The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-11-14

Barnes, II. AttWater Barnes, CnarleS
r. Bates, l., Wheeler Beecher, William
H. Beecher, William s. Beecher,
Frank II, Belden, f. A. Belts, Henry
T, Blake, Edward e, Bradley, George
II. Bradley Henry C. Bretzfelder,
Harry b. Brown, G. B. Bunnell, NJ. w.
Burwell, Frank c. Bushnell, w. c.
Bushnell, Frederick S. Calhoun,
George r. Chamberlain, Horace f,
Chase, David II. Clark, Edward l.,
Clark, Edward M Clark, W. S, Clark,
Frank A. Corbin, James l.. Cowles,
John M. Champion, Henry W. CraW-
ford, Patrick j. Cronan, Evarts CUT
Ter, James D. Dewell, Charles n.
Downs, and others.
DR. Phillips speech was as follows;
RESPONSIBILITY OF BUSINESS
MEN FOR THE MORAL CONDI-
TION OF THE COMMUNITY.
l am five years old this month. That
is to say, l have lived in New Haven
five years. OF course the years spent
outside of New Haven do not count on
mans life.
l have tried to be modest. I have
never forgotten where l was. I have
become somewhat accustomed to my ex-
alted privileges. / have become used
to the warmth and eXuberant demon
strativeness of the New England char
acter. | have learned to distinguish
the one who is town born from the out
side barbarian who, for one reason and
another, is tolerated here by the proud
WI cro11a pOnlxaH within.
sight of the Center church.
At first / feared this magnificent be-
ing; his dignitied movement, his compla-
cent, own-the-world air, his fearless eye
as under his silk hat right and left he
glanced filed me with awe, and gave
me q certain creepy feeling along the
spine. But I have learned that, when
once he is sure the barbarians are will
ing to concede his superiority and do
not intend to thrust themselves unask-
ed into his august presence, that they
are glad to stub their humbles toes on
his ancestral brick sidewalks, and to
| founder in the mud or swallow the
dust of his colonial pavements, ne IS a
| harmless, and, on the whole, a kindly
| creature who evidently has a place in
| the Almighty's plan Of the universe,
| though perhaps not so large a place as
he sometimes imagines. Having learn
ed these useful things, and having
| borne myself with becoming humility
for five years, / feel that have a right
to be .naturalized though 1 control but
one vote; as also to speak out in meet
| in, especially when I am invited to do
So What l have to say may sound to
some of you somewhat like a sermon
| that is, If you can recall how a sermon
ought to sound. But how could min
! lister fail to preach to such an audience
as this? If you do not want sermons
at your dinners you must not invite
ministers to speak, or come to church
more and give US chance at you there.
| You have doubtless heard some female
reformers declare that the women pre-
dominate in the churches and the men
in the jails; l have not been obliged to
go to jail very often, so that L cannot
ivouch for the truth of the last state
ment. But / am bound to take men
wherever can catch them. One of Mr.
John Wesley's rules for a preacher
was ego where there are the most, and
the most needy hearers"-th why
am here.
This chamber doesn't need to be
preached to about public improvements
or civic pride in material directions. II
has long ago answered the ancient ques-
ton of Mr.. Bromley 1t is doing some
thing between meals. 1t is interested
in everything that benefits the city. II
has a quick, discerning eye, an oper
hand and large ambition. Through
the mild persuasions of your wives, and
other female rulers, you are supporting
many relief and reform institutions
You are doing it nobly. I have recently
had occasion to investigate this matter
and / am surprised at the number o1
these institutions and at the amount Of
efficient service they are rendering the
community Our business men are as
suming the full responsibility which the
presence of these classes imposes. Few
cities of our size have so many wisely
administered organizations for the care
of dependents and delinquents. But
gentlemen, your duty to the community
is not ended when you have secured
public improvements, maintained it:
commercial honor and prosperity, ant
given your money for the support o
e1emosynary institutions. A true civil
pride strikes deeper than that, ant
reaches out beyond it.
You are responsible for clean govern
ment, the enforcement of law and th'
moral order of the community. VIII!
do I say that, and say it. so bluntly
Because you hold the balance of power
You can have things as you will.
have the profoundest faith in what W
call the people, but the people must b.
led. And the men of affairs, the bust
ness and professional men, the mel
who have most at stake, must be tn
Leaders. When wise and well know
business men advocate a measure Il
the press or before the town meeting
that measure usually carries. The peo
pie accept the established reputation o
these men for sagacity and success a
a guarantee of the wisdom of the meas
ure, and believe that the large interest
they have at stake will prevent thei
advocacy of anything foolish or extrav
agant. Their words, their announce
positions, have like authority on 9th
: er questions, when they speak the peo
pie listen, the side they espouse is tn
popular side. In this lies their responsi
; bility. There are two great question
before the American people to-day
These are the race question at tn