The San Francisco call., 1896-11-25
FLOWER MAKES A
FLOWERY SPEECH
Says the Election of Nc
Kinley Is a Victory for
the People.
Interests of the Country De-
manded the Triumph of
Sound Money.
Noted Men in Both Democratic AMI
Republican Rsnis join in a
Love Feast.

night 10 honor Ex-Governor Roswell 2.
Flower for the good work he did person.
aliy in the cause of honest money and Ma
tional prosperity. Among the representa-
tives of diverse political elements present
were: Chairmar: Edward Lauterbach of
the Republican County Committee, John
De Witt Warner. former Governor Waller
of Connecticut, General Curtis, the Con-
gressman-elect from ST. Louis County, w.
E. Curtis and others.
Robert B. Roosevelt presided at the
guests table, and on his right Ex-Governor
Flower smiled and looked complacent.
At either side sat Perry Belmont, William
d. Bynum of Indiana, Senator John Fox,
Governor Waller, Surrogate Arnold and
Iseoor Strauss.
1t was after 10 clock when the cig6rs
were lighted Mr.. Roosevelt, as toast
master. spoke in a humorous vein. Re
ferring to the guest of the evening he SAID
that he honored the man who, having
ideas OF right or wrong, let people
know what his ideas were. Mr.. Roosevelt
praised Senator Hill for the manful fight
he made in Chicago. but he added, depre-
catingly. Hill, like the chickens. went
home to roost," after the convention was
over. He then eulogized Mr.. Flower at
length, limited that the country would
hear of him in 1900 and then proposed the
latter's health. Three cheers greeted the
former Governor as he rose to speak.
Governor Flower bowed a moment, and
then taking up the thread of Mr.. Roose-
velt's toast said, Il would rather be ten
tered such banquet as this than be Pres
ident." A howl OF delight greeted this.
Governor Flower continued:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen: The hearth
ness OF your welcome leaves Inc in no doubt as
10 how your votes were cast on election day. l
know am among friends and political SYM
pathiZers. il circumstances made some OF us
more cons picuous IN the battle for National
honor 1t was not because of any more eager
interest or more unselfsh purpose. There
was no monopoly of patriotism in that con-
test and all the heroes were not commissi on ed
officers. We are able to celebrate a victory be-
cause our cause appealed 10 the patriotic in
terest OF every good citizen.
The deep, steady and strong popular senti-
ment needed but slight momentum to make
il inviucible. 1t was the quiet personal infil-
ence OF man with man which put hereiical
ideas to flight and sustained the high stand
ard OF American honor.
The yicrors are not the successful candidates,
not the Republican party or its poiiticiau not
the Democratic disbeiievers in the Chicago
Platform; but the victors are you and your
uefghbors and every man whose heart glowed
with love for America and who sought to pro-
tect her iHlr name from shame and shield her
people from poverty ana distress which would
follow financial and industrial disaster.
/ said at the Indianapolis convention that
the real issue OF the campaign of
patriotism, and with that conviction had no
doubt OF the result But the emphatic re-
Spouse of the people even more than justified
my confidence and made me prouder than
ever before of my feilow-citizens.
The character OF this victory gives it par
ticular seriousness. Glad as we are OF it,
proud as we feel over il, our joy and our pride
are not those which attacn to the usual
political victory. The test and opportunity of
patriotism did not die with the count OF the
votes on November 3. The respons Lility has
passed into fewer hands, but the necessity for
unselfsh and earnest patriotism is as keen
as before the election. From those who
have been placed in power to carry out the
mandates of the peoples will may be justly
expected no slight recognition of the soiem
ity of their trust. We, whose love for c0un-
Try compelled US on this occasion to sever
party associations, can with propriety take no
official part even were the invitation ex-
tended in framing policies OF Government or
in enacting legislative measures.
Our purpose was TO save the country from
what we believed TO be certain injury, and,
without wishing or assuming to contend Tor
the honors OF the battle, we may certainly
indulge the reflection that but for this action
on the part OF the Democrats who could not
support the Chicago platform or candidates.
the Republican party would not have achieved
victory. Ihe triumph was clearly the peo-
pies triumph, ana whiIe partisans have been
Entrusted with the responsibility of victory.
the people Will not expect those responsible
ties 10 be assumed IN Il partisan spirit, or dis
charged with partisan purposes Con troll of
executive and legislative branches OF the Gov
ernment by such all overw helming majority
OF the popular vote does not mean popular
permission to use the powers OF the Govern
ment ior Parusan ends The exhibition of
sucn spirit would be saerilege on the earn
est intent OF the American voter and treachery
to the patriotic pledges made by the RetubIi-
can candidate and his associates during the
Campaign.
II Is, therefore, TO the new President and his
political associates in Congress that we must
look to give meaning and effect O the glorious
victory which has been won. lam glad for one
to acknowledge frankly that no two men
seemed inclined to appreciate so keenly the
non partisan nature of their victory as do tho
men most directly interested, Major McKin-
ley and Mr.. Hanna. ] am proud 10 bear pub
lie te estimony TO the fine sense of conditions
and results which has been displayed by these
two men, not only during the campaign but
since the election. Their behavior and utter
ances have been in thorough harmony with
the spirit OF the contest in which they were
engaged. Stree the election there has been
none OF the usual partisan boasting and none
OF the usual party suggestions for perpetuatiug
power. It VIII be matter of great congratli-
iation if the note of victory can be maintained
at that high pitch In the legislation which
is TO be enacted the results of triumph will not
be lost ii the endeavor is honest and per-
sisten; TO serve the people and not section,
class or party.
1t cannot be denied that large part of the
support that Bryan got was due not 10 any
particular conviction of. the people on the
currency question or TO any other OF the radi-
cal pla1ks of the Chicago platform but to a
conviction which has some foundation for ex-
istence and which, growing cons family during
a generation, has naturally found freer ex-
preston during hard times, that the burdens
OF government have not been equally distri-
buted. 1t will be the duty of the Republican
party not 10 aggrayate that conviction by any
unwise or partisan legislation and TO eradicate
wherever possible any just cause for griev-
ance.
Independence or disregard OF popular feeling
in this respect will encourage lawiessness and
dissatisfaction among the people. The return
of confidence and good times. signs of which
are now Yisi bic all over the country, will give
employment to labor, and as distress is
alleyiated or removed will take the people
away from alleged Government evils. But II
the cause remainit is only question oil time
when the certain effect will become visible
once mere and the dissatisfaction and discon-
tent which follow will be harder TO reason
with and remove than IL was this time.
Prudence and justice, therefore demand a
special care, lest fresh causes OF complaint are
furnished by short-sigh:ed, selfish and par
tisan measures.
The two measures which will most promi-
nently engage the attention OF Congress and
the new President will be those relating TO
the tariff and to the currency, and In these
matters for one should like to see marked
departure from the old methods of legislation.
1t has been the custom for many years to In
trust the framing of a tariff bill to the Com