The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-30
DOCTORS OWE POLITICAL DUTIES.
President Cleveland Stirs the PhySI-
clans Up I'm An Address.


New York, Jan. 2S.-The Academy of
Medicine celebrated its seml-centennial
tonight in Carnegie Music hail. The ex-
ercises consisted of addresses by DR.. Jo-
seph d. Bryant, the president of the acad-
emy. and by Samuel S. Purple NJ D., and
by Lewis A. Sayre, NJ. D., the founders
of the academy, an Grafton by A. Jacobi
the former president of the academy, and
an address by the President Of the United
States, Hon. Grover Cleveland.
The hall was crowded. From orchestra
to the topmost gallery every seat seemed
filed, the boxes being brilliant with color
and pretty women in evening dresses.
Hail to the Chief" greeted the Presi-
dent as he entered the hall on the arm
of Dr. Bryant, the audience rising out of
respect to the nations executive.
Bishop Henry c. Potter, dressed in the
purple robes of the Episcopate, offered
the opening prayer.
President Joseph d. Bryant, NJ D., then
made the opening address of welcome. DR..
Bryant explained that the objects of the
academy was for the purpose of fostering
the medical profession. to better the study
of medicine and the maintenance of a good
medical library.
I DR.. Purple. Dr. Sayre and Dr. jacob
spoke on the aims and work Of the aead-
emy.
Mr. Cleveland was then introduced by
DR. Bryant. The opening and larger part
of Mr.. Clevelands speech was devoted to
complimenting the doctors upon the rapid
advancement their science is making, and
upon the resulting benefits to the human
he eli Of 10
fects in existing medical legislation and
put the question to the assembled COM
pany whether they were sure their duty as
citizens had been as fully discharged as
had been their professional duty-wheth-
er they were doing all in their power to
remedy the situation he described.
He said: I'VE cannot but think that
the discoveries and improvements in the
medical practice which we now enjoy are
dearly bought If the members Of the pro-
fession, in their onward march. have left
behind them their sense of civic obliga-
tion and their interest in the general pub
lie welfare. We cannot accuse you of ut
ter neglect of your duty to the country,
and yet we cannot keep out Of mind the
suspicion that if your professional work
in exposing evils were more thoroughly
supplemented by labor in the field of citi-
zenship, these evils would be more speed
lily corrected.
IF laws are needed to abolish abuses
which your professional Investigations
have unearthed, your fraternity should
not be strangers to the agencies which
make the laws. If enactments already in
force are neglected, or badly executed, you
should not forget that IL is your privilege
and duty to insist upon Their vigorous and
honest enforcement. Let me also remind
you of the application to your case Of
the truth embodied in the homely in
fsn1. all daf a
do it yourself If members of your pro-
fession were oftener found in our national
and state legislative assemblies ready to
advocate the reformatory measures you
have demonstrated to be necessary and to
defend your brotherhood against t1ippant
ana sneeering charges of impracticablhty,
the prospect of your bestowal upon your
fellow men of the ripened results OF your
professional labor would be brighter ana
nearer.
while suggesting the need Of your in
huence in legislative circles for the ac-
complishment of reforms, related TO your
profession, you will, ] hope, permit me, IN
conclusion, to enjoin upon you the duty OF
an active and general interest and par
ticipation in public affairs for the promo
ton of your country's good in all its
phases. Our government was founded on
faith and anticipation that those who loV-
ed 1t most and were best able to hold 1t
steady, would be at its helm. without
this it will surely go astray. Never did
patient need your medical treatment more
than the body polite needs the watchful
care of your patriotic and disinterested
citizenship.
mo object of personal ambition and no
activity of professional life should be per-
mitted to withhold from our government
the tithe of devotion and service due from
it's thoughtful. intelligent and educated
citizen. The reward of a willing recogni-
ton OF bur obligation to watch and pro-
tect our free institutions and preserve
them from weakness and decay Will sure
ly come when just government, support
ed by the patriotism of a loving people,
shall bestow with equal hand upon us and
all our countrymen the blessings of ma
tional peace, contentment and happi-
ness"
After the exercises Mr.. Cleveland went
to DR.. Bryant's house, where he will pass
the night. He will return to Washington
tomorrow.