Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-12-27

Philadelphia, Pa, Dec. 22.-Former
President Grover Cleveland last night
delivered the annual address at the
graduation exercises of the Peirce
School Of Business at the Academy of
b Music. The ex-President, accompanied
by Mrs. Cleveland, arrived here this
afternoon from Princeton and during
their stay in the city were the guests
OF L. Clarke DAVIS, managing editor of
the Philadelphia Public Ledger, and
Mrs. Davis.
Admission to the Academy was by
Invitation card and the vast auditorium
was crowded to the doors
Gov. Stone presided at the graduating
exercises. He made a brief address
and then introduced Mr.. Cleveland.
In opening Mr.. Cleveland spoke of
the advantages derived from business
education. Continuing. be said: at
Is good to start out in lifework with
the idea firmly in your mind that the
world owes you living. OF course,
you are not to give this the highway
mans meaning, nor act upon II in a
highwayman's fashion. Neither should
the. proposition that the world owes
you living be construed az giving
license for all sorts Of sharp practices,
involving work only with the wits, and
disregard of the golden rule and every
other precept which maintains and
cultivntea hnman brotherhood. There
seems to be an inclination in these days
to adopt the version of the golden rule
proclaimed by the cunning, horse.
trading, money lending character por-
trayed in late popular novel: do
unto the other fellow the way he'd like
TO do unto you, and do it first This
Interpretation of the rule, If seriously
proposed, would arouse loud and ex-
tended protest, and yet thousands and
thousands of these who would protest
the loudest are daily and hourly acting
in precise accordance with such inter-
probation.
1.-The true golden rule lies at the
foundation of all that makes life worth
living and is the parent of every sue
cess worth gaining. We hear a great
deal just now in condemnation and
defence of trusts and combinations.
Quite lately short article in OPPOSE
tion to them was sent to me which |
was informed was the result of much
thought on the part Of an able thinker.
As l glanced on it my eye fell on a
description of a community OF people
whose wants were supplied BY trades.
men and craftsmen who were their
neighbors; they dealt together as
friends interested ia each others well
fare and willing to yield something to
each others circumstances.
This description was followed by
an arrangement Of trusts and combina-
tions as destroyers of this happy situa-
tion by first monopolizing certain
branches of the business done in COM
munities and then displ.cing with
their stranger agents and representa-.
tives tina dealers and craftsmen who
were neighbors and friends. There
may be much or Little misfortune in
such change, but l could not help
feeling that the simple, natural,
healthy, live and let-live condition first
described was worth rerIetuating.
"Of course, in attempting to win
success you are in race with your fell
lows, but you need not run foul race
nor treacherously disable your COMPETE
tors
Continuing, Mr.. Cleveland said the
world owes US just such living rs we
can gain by hard W irk. the exercise Of
all our mental faculties, scrupuious
adherence to the rules of honesty and a
never-failing obedience to the dictates
of enlightened conscience
ITO one thus properly conditioned, "
he added, There is nothing more ex-
hiIarating and stimulating than to see
gathering together in his path adverse
circumstances and feel the thrill that
gives signal Of the determined rush
against him.
Mr.. Cleveland emphasized the i'm
portance of self-reliance and persever.
ance, and, continuing, said:
"If you find the rock of impossibility
in your path go around 1t rather than
DO H..
in the new path still persevere, and il
it shall plainly appear to you that ar
pverruling Providence IS directing yor
In a way different from that of your
ahoioe follow the new way submits
sively and again persevere.
After citing several instances Of per.
severance and self-relIance on the part
of individuals Mr.. Cleveland said:
~ must no longer delay reference Il
one of the most vicious errors that may
by any possibility gain a lodgment il
the mind of anyone who has set out tt
make fight for the living which thu
world owes US all l mean the motion
that IL the daily allotted task is don,
and il the exact time prescribed fo
daily labor is spent in WORK every dut.
that can nrotitably be discharged ha
been met and every advantage that cal
iollOW Ihibnlui StFNlCb uhs B6bil BhiuSd
''lt Ia dreadful mistake to suppose
that a little extra effort in favor OF tn,
work in hand and in the interest of al
employer passes unnoticed, or that |
will remain unrewarded. The neglec
of such effort may, therefore, be
serious hindranoe to present advance
kent, besides breeding habits ant
methods Of business which, il the felt
of independent activity and competition
is ever reached, will prove handicap
to success.
''We must promptly and finally ex
clude as our standard of success mer
money getting for its own sake. l
would be strange psrversiun of on
conception of life aud its aims an,
aspirations il we should be brough
to the concession that the foitunat
gambler, the bold and lucky robber @
burglar, or even the idle, weak, puf
poseless inheritor of riches are SUCCESS
full men. When we speak of life "
mean life Of decency and active use
fulness, and when we speak OF success
We mean something that aids such
life and makes it more useful and nc
less decent--something that does nc
smother conscience or dull the sense {
moral responsibility which no on
should attempt 10 escape. We mea
the accomplishment OF such ends q
enable US to discharge better and easie
our obligations to others, and whic
lit us to make the world or at least
larger or smaller section of it bette
and hnppiar Iaoonca Of ot1r Iiuaa an