The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-18

What of the banker who flirts with
honor? A great man has said. Though
l walk barefooted and blindfolded over
burning plowshares, l have nothing
to fear with truth to guide me- Truth
is life, the philosophers guide, the
statesman's compass, the Christians
hope and shield.
Now, with these reflections as a ba-
sis, l am more than ready to serve as
the mouthpiece of my association at
this time May 1 not felicitate myself
that truth is on my side this morning;
that this is an occasion where l am
called upon to weigh words or split
phrases. / have listened to the well
come so happily voiced to us and I
know that its acceptance is already de-
termined in the hearts of all North
Carolinians present. 1 have but to
speak the word.
In behalf of the North Carolina
bankers and in the spirit of truth
accept the cordial welcome extended to
us. l thank the speaker in all truth
for his kind words and rejoice with my
fellows that we are here. Having
spoken thus l might sit down fully ac-
quilted of the pleasant duty laid before
me. But there are times when occa-
sion and place tug at ones sleeve
whispering this thought and that
happy thoughts-and the speaker de-
spises his own weakness in his inabil-
ity to give them utterance. l ann con-
scious of the spell engendered by this
rightful domination of sentiment over
the common place, but dare not accept
the challenge.
Occasion and place are uppermost in
our minds this morning. An assem-
bly, of bankers suggests naught to the
idle mind but money, but this occasion
signifies something more than money.
If l read Alright it implies a conscious
ness of obligation, an anxiety to rem
der better service. What is money? 1t
is sometimes the price of service, all
ways the price of chips, old paper, and
whetstones. Money is power for
good-for evil
scious of obligation. Money is a badge
of failure in the hands of him who Is
ignorant of his duty. Service is barely
tolerable for him who does not enjoy
a never refining sense of obligation to
serve more perfectly. These are the
thughts ! would emphasize concerning
this occasion.
Now as to the place-beautiful Sa-
vannah! The wisest present are COM
PEELED to recognize this as a beautiful
Southern city throbbing with industry
perity, and rightfully wearing the
queenly robes which mark her as more
highly favored than her Southern sis
ters.
II know of no profession in whom
conservatism of speech is more becom-
ing than that of the banker. The word
conservatism has to do with the pres
ervation rather than exclusion. Wheth-
er this is playing with the definition
or justified. 1 care not; my fondest
hope is that you may preserve in your
minds along with the heroes of whom
l have just made mention the thought
of another people who are very dear
to certain strangers within your gates
Following the examples of their an
cestors North Carolinas have always
shown great elaboration in measuring
every situation or undertaking, and to
the uniformed have appeared slow.
They have asserted a strength in peace
and in war beyond the limits laid down
by every other people and in the con-
seriousness of a God they seek light
above the horizon-they love sunlit
faces and eyes that reflect the stars.
You welcome into your midst only
faulty representatives of this great
people, who, bearing no envy, rejoice
as lovers of truth in the glory of your
great state and in the prosperity of its
greatest city,"