The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-23
SPEECH BY GEN. HARRISON.
The Ex-President Addresses the
Union League Club, Chicago, on
The Obligations of Wealth"

CHICAGO. Feb 2e-The orator OF the
day a the meeting Of the Union League
Club at the Auditorium today was ex-
President Benjamin Harrison. Ills SUBJ
Ject vas The Obligations of Wealth"
He said In part:
Monuments and birthday anniversaries
should BE- commemorative. not creative
commemorative OF deeds that evoke wide
gratitude. and ~ virtues that are StlIl
imitable. Scientists have reproduced
some OF the gigantic animals and rep
tiles Of the worlds early history. We
look AT them with fear and wonder. and
congratulate ourselves that they are eX-
ttnct types. We have no needs that they
could supply. They could not live In our
environments. nor We in theirs. SO there
have beer among men monsters OF power
and violence. We cannot forget them.
but we are glad they lived in another
epoch. The almanac maker notes their
birthdays. but there are no assemblages
of the people IL monuments have been
builded to them, they are liable 10 he
overturned when the dynasty changes or
the commune supplants the state.
But there are men who have 80 won
our hearts that va would recall them If
we could We feel the need II them.
No change OF dYnasLes. no outbreak Of
the mob. threatens their monuments.
one can hardly conceive OF any civil revo-
luton or any riotous outbreak in our
country that would not respect the monu-
ments of Washington and Of Lincoln.
While they lived they were at times hated
by men and by communities; but. when
the full stories az their lives were un-
folded, when motives and purposes were
explored. when the universal beneucence
or their public services were seen. in the
establishment by one and the rescue by
the other of free constitutional govern
ment. all their countrymen rendered them
homage.
Lesson of washiDgton's Life.
In choosing for my theme The Obliga-
tons or wealth. ] am not Wrestling this
anniversary from its legitimate use. We
do not need TO forget-ndeed. We cannot
forget Washington. when we reflect upon
our obligations 20 the state. His life
teaches no lesson more strongly than that
the citizen IA under obligation TO serve
the state, never 70 shrk his full share
Of burden and labor and sacrifice but
rather 10 do more
The word wealth IN its modern use
has suffered a limitation. II not a per
version. Originally and strictly Il means
Veal 90 welfare. external hapDinesS
When Paul admonishca the Corlnthan
christians. Let 10 man seek his own
but every man anothers wealth he was
not antcipa ting the modern law OF the
wheat pit and the stock exchange.
The seams which mar the face Of The
social landscape seem 10 be Ndening
chasms. and II these gulfs aTe % be filed
We must establish dumps on both sides OF
them II will aid the work # those on
either side use the bridges 70 get a view
90 u from the other side Wealth should
nt Their bee the object of our enmitv nor tie
basis Of our consideration. The iulis-
cf.mlnate dcnuncia;ion Of the rich is mis-
lht Near. ana furnishes an excuse Tor
crime No poor man was ever made
richer or happier by 1T. II is quite as
AiogiCnl go despise "a mgu because he h
rich As because be- q p0or Net what a
man has. but what ne IS settles his class.
IN the discussion - an these social aues-
get together and use facts not rhetoric
EauntitS H~torc the Law,
The special purpose ~ my address to-
nay = 10 press home Snls thought upon
me pioSptrors. weli-to-do people ~ our
c.u4iaahi'$, ANA especially OF oug 81. al
elites. that one % the conditions x me
security of wealth Is IS properff0f.ats and
tui c3atil"aton SO she expenses ri tho
state and loca1 governments IL Is not
only WroNE. hut lt j. unsafe, to make a
show ia out homes aud on IN street thaf
Is not made IN the tax returns
Eg4auiy Is the golden thread that
insfitutlou~--tne dominating note in me
swelling symphony ~ liberty. Equality
nor - conditions. not of natural enaow-
meHt, but ot rtEhts. Is the foundation
stone - eur EoN"rufuvuta. structure. Ana
a. Il coroitaTy. necessary and ia. s,-rtti we
10 thls doctrine of Ar equality - rigAt
/ F@ts"le tVatftoot+oo 81 sac ros, u al
uini~tprinE tne government. Tne duty
VI the state to protect Ike liberty arc
pfol erty tS conditional GDcu a fair con-
f34 and cons 3cAtio.S discharge 81 tas+
Gatf iF thf titiftu - one 90 tHe TESTS cT
A'e4 ~ -. .sA.p. 70 eNa-e -hat d~tE o.
q moral dei,a$u' aty. au uaps.fot.c act.
III W. 40 Hat nold ty fhts Talt et rIS-
portion. wnlca ! think is ar essential
t0rt 81 tte definition e. taxes. then evets-
Ivet~-8tute THE waak revenue 0l A state
maY he &lriyea from contributions tN-
actr3 tten = F"rY Sfnt1 minority 81 frs
population ihs majority going free. To
tho minority tAuz Hrdu.y blu}saed tur
- g. sob the state - t0at alch IS essen