The record-union., 1897-06-03
AT THE BANQUET TABLE.
A Notable Event Which Took Place
at Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA, June 2.-The COM
mercial leaders of the western hemi-
sphere assembled in the great exchange
room of the bourSe tonight at what was
probably the most notable banquet ever
given on this continent. The banquet
was notable, not only in point of num-
bers, nearly 1,500 persons participating,
but in the distinction of the chief guests.
President Mckinley was there, and he
spoke to the assembly. Seated at the
table of honor were Secretary of Agri-
culture Wilson, Attorney General Nc
Kenna, Congressman Dingley, Dalzell,
Grosevnor, Heatwole and Taney; the
Ministers from Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Ar
gentine, Venezuela and other South
American Governments; the Chinese
Minister and a number of other officials
from the Capital.
President Mckinley sat on the right
of the presiding officer, DR.. Pepper, and
on his other side sat Theodore c. Leach.
The Secretary of Agriculture, the Attor-
ney-General, Mayor Strong of New
York, Mayor Warwick and a number of
the foreign Ministers occupied the same
table
1t was nearly 10:30 o'clock when the
speech-making began. Governor Hast
ings opened the list by responding to
"A welcome from Pennsylvania The
odore c. Leach followed with Our Man
ufacturing Industries" the Brazilian
Minister spoke, and ex-Secretary Olney
then responded to international Law"
The Chinese Minister answered to THE
Orient" and then followed President
NJ
toast, The President of the United
States" He said:
Mr.. POSTMASTER Gentlemen of the
Manufacturers Club and Delegates to
the National Convention, Ladies and
Gentlemen: For the cordiality of your
reception I am deeply grateful, al
though from my recent experience in
this great city it is not wholly and al
together surprising and unexpected. A
recent visit to your city gave me an op-
portunity to feel the warm heart touch
of the people of Philadelphia, and to
enjoy their splendid and boundless hos
pitality. 1 must tell you that from first
to last have been deeply impressed
with the scenes witnessed in Philadel-
phia to-day. have seen the remarka-
BILE spectacle of representatives of all
the American republics with products of
their skill and their toll in one great
warehouse.
1.-The first great convention of these
republics was organized by the match
less diplomacy of that splendid Amer
lean, James G. Blaine. Seven years ago
he brought these Governments of this
continent together, and taught the doc
trine that general reciprocity in trade
required reciprocity of information.
And it was his genius, with that of many
gentlemen I see around this board to-
night, that originated the Bureau of
American Republics, located in this
city, which has already done much good,
and which, 1 believe, will yet play an
important part in our trade relations
with the Governments supporting it.
MY fellow citizens, there is no mo-
tive to make product if you can't lind
somebody to take it. The maker must
find the taker You will not employ la
Dor to make product if you cannot find
a buyer for that product after labor mas
made it.
Gentlemen, 1 am glad to meet the
representatives of the American Re-
publics here tonight. l am glad to
meet representatives of the Govern
ments of all the world here tonight 1
have met the manufacturers OF Phlla-
delphia and the State of pennsylvania
before. l met you in the days OF your
highest prosperity. / cannot avoid the
meeting if l would, and | would not II
I could But let me tell you, my coun-
trymen, that resuscitation will not be
promoted by recrimination. The DIS
trust of the present will not be removed
by distrust of the future. A patriot
makes a better citizen than pesSimlst,
and we have got to be patient, for much
as we want to move out of the old
house, we shall not do it until the new
one is finished The tariff law half
made is of no practicable use except to
indicate that in little while, a whole
tariff law will be DONE and it is making
progress. It is reaching the end, and
when the end comes we will have bus
mess confidence and industrial activity.
Let us keep stout hearts and steady
heads The country is not going back
ward, but forward. American energy
has not been destroyed by the storms
of the past 1t will yet triumph,
through wise and beneficent legislation.
what busy industries and we'll en-
ployed labor can do to make a great
city and a large population. They do
not mean to accept the present condi-
ton as permanent and final. They will
meet embarrassment as they have
braved them in the past, and in the end
will restore the splendid industries and
the magnificent labor to prosperity.
and, gentlemen, Philadelphia is but the
type of American pluck and courage
everywhere throughout the United
States"
Following the President, Minister
Perez of Mexico; Ferdinande of Costa
Rica, the Argentine Minister, and Con-
gressman Dalzell responded to appro-
pirate toasts.
Autonomy for Crete,