The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-22
Ex-President Grover Cleveland
Tells a Large Audience
What is Their Duty as Ameri.
can Citizens.
TALKS AT PRINCETON
On the Occasion of the College
COmmemOration Day.
Puts in a Word ON the Side o.
Seth Low.

Princeton, N J., Oct. 22.-At the COM
memoration day exercises at Princeton
university today, Grover Cleveland de-
hVered an address on the subject, THE
self-Made Man. He said in part:
THE merit of the successful man who
has struggled with difficulties and dis
advantages must be judged by the kind
OF success be has achieved. by the use
he makes of it and by its effect upon
his character and life. If his success is
clean and wholesome, if he uses it to
make his fellows better and happier and
ii he faithfully responds to all the Oh
legations of a liberal, pubHc-spirited
and useful citizen, his struggles should
add immensely to the honor andsconsid-
GRAFTON he deserves. If, on the other
hand, his success is of the grasping.
sOrdid kind, if he clutches it closely for
his selfish qualification, and if with sue
cess he is bankrupt in character, sor-
didly mean, useless as citizen, or of
evil influence in his relations with his
fellow men, his struggles should not
save him from contempt.
Wealth should by no means be dis
paraged as representing success, pro
vided it is accompanied by reasonable
realization of the obligations it's pos
session imposes. We cannot attempt to
fix the extent of these obligations, but
we are entitled to insist that in the race
for riches the feeling and sentiment
that makes good citizenship should not
be stihed and that the rich, directly by
charity and benefcence, or indirectly
through their liberal enterprise and act
i've thrift should do something for hu-
manity and the public good.
IF wealth is the best that can be ex-
hibited as a result of success, it ought
to make its fair contribution to the vel
fare of society. This burden should
not be altogether shifted upon those
who, though without riches, constantly
give from the results of their nobler
successes, gifts that eXalt humanity.
We have a right to complain of the
rich, if, after spending their lives in
gathering wealth, they find in its pos
session no mandate of duty and no
pleasure save in the inactive and sOrd-
id contemplation of their hoard
In referring to lone particular condi-
tion of American life which sadly needs
the active and persistent interpOsition
of a well-constructed and Well-pFeSerY-
ed self-made man." he said:
Evidence is constantly acccumulat-
ing that at no point can he do more
vitality useful work than in the field of
politics. The fact that this word sig
nifying the science of government and
the administration of public affairs is
associated in the common mind with
sharp manipulation and smooth deceit,
plainly shows how badly it has been
'soiled with all ignoble use while the
contempt with which self-seeking can
didacy and party SubserViency, even in
a canvass now pending, speaks of disin-
tereSted citizens who are organized to
secure good government, a modern
uOCIIlnalreS.
professors Startlingly illustrates now
confidently arrogant partisanship dares
to insult thoughtful and intelligent cit
izenship. Since our hope Of the per-
petual endurance of our government as
the source of priceless benefit to the
American people and as proof of mans
right and fitness to govern himself,
must rest upon the peoples intelligence
and patriotism, those should be care
fully protected against malign agencies
which continually attempt to under
mine them and should be constantly
supported and reinforced by the
thoughtful educated men of the land.
ALREADY a dangerous advantage has
been gained by the forces of reckless
ness and selfishness, largely through
the indifference of those who Should
have challenged their first advance and
now when partisanship without giving
reasons assumes to lead, and hosts
without reason seem willing to follow;
and when party organization which
should be the servant of intelligence
and patriotism, proclaims itself their
master and attempts to bind them hand
and foot, the time has surely come
when all the intelligence and education
of our land should hear a call to duty.
To say nothing of actual danger to
our institutions, all must see that we
cannot gain the most beneficial results,
if the best intelligence and the most
disinterested patriotism among our
peOple either refuse to enter the field of
politics. or allow themselves to be driv-
en- from it,. 1 am not condemning par
ty allegiance founded on reason and
Judgment. Party men we may all well
be, but only with the reservation that
thoughtful and patriotic citizens we
must be. In our public life we may be
sure that as a general rule our servants
and agents will be no better than the
people who create them. They may be
infinitely worse through the peoples
neglect or betrayal. Therefore, no
true American should be willing to en-
danger the interests involved in his
citizenship, nor the pride which every
good man has in the maintenance be-
fore the world of the high character of
his government, by inaction or care
less Indication of his choice for those to
be fntrusted with national affairs.
'If the popular win in this regard
should be voiced by the intelligence
if they could be alert and exacting
in the enforcement of their will, the