Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1897-06-12
TRADE WAS THE THEME
LEADERS OF THE
WESTERN HEMISPHERE.
The President Took Occasion to I'm
press His Auditors with Neces-
sity of Tariff Reform.

Philadelphia June 3.-The commercial
leaders of the western hemisphere assem-
bled in the great exchange room of the
bourse tonight at what was probably the
most notable banquet ever given in this
continent. The banquet was notable not
only in point of numbers, nearly 1900 per-
sons 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 Secre-
tary of Agriculture Wilson, Attorney Cen
eral McKenna, Congressman Dingley.
Dalzel Grosvenor, Heatwold and fancy,
the ministers from Mexico, Brazil, Chile,
Argentina, Venezuela and other South
American countries. the Chinese minister
and a number of other officials from the
capital.
The Chinese minister answered to 1.-The
Orient" and then followed President Nc
Kinley's speech, in response to the toast
"The President Of the United States"
The President.
He said: Gentlemen of the Manufac-
turers' Club and Delegates to the Ma
tional Convention: For the cordially of
your reception l am deeply gratitied, al
though from my recent experience in this
great city it is not wholly and altogether
surprising and unexpected. A recent visit
to your city gave me an opportunity to
feel the warm, hearty touch of the peo-
pie of Philadelphia and to enjoy their
splendid and boundless hospitality L
must tell you that from first to last l
have been deeply impressed with the
scenes witnessed in Philadelphia today.
l have seen the remarkable spectacle OF
representatives of all the American re-
publics, with products of their skill and
their toll, in one great warehouse. The
first great convention of these represeh-
tatves was organized by the matchIess
diplomacy of that great American, James
G.. Blaine. Seven years ago he brought
the governments of this continent togeth-
err and taught the doctrine that general
reciprocity in trade required reciprocity OF
information. And it was his genius, with
that of many gentlemen l see around tins
board tonight, that originated the bureau
of American republics, located in TINS
city, which has already done much GOOD
and which l believe will yet play an I'M
portant part in our trade relations WIN
the governments supporting it. My Eel
low citizens, there is no motive to make
a product if you can't find somebody 10
take it. The maker must find the takef'
You will not employ labor to make
product if you can not find buyer Ior
that product after labor has made 1t.
Gentlemen, l am glad to meet the rep
resentatives of the many countries rep
resented here tonight. ] am glad to meet
the representatives of all the world mere
tonight. | have met the officers or Phll-
adelphia and the state of Pennsylvania.
l met you in the days of your hlgheSt
prosperity. L can not avoid the meeting
if 1 would, and | would not If l could.
But let me tell you, my countrymen, that
resuscitation will not be promoted by re-
elimination. The distrust of the present
VIII not be removed by distruSt OF the
future. A patriot makes a better citizen
than q peSSimiSt, and we have got TO De
patient, for much as we want to move
out of the old house, we shall not do 1t
until the new one is finished. The tariff
law, half made, is of no practicable use
except to indicate that in a little while
whole tariff law will be done, and 1t is
making progress 1t Is reaching the end,
and when the end comes we will have
business confidence and Industrial aCtiV-
ity. Let us keep stout hearts and steady
heads. The country is not going back
wards, but forwards. American energy
has not been destroyed by the storms of
the past. 1t will yet triumph, through
wise and beneicent legislation. Phila-
delphfans have in the past shown what
busy industries and well employed labor
can do to make a great city and large
population. They do not mean to accept
the present condition as permanent and
final. They will meet embarrassments
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, Ministers
Perez of Mexico, Ferdinande of Costa
RIGA, the Argentine minister and Con-
gresham Dalzell responded to appropri-
ate toaStS.