The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-14
At the Annual Banquet Given by the
Chamber of Commerce.
This of All Others the Nation of the
People, Which HOnors Manhood,
ConseCrates Its Rights, and Gives
1t the Freedom to Develop Its
Powers and Satisfy Its Ambitions.

CLEVELAND, May 13-Nearly 400
of the leading business and profess
sional men of the city attended the an
nual banquet of the Chamber of Com
merce at the Hollendon this evening.
The guest of the evening was Arch
bishop ireland, all the others in attend
ance being members.
After the banquet President w. H.
Warner, after a neat speech outlining
the achievements and prospects of the
CHAMBER, announced the toasts.
Senator M A. Hanna responded to
the toast Observation-Disclosures and
Commercial"
Archbishop Ireland spoke upon The
Sure Foundation of a True Citizenship.
He spoke in part as follows:
1.-The greatness of America is her de-
mocracy. America, as no other ma
ton, honors manhood, consecrates its
rights and gives it the freedom to de-
velop its powers and satisfy its ambl-
lions. America is the nation of the
people; governed for the people, by the
people and to become one of the people
of America it suffices to be man. In
this country all men are equal in cltl-
zenship; there is no civil or political
privilege for the few; there is no civil
or political inferiority for the many.
1.-The peril of America is in her de-
mocracy. / have myself fullest faith
in the democracy of America, because
have faith in the people of America,
and because the democracy of this
country has. amid terrific trials, proved
its right and power to live. l have
faith, too in the future democracy Of
the world because the manifest evolu-
ton of humanity is toward that end,
and the being who moves humanity
makes no mistake. 1 admit that de-
mocracy requires delicate and constant
care, and that its safety Will be the
reward only of never ceasing vigilance.
Whence viii come to democracy the
potency of morality? With reverence l
pronounce the sacred word-conscience.
Conscience ruling. Americans will be a
law-abiding people; for Righteousness
commands obedience TO law, proclaims
that the law of the nation is the law of
the Supreme Governor of men and OF
nations-Almighty God. Americans
will respect the rights of their fellow
citizens; conscience bids them know
that no one lives for himself alone, and
that society, with it's rights and its in
situations, is of divine mold.
"A nation without conscience is a ma
ton without a soul. The sooner the
earth is rid of it the better it is for
humanity; nothing good or great can
come from it.
What will foster conscience in the
citizens of America? I answer, relig-
ion-the sense of a Supreme Ruler, rul-
ing the whole universe from the tiniest
flower to the mightiest sun; ruling man
and aggregations of man; rewarding
and Furnishing. Patriotism is never so
potent as when it is identified with re-
lgion.
THE crisis for democracy will come
when comes the crisis for religion
EVIL days for America are those when
preached through the land; when man
is told that he is but a piece of me-
chanism which no free will controls;
that he is but a grain of dust, tossed up
for a while in the air. soon to be driven
back into the common heap, having
no responsibility, no hope, save what
clay and stones around him have. For
tunately for America, deep in the
hearts Of Americans lies the instinct of
religion; Americans will never believe
that an infinite intelligence does not
rule the universe; that the soul Of
man is not spiritual or immortal. They
will never permit that the Sabbath day
be taken from the service of conscience
to be put to the service of matter, or
that it's church bells cease their heav-
emily music. The enemies of religion
are the enemies of country and of
democracy"