The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-23
PLEA FOR THE WHITE METAL
THINLY YELLED IN SILVER-CO ATED
WORDS AND PATRIOTIC PHRASES.
james WhitcOmb Riley Among the
Guests at the New York CeIebra-
tiOn-Observances Elsewhere.

including many distinguished men, were
present The tables were devoid of decora-
tions, except for the miniature pyramids of
yellow doughnuts and rosy red Baldwin
apples Throughout the evening the parlors
of Delmonicos were thronged with New
Englanders, representing every one of the
States so designated.
An hour was spent in social intercourse
and although the dinner was set for $3.50 it
was o'clock when the guests seated them
| selves at the tables. Among those who sat
at the guests of honor table were: j. Pier
pont Morgan. Joseph H. Choate, General
Wesley Merritt, james Whitcomb Riley,
Richard Olney, Senator Edward o. VOL
cott Rev. Dr. Lyman Abbott, Gov. Frank
S. Black, Senator George T.. Hoar, Presi
dent Charles w. Eliot, General Nelson A.
Miles and Mayor William J.. Strong. The
dinner was made up of good old New Eng
land dishes and during its discussion
quartet, assisted by the greater portion of
those present, sang popular airs.
The speeches began at 10 o'clock and
Rev. DR.. Lyman Abbott responded to the
toast 'Forefathers' Day" After reviewing
the origin and growth of Puritanism. he
declared that if Puritanism reigned in Mas
sachusetts at the present time it would not
be safe for DR.. Eliot to remain there for
a moment and he himself would have to
depart to New Amsterdam.
Governor Black was next introduced and
responded to the toast, THE State of New
York"
President Charles W. Eliot, of Harvard
University, said that the Puritan spirit sur
wives and that the descendants Of the Puri-
tans are now doing just such things as the
Puritans themselves had done.
SENATOR WOLCOTTS ADDRESS.
Senator Edward O. Wolcott, of Colorado,
received hearty applause when he arose to
respond to the toast The East and the
West"
Mr.. Wolcott began with humorous refer
ence to the resignation with which the ex-
lies from New England bore their banish-
ment. then spoke of an alleged desire of the
Canadian government to acquire the State
of Maine and portions of New Hampshire
and Vermont in exchange for territory in
western Canada. Serious thought on the
subject of possible cession of part of
New England Mr.. Wolcott said brought
"a realization of what it would mean to
this people to face the possibility of chang
ing by the shadow of hair the contour of
these States or the sacrifice cf chip of it's
native granite however barren" He con-
tinued: Not only does this sentiment per-
wade the land, but we seem at times TO be
developing an inclination to invite some
other country to differ with US in order that
we may demonstrate our united aggressive
ness.
In certain directions our domestic differ
ences are crystallizing and not disintegrat-
ing. For more than a generation we have
waited for the day when parties would di-
vide solely on national questions, and when
the old sectional issues growing out of the
war and the race problem would be buried
The time came. The parties met on a broad
economic question, and To-. we emerge from
the contest threatened with another bitter
sectional division. The far West, largely
the enid of the East and pulsing with its
| blood joins hands with the South. The new
alignment is not only debtor against credi-
tor class against class, but in a land per-
| Vaded with equal devotion to what its peo-
pie believed in the truest welfare of the
| whole country great majorities in one sec
| ton face equally great majorities in an
other
"The West is not decadent; it's views are
| Of men viriie industrious and genuine and
| their beliefs are honest. They would scorn
any sort of evasion of an obligation. They
are patriotic men. There is in the whole
| far West hardly Northerner born who was
old enough 10 go to the war whom you will
not see on Decoration day wearing proudly
the badge of his Old corps They are Amer
icans-to proportion greater, far greater
than In the East, native-born American citi-
zens. The views they cherish are held with
practical unanimty SO universal feeling
as that which pervades the great West can
not be all wrong. You cannot dispose of
conviction held by millions of intelligent
( you may find it worth your while to look for
the truth where 1t is usually hidden-some-
where between extremes.
somehow it is not really recognized in
| the West that ability to reorganize d West
| ern railroad, and swell it's stock and Sc
! curities several millions every time it is
| fOrpclOGpn nppGSSnrilW Indicates
! ability to determine the wisest economic
| policy for the farmer who lives along the
| right of way. And men who would no more
dream of intrusting their banker with the
| duty of formulating their financial views
than they would of intrusting the man of
| whom they bought a shotgun with the com
mand of the armies of their country, are
naturally inclined to fear that in this part
of the moral vineyard there is a tendency
to assume that the possession of great
wealth means necessarily the possession of
great wisdom.
1T is, only few years ago that New
England was uncommon proud of that
West which her sons had so largely peo-
| pied and her resources, lavishly ventured
had done so much to develop. Perhaps they
are only supersenSitiVe Westerners who
fancy they see in certain quarters a subtle
change and inclination to criticise, in
ability to find much TO commend and Il ten
dency to look still further to the eastward
for methods and ideals fit to follow. l hope
it is all a mistake. Contentment cannot
come to this land by sections, and it can
never come except under conditions which
bear equally on the whole people. Only the
other DAY a Cabinet officer came over to
enlighten one OF your great commercial
bodies, and with gifted Chicago ina gina
tion, quoted Walt Whitman, told you how
our fathers, when George III was king
dashed the cup from their lips precedent
/ am glad to see has not been followed at
this dinner. and talked about obstruction
at Washington. having reference to the
Senate. 1t is rather new use of the term
to call a man who does not vote as you
want him to an obstructionist, and in the
last hundred years the balance and check
on hasty Legislation which the deliberations
Of the Senate have furnished have been of
infinite advantage to the country.
THE century now ending has been full
of growth and glory. 1t has witnessed the
Republic rise from insignifcance and pow
erty TO wealth and greatness. Most of us
here tonight can recall the dark days OF
doubt and from them have seen the people
emerge triumphant nation of freedom all
free A continents width may divide US
but the same flag greets us at the dawn.
the forty-five stars all bazoned alike upon
its azure field, all yours and all ours In
days of peace, as in time of war, the altar
of patriotism is an altar of sacrifice. and,
please God, we will start the new century