The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-11-01
President Mckinley Talks to Bust
ness Men.

came the gueSJas VI tue Clnclnnatl OoAAA
mercial club at their annual dinner. The
function was EXCUSE, although the DC
members of the club were present and were
REINFORCED by 81 guests. President NC
Kinley sat on the right of Luoien Wulsin,
president of the club, and had on his
right, j. q. Schmidlap.
The toast list began with an address by
the President of the club. Following this
was the toast, "Our Guests" To this
PRESIDENT Mckinley responded.
Other speakers were NJ. E. ingalls,,
hon. Judson Harmon, Hon. J. W. War
r1ngton and Hon. W. Fl. Taft. The Presi-
DENTS remarks follow:
Members Of the Commercial club end
guests: Approaching the purposes of the
commercial club account myself fort
innate to be Its guest tonight with the
privilege of meeting old and valued
friends, whose support and confidence
nave encouraged me and still encourage
me IN Gne performance of public duty.
| CINCINNATI has for me the pleasant asso-
Citations and memories and I may be
pardoned if 1 have feeling of home
coming as ! stand ia this presence In
the chief city of the state where | was
born, receiving your warm welcome and
| knowing 1t is sincere.
Ihere is even more that is gratifying
to me in this assembly because it is re-
presented by men Of all parties and
creecs united in common arm and a
most worthy one, that of promoting good
goVernment and disseminating these ideas
which will best insure the honor and
prosperity of the country. We gain by
Intelligent discussion Of public questions
carried on In organizations like yours,
not from standpoint of partnership,
but of good citizenship.
What will make the nation strongest
and best; what will make it's citizenship
the most useful and effective in govern
ment? These are inqu ever pressing
FOR America with every i.ghtful man.
What will arouse publ ! private con-
science to the just appreciation Of our
CIVIC obligations, is the vital creed of
your organization and the most deep
concern of all. Nothing makes more for
the government than intelligent and vir-
tuous citizenship. 1t is the foundation
OF governmental SUCCESS and is essential
to the highest destiny of the Republic.
1t should start at home and be taught
in the schools. 1t should have the inspi-
ration of example in public and private
stations The public officer should illus
trate it in his life and show it in the ad.
ministraticn Of his public duties.
OAO ClGiA6llU III UL0 SUr6uRUn Oh
any government is the patronitism of its
people, their love for it's institutions,
| their pride for its name and achieve
ments. This element finds field for
exceptional development in the United
States. We have everything to inspire
good citizenship, because we have equal
and responsible citizenship.
Responsible citizenship comes from
direct participation in the conduct of the
| government and imposes an equal re-
sponsibility upon every citizen. If we
could quicken and increase appreciation
of this responsibility, and every citizen
was made to feel it's weight and choice
| it would go far toward improving our
political and national life, The govern
ment and people are inseparable under
our system. We could not separate the
government from the people if we would
and we would not If we could. This
unity is the strength Of our political
| structures.
Our public policies and our public laws
are properly determined by tho people.
The people therefore, have every incen-
tive to noble purpose and right action in
government. They are the benefciaries
of the government and have every reason
| to love our institutions and regard our
laws becau they support and make
them. There is no greater enemy to
| tree government than careless and indif-
ferent citizenship; there is no better
friend than the vigilant, enlightened
and patriotic citizen
| Not only are we interested in these
fundamental clements which constitute
the national strength, but we have a
| deep interest in the material develop
ment of the country. No subject can bet
ter engage our attention than the promo
ton of trade and commerce at home and
| abroad. Domestic conditions are sure
to be improved by larger exchanges with
the nations of the world. We are already
reaching out with good results. Our
| surplus products OF agriculture and man
ufacture are finding foreign market and
IN the latter case to a degree thai would
not have been believed possible century
| ago. We have made wonderful progress
| in this direction and have only just be-
every nation of the world and l hope the
| time may not be far distant when our
| ships will be on every sea where com
merce is to be carried and the wants of
mankind are to be supplied.
| Commerce is a teacher and pacifcator.
1t gives mankind knowledge of one an
other. Reciprocity of trade promotes
reciprocity of friendship. Good trade in
sures good will. The heart as we'll as the
mind contributes directly to the progress
of mankind, and whenever we secure
just and fair commercial relations with
| other NATIONS we are sure to have friend
ly political relations with them.
Abating none of our interests in the
nome market, let us move steadily out
into new fields and increase the demand
Tor our products in foreign markets. Ii
should be our purpose to open trade
wherever we can, making our ships and
our commerce messengers of peace ana
amity.
| The consular service of the government
should be closely scrutinized and careful
| ly differed, and we. should have at every
commercial port of the world a sensible
| and practical American who. while dis
charging his duties with honor to the
government, will not omit in every proper
way to promote American exchanges
and encourage reciprocal trade. FINALLY
| if we are entring upon an era of prosper
ty such as many believe and all fervenGiy
| hope, remembering our recent panic and
financial experiences, we should strength
en- the weak places in our financial sys'
tenn and remove it forever from abigulty
and doubt.
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