Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-11-14
MR. CLEVELAND ON
LABOR AND CAPITAL


PittsburR, on Thursday, lie said
A most impressive exhibition is here
laid befure US OF the immense accom-
plishments OF patient, persistent work
and intelligent industrial enterprise;
and by theit side are sseD splendid
evidences of tho free dedication Of mil
lionso of tho wealth gained as a reward of
such work and enterprise to tine educa-
tion, the improvements and the elevation
OF the people without distinction or
discrimination The real impressive.
moss of this exhibition, however, con-
sists in the fact that the hands and brain
and heart of ono man have done sub
etantially all this thus demonstrating
how surely in this land Ut ours the
greatest material success in business
follows industry apd resolute effort,
and at the same time suggesting that
such success and the accumulation or
possession of large fortune create
obligations of benehcence which ought
to be Mother forgotten nor neglected.
In point OF fact, the career OF Andrew
Carnegie Iand what he has done for
himself and given to nthers, constitute
most valuable OBJ ect lesson, ilustrat-
lug all the opportunities our country
profusely offers, the inrinoibility Of
we'll directed endeayots, and the mean
ing Of American good citizenship.
The mention of the obligations which
are suggested by these surroundings as
| growing ont OF the possession of
wealth, and the reference which has
been made to the relationship between
~ discharge Of these obligations and
good citizenship, should not for mo-
ment obscure the consciousness that il
the American people are to preserve in
| their greatest usefulness the advantages
of their free institutions, every indi.
yidual, whatever may be his station or
situation, owes some sort OF duty and
obligation in support Of good citizen
charge Of which, constitutes in its
hest sense American CO operation.
| This means q reciprocity of duty
among our citizens, who have a
common ownership In national bene-
tits, and who belong 10 partnership in
national blessings, broad enough and
large enough to include all the people
OF the land. Success in business part
nership requires that each member
shall contribute his full share of labor
or capital 10 the common good, and that
he shall limit the participation in
PROFITS by just and equitable rule, and
it requires, none the less, that these
things shall be done cheerfully AID con-
tentedly. The interest of the associates
may be different In character or degree,
but those entitled to one kind of g;ade
of advantage fail in duty IL they dis
turb harmonious operation by uniustifi-
able discomfort, or by envy OF those
whose shares they consider as mora
proiitably adjusted. So, also, those
holding different and, perhapsf more in
fiuential interests have no right to raw
enuualy seize SO much Of the partner
ship assets as may be within their reach,
utterly needless Of what is duo from
them to the humbiest OF their co part
ners. Such conduct as this in a bust
ness association would inevitably lead
to disastrous contention, .atal quarrels
and disgrGcefnl failure. Va
The application Of these considera.
tions to the grand partnership OF Ameri-
can citizenship IL neither fanciful nor
sentimental. We have a country favored
of God'since its beginning -liulitless in
its opportunities for individual and ma
tional prosperity, and ready 20 yield al
all times adequate returns to labor aud
enterprise. These constitute this fund
of advantages, In which, under guar
uutJ I'll AiortOiu ouuEiSo anu tue
equality of manhood every citizen is
entitled to share. Can there bo any
doubt OF the supreme Importance oi
maintaining and strengthening thie
fund, as to the SOURCE from which hap
piness and thrift In increasing NAV be
distributed throughout the landY Ger.
tainly not, II thers is any value in the
things that make us great and pros
porous nation. Can we, then, by indiffer
ence and nagleot, by grudging and
querulous support, or by unfair appfp-
priation, permit tho partnership fund
to fall short Of its beneiicent plrposesi
No American citizen can escape his
share of the responsibility for safe solu.
tion OF this momentous question what.
ever may be his situation and interest
in our national partnership.
Differences In individual condition
must always oxist under every phase oil
civilized government and though we
constantly congratulate ourselves that
our scheme OF free democratic rule does
not allow different sections OF our people
to be psrpetually confined within inn
penetrable aud unyielding class limits
yet the gradations of indiViduaf situa-
tion among us are distinctly marked.
Indeed, | think it must be admitted
that with our restless freedom from al
hindrance to personal aspiration and
effort, and with their rewards plainly In
sight to stimulate the struggle for theii
attainment, our people exhibit great
number and variety of gradatious in
social life and material surroundings
than is elsewhere found.
IL may be- that this increases the diff
Guilty in many cases of accurately weigh
ing duty and responsibility; and it il
quite likely that struggles for higher
and more commanding places in oul
national association may enlarge selfish
desires and plans and tend to forget
fitness OF obligation to our associate!
and common fund. However this ma,
be, nothing can be more indisputabl,
than the proposition that whatever OBJ
staoles and temptations may lie ia hi.
path. no member of the partnership o
American citizenship can be true to hi
country or his associates or can antici
pate the best and most lasting results
of his efforts for advancement, unles
he maintains a loyal standing in tn,
partnership, and ungrudgingly labor
! for its success : accepting on the ONT
hand, without envy or malice towards
others, the advantages justly and fairl.
belonging TO his situation, and on thi
other hand, scrupulously resisting ever,
temptation to ignore or override th.
concessions due to tho least conspicuous
OF his oo,partnoIs
The most serious and persistent, evi
that disturbs corporation among oul
people is found IN the contentious anc
! quarrels between employers md en-
| SInvad I ahalI mt nttalilnt IN disnuss