The sun., 1897-01-29
ROOTS PLEA FOR M'KINLEY
"sUPPORT THE PRESIDENT THH
BURDEN or HIS sPEECH.

A surrine Appeal at the Dinuer of the so-
eiety OF Colonial wsr- 60 Men OF All
Pnrtie. TO Sts,d Behind the Executive
Head efthe Government and Uphoid Hi.
Elihu Root rade stirring appeal last night
TO tho American people to lend their whole aid
aud support, without prejudice, to President
elect Mckinley when he shall have taken ofiics.
The occasion was the Hfth annual dinner Of
tho Society OF the Colonial Wdfs at Del
monico's. the chief feature OF the decorations OF
which wcro the broad red. blue. and yellow
ribbons with gorgeous pendants worn about the
necks of the representatives OF various societies
moro or lees akin to that at whose dinner thcy
were present There were the Colonial Order. the
st. Nicholas. the Holland. the St. Andrews. the
st. George and the May Flower descendants.
All the members OF the society wore medals,
ana about the only undecorated men we're Elihu
Root, Col. waring. and Com modore Sicard.
The speechmaking was begun by the Presi-
dent of the society, Frederick J. dc Peyster.
who said with other things;
Every man here is of course prond OF his an
cestors. And that pride has developed . very
commendabls zeal In the investigation Of
pcdigrees. Is. then, ancestral pride .
good thing In republic like oursf
Tho answer is simple. Ancestral pride is .
blessing or q curse as 1t 10 used by each in
dividual. Tho man to whom illustrious
pedigree Ia an opiate would bs better withouta Q
pedigree; but he who holds with Wendell Phil
lips, that to be as good as our ancestors must
DO better. will nnd in .an illustrous name one
Of the noblcst stimulants to exertion.
But whilo this society realizes the value Of
investigating and preserving pedigrees which
run back to the honored founders OF the repub-
lie. these genealogical researches are by no
means It's principal motive. The true mission
Of tho society Is tho study OF history
American. aud more particularly colonial
history. Before n man can learn to love his
native city he must be stepped In its traditions,
Its heroic memories. its very prejud!ces. The
storiod past Is tho very best stimulant to
The principal speech Of the evening was that
nSo' of iS Essd II p.rs
The ofiice OF President Ia different now from
what 1t once was. Originally the wse-t and
aether to choose for that Office man
who from his ability wisdom. and ex:
Tor the once. That hs, long since passed. The
electoral college now merely register. tho will
that the people choose one whose courage.
prudence; and ability beet ht him Tor Ii.
OF to-day is that a party or tho machine that
ran the party chose for It's candidate not . man
worthines- to the great honor but one who had
won them BY a little trick Of rhetoric.
sui.hsd ofiee Known now ,"e to % msn' e Wien n in
few weeks tho present President lays down
aqa w rfipras as.o io tse he OF SUBJ
i is TOO soon for history to measure and judge
opposing patty. out OF the confusion and
doubt o. difference OF opinion. the heat
admit these things. The man who has
been our President who Is soon TO be a sim
has known no fawning and sought no
favor: has had convictions and tho courage
duty % and has done '" and I advocated pt.Gw AWAY.
what he believed to be best for the
@ hs s9
nations. seeking not the weak. bat asserting
muss ssg few word. for for n% wSS in
hvo weeks becomes our President. In the veins
Of all & tn. men, men here noS. ,h. 6lood & oi tho:s s
noelest efforts monarch. Ars cit zsns nf rspub.
lie to be devoid Of that noble spirit which made
the followers of monarchies by-words for all
ihs, Is noble and honoraoi.t think not Our
Prrsiaent. be he OF whatever party. whsn the
Union. OF every Amsrican. and embodiss the
Sovereignty OF the American people. Our loy-
the followers Of any crowned King. wv"
I'VE are nearer to-day to colonial timos and
Quc.tions that we thought had been settled
have been opened again. The same discussions in
solved for the Constitution. have again been ses
before Us. In the van Of the conflict against tho
our institutions shall not be thrown aside bv
the onrushing forces Of socialism is the Presi-
usnt, Every American shouin stNho Dehinu hin.
We should not question lightly the motives
of his acts. We should remem Der the problems
that are before hin. His statesmanshtp may
not please you or me, but he will be bringing
together and welding together by combining
and c"ncilisting different opinions and prejn-
dices Of the people, u majority necessary to gain
the great object.
I'VE must believe in his sincerity. his patriot-
ism and honor. his desire to be the beat Presi-
dent and perpetuate the great glory OF the cUun-
try in which he has as great a stake as any one
OF U.S."
The other speakera were Col. waring. Conn