Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-19

fering from continuous distress, seems to
be the not altogether uncertain question OF
the future. We have solved many prob
lens for the worlds better government
We have given liberty an abiding place
for 100 years. We yet will lind some oppor-
tunity TO offer relief to the struggling pa
triots of Cuba. The Union, one and indis-
soluble, has nothing to fear from foreign
foes, and is bound together tonight by ties
of commerce, stronger than statutes or
constitutions. But in its new character in
its greater strength, there are coming TO
the front questions of as great Importance
as any our fathers met in '16 or 81.
l speak tonight TO business men. Men
who hold in their hands the reinS of conf
merce and who in large part control the
traffic of the West. Yet / ask you to par
don me if l attack the modern definition
of a business man. Somehow, there has
grown in recent years an inclination 10
look only upon the representative OF large
interests as one worthy to bear that name
It is not alone the great bank factory or
store that forms the country's business in
terest, but every smith at his forge, every
farmer behind his plow, every lawyer
bending over his books is a part of the
business world. 1t is not that factories
may flourish, nor that the great stores
may thrive, but that these little individual
atoms may live and grow and strengthen
that means the most for our country's fut-
ure To-day no greater evil stands con-
fronting our government than the tenden-
cy of wealth to organize itself into trusts
and combinations and CrowdinS out all
competition, force the small dealer out of
business and into servitude.
To correct this evil is a problem that
American patriotism and American states
manship owe to American liberty. 1t is
the just pride of many. if not all, of the
successful men at this board tonight that
whatever fortune they may now possess
they have themselves wrung from the close
fist of fate. 1t is the glory of our Coun-
try that the ralsplitter and the canal boy
were numbered among its presidents God
grant that your childrenS children may
have the same stimulus for individual eff
fort that spurred you on to success. and
may the day never come when an Amer
ican is born into a clerkship or a trade.
Every organization of wealth that monopo-
Lies a new field of industry practically
closes the door of that department TO the
ambitious boy. Pardon me again If l say
to n business audience that the success of
trade is not the ultimate aim of govern
ment. Prosperity may come too high.
Peace at any price is oftentimes too dear.
No man can read the early history of this
republic without becoming deeply i'm
pressed at the unanimity of sentiment that
ruled the American colonies from their
very infancy to resist all encroaChments
upon their rights and infringements upon
their liberty. They had discovered the
true aim of government was not prosperity
hut liberty. What is our country? 1t con-
sists not of ships or railroads. 1t is not in
factories or stores. Our country is not our
rolling prairies. our wooded valleys, nor
manufactures. nor mines. nor snOwclad
peaks nor fertile plains. Our country lies
in the hearts and interests of our country
men. The building of happy homes. how
ever humble the maintenance of common
schools. the true foundations of popular
government. these are our best buc1ess
interests. and over and above all, the in
stilling into the heart of every citizen n
loyalty to republican institutions and an
undying love of liberty. May the time
never come when we shall cease to say,
Sweet land of liberty. of thee we sing!'