The record-union., 1898-02-23

CHICAGO, Feb. 22.-Ex-President
Benjamin Harrison spoke to-day at the
Auditorium at the central meeting of the
annual celebration of the Union League
Club in honor of Washington. All the
historical and civic societies of the city
were fully represented. Among the dis
tinguished guests of the Union League
Club present at the meeting were DR..
John H. Finlay, President of Knox Col
lege; General John A. Palmer, Major
General John r. Brooke. former Gov
ernor Richard j. Oglesby and Charles
w. Smith of Philadelphia. The Apollo
Club of 400 voices furnished the music.
Ex-President Harrson's subject was
'Obligations of Wealth" He said:
Monuments and birthday anniver-
saries should be commemorative of the
virtues that are still imitable. Scient-
lists have reproduced some of the gigan-
tic animals and reptiles of the world s
early history. We look at them with
fear and wonder, and congratulate our
selves that they are extinct types. We
have no needs that they could supply.
They could not live in our environments
nor we in theirs. SO there have been
among men monsters of power and vio-
lence. We cannot forget them, but
we are glad they lived in another epoch.
The almanac maker notes their birth
days, but there are no assemblageS of
the people. If monuments have been
builded to them, they are liable to be
overturned when the dynasty changes
or the commune supplants the State.
But there are men who have SO won
our hearts that we would recall them if
we could. We feel the need of them. No
change of dynasties, 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 mon
uments of Washington and of Lincoln.
While they lived they We're at times
hated by men and by communities, but
when the full stories of their lives were
unfolded, when motives and purposes
were explored, when the universal bene-
ficence of their public services was seen,
in the establishment by one and the res
cue by the other of free constitutional
government. all their countrymen rem
dered them homage.
I'VE assemble on this anniversary Of
the birth of Washington not SO much,
if at all, to bring tribute to him, as to
learn at his feet the lessons of a con-
scientious citizenship. The imitable
qualities of Washfngton's character and
I life, those that did not exhaust them
selves on locality or a period; that
are instructive not only to military COM
manders and chief magistrates, but to
the unofficial citizen; the lessons that he
taught not for the march and battle,
but for quiet days when no drum beat
calls TO duty-these are the qualities and
lessons that should engage our thought
to-day.
I'm choosing for my theme The Obli-
cations of Wealth I am not wrestling
this anniversary from its legitimate use.
We do not need to forget-indeed, we
cannot forget Washington. when we re-
fleet upon our obligations to the State.
His life teaches no lesson more strongly
than that the citizen is under obligation
to serve the State; never to shirk his
full share of burden and labor and sacri-
fee. but rather to do more.
The word wealth in its modern use
has suffered a limitation if not per-
version. Originally and strictly If
means veal or welfare, external happi-
ness. When Paul admonished the Cor
inthian Christians Let no man seek his
own. but every man another's wealth,
he was not anticipating the modern law
OF the wheat pit and the stock ex-
change.
Wealth is a comparative term, and
my address is not for that very limited
body Of multi -millionaires, called by the
Populist orators 'plutocrats.' smaller
audience chamber would have sufficed
for them, and perhaps the orator should
have been Of the guild / want to speak
of the obligations of the 'well-to-do'
people. the forehanded, prosperous men
and women of our communities, whether
their estates are reckoned by thousands
or bv millions.
I'VE live in a time OF great agitation,
Of a war of clashng thoughts and in
terests. Men, no longer satisfied with
what appears above ground. are uncov-
ering roots. There is feeling that
some men are handicapped. that the
race is sold, that the old and much
vaunted equality of opportunity and OF
right has bmeen submerged. More bit
ter and threatening things are being
said and written against accumulated
property and corporate power than ever
before. 1t seems to many that, more
md more, small men, small stores, and
small factories are being thrown upon