred Jerseymen shook the ex-
Presidents hand. and then he slipped
away and came to New York.
To a reporter who suggested. You would
accept the nomination in 1896. would you
not, General?' he replied. Don't ask me
to discuss politics on a historical occasion"
Another reporter asked: Have your
views on the silver question undergone any
change recently?
None whatever. and / not aware
that | expressed any was the prompt
rctort.