The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-14

New York, November 1l.-N1th the
president and a former president OF
the United States as it's guests of hon.
or. and with representatives of foreign
governments and other distinguished
persons present the New York Cham
Der OF Commerce formally dedicated
Its building in this cay today. The
proceedings were opened with a prayer
tor of Trinity church. An. address OF
welcome by Morris K. Jesup, president
of the chamber, followed, and then the
grafton of the day was delivered by
former President Grover Cleveland.
Former President Cleveland said in
part:
1t need not surprise Us if the popular
estimate of this business organization
should fail to take into account all that
it has done to promote high and pa
trlotic purposes not always related, in
a narrow sense to commerce. No as
ooiat body of our citizens felt more
deeply and effectively the %throbbing OF
patriotism and devotion to country
when our government was threatened
by armed rebellion; its protest and ala
was Immediately forthcoming when,
afterwards, an insidious attack was
made upon financial integrity through
an attempted debasement of our cur
rency; from no quarter has a more
earnest and insistent emand been
heard for the adjustment of interna-
tional disputes by arbitration; its
~espousal of the cause of business edu-
cation among our people has been
hearty and practical; it has advocated
enlarged reciprocity of business rela-
lions hnf HVopn nations aud the rPn1nvnv
oktheir ~vexatious h~indrances; and
ldi, but by no means least, it has
promptly and with an open hand re-
Iieved distress and a:eviated disaster.
IF we justly appreciate what the
things mean we shall realize that COM
merce has done an immense service to
humanity, by charging within It's wide
influence, the acceptance of the laws
of honest dealing among civilized COM
munities and by curbing mans beset-
ting sins of selfishness and greed.
What I nave said must not be I'M
derstood as in the least intimatfng that
should be an altruistic or
benevolent affair, managed On lines or
aniability ana concessions. Such 4
conception would be absurdly at fault.
Commerce is born of enterprise and
enterprise in this busy, bustling age, Is
born of struggle and competition. But
the struggle and competition need not
be to the death. AlertneSs and keen
ness in securing business opportunities
do not by any means import unminful-
ness of all else save ruthlessness and
TayenOuS snatchinE.
IF any measurc of restitution or
compensation has fallen due from com
merce to humanity, to this score we
know that its full acquittance has been
made or is forthcoming; and we Ger
teinly should have no cause to fear q
like guilty responsibility will be again
incurred"
When Mr.. Cleveland rose to speak ne
was greeted with loud cheers from the
aSesmblage n several times in his
speech he was Interrupted by applause.
At the conclusion of MIR. Cleyeland-s
address. Morris K. JeSup, president or
the chamber, announced that President
Roosevelt. although reserving his adj
dress for the banquet this evening, had
consented to say a few words. As
President Roosevelt stepped forward 10
address the chamber, the whole assem-
blage rose and cheered. He spoke as
follows:
Nh. President and Gentlemen: AS
T am to speak to you this evening, 1
shall now simply say a word of greet
ing 20 you n 10 Your guests. I have
ZEN asked here as the chief executive
81 the nation and So l can speak no;
merely on o behalf, but on behalf
Of our people as a whole in greeting
and thanking for their presence here
ACS 1890
tries who nave done us the n and
pleasure of being present today. Gap
plause.) 1 greet the Ambassador (turn-
ing to Dir. Cambon) whose approaching
departure, we SO sincerely reSret, the
ambassador to whom, on his advent We
extended such hearty greeting and eS-
peciallv representatives of those EreaI
friendly civilized nations with whom
we intend to be knit even closer byeties
of commercial and social good viii IN
the future Cunning to the Russian and
British ambassadors and Prince Henry
Won Pless-)
And gentlemen, having greeted you
guests on behalf of you. / greet You IN
the name of the people, not merely
because you stand for commercial slc-
cess. but because this body has been
able TO show hat the greatest COM
merciaI success can square with the
immutable and eternal laws of decent
and right living and of fair dealing be-
tween man and man."
The demonstration as the president
concluded ended with three cheers.
Mayor Low made the concluding ad-
dress and the ceremonies closed with
a benediction by Rev. Morgan Dix.
New Orleans Meetings.