The Portland daily press., 1897-05-29
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
secretary Gage Actresses Commercial
Club Members.

says Promise of Financial Reform Has Not
Been Forgotten and That Leaders In
Both Houses Are Working ZealousIy
and With Best Interests of Country In
| View on Tariff Law.
| Cincinnati, May 2S.-Today was the
closing day of the union meeting of the
commercial clubs of Boston, Chicago.
st. Louis and Cincinnati, and was in
terrupted by inclement weather The
crowning event of the visit of the clubs
was the banquet tonight at the Clifton
mansion. Alexander Mcdonald wa
host for the Cincinnati club.
Lucien Wulsin, president of the Gin
cinnati club opened the speaking with
an address of welcome The first response
was by Jerome Jones, president of the
Boston club followed by John J J.Glessner,
president of the Chicago Commercial
club, and Mr.. West, president of the St.
Louis club
Secretary Gage was given an ovation as
he rose to speak. He said that before
starting from Washington he had called
on the President and asked permission
to say for the administration that there
must be proper revenue raised and that
there must be a sound system of curren-
cy established. The President said.
"That is exactly what I want you to
say
AS have observed and listened to the
words passing from lip to lip among the
members OF the commercial clubs gath
cred here I discovered two particular
themes which have first place in the
thoughts of all. Those two themes are
the tariff and the public finances. JJnon
the settlement of these two questions
enterprise waits and industry languishes.
Over 30 times I have been asked when
will the tariff discussion end and tbe
measures proposed receive the final vote
which will formulate the measure into
law.
"Over so times more have been asked
have the financial reforms for which the
people struggled in November last been
forgottenp
s'Now it is not to be wondered at that
you swho have SO long borne the anxiety
and fear, who have SO long waited and
watched for the restoration of conditions
upon Which some secure estimate of to-
morrow can be made should grow nervous
and impatient over every action or word
in the establishment Of such conditions.
8 II have thought that on this occasion
could do no better than to give you
needed reinsurance and hope. AS to the
great fabric now before Congress, known
as the tariff bill, have nothing to say in
detail. want to bar testimony, how
ever, to the zeal and good faith of those in
both houses who have that measure in
charge. They are fully conscious of their
great responsibilities and are working
faithfully to discharge them Nor do /
think that the opponents of these meas
ures are likely to oppose with wilful and
unjust Instructions the course of legisla-
tion. That there will be more or less
fencing for position must be expected,
but having now come in contact with
many Of the representatives of both
houses of Congress, 1 deem it my duty
to bear witness, SO far as it may have
value, to the honorable and patriotic mo-
tives that inspire the minds of the great
majority whether upon one side Of the
house or the other, and prophecy an
early result in the national councils to
which this great commercial question is
now committed
II make these remarks not to defend n
body for whom I hold no commission to
speak, but to correct i'll one direction,
II may, the operation of an Injurious
sent1ment-a sentiment which is sowing
evil seeds in many directions. 1t is divid-
ing classes, destroying unity and breeding
hatreds. The one word for that senti-
ment is "distrust. Faith and courage
lead to conquest and the victory. Distrnst
paralyzes and destroys. As to the finan-
c1al question to which have already re-
ferTed, must content myself with
few words. / am glad that they may be
words OF assurance. If any of you har-
Dor the suspicion that the administration
just now installed into the responsible
ties of high offices has forgotten or is like
ly to forget the mandate of the people
whose voice in behalf of honest money and
sound finances rang out loud and clear last
November, put that suspicion aside. 1t
is unjust and unfounded. In good time
and in proper order the affirmative evil
dences of my declaration will appear.
In the meantime my friends, do your
part to help those charged with the legis-
lative and administrative duties. Do not
let the inertia engendered by fear and
m1strust creep over you. We have been
passing through period of great trial
and nobly we have endured the strain, /.
The future is not dark with forbodings.
1t is Illuminated with rational hope, The
revival of industry is near and with the
tablishment of revenue law sufficient
to bring into the treasury an amount
adequate to meet the expenses of our gov
ernment and with the establishment of
our finances on a sound and enduring
basis, nothing now foreseen can delay the
recovery of past losses and the Inaugural
tiOn of new forward movement along
the lines of material advancement and
social progress which we may humbly
trust is in the benevolent mind of God to
bestow upon the American people"