Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-11-20


cation of the splendid new building for
the New York Chamber of Commerce
took place at noon today in the pres
snoe of many notable men.
These included President Roosevelt,
sx- President Cleveland, Gov. 0dell,
Mayor Low, representing the national,
State and city governments great
figures of the financial and business
world, j. Pierpont Morgan. John d.
Rockefeller, Morris X. Jesup, Cornelius
n. Bliss and Levi p Morton Bishop
Potter, Rev. DIR. Morgan Dix and
special delegates from the British, Ger
man and French governments. The bar,
the army and navy, arts and letters,
education and science were all amply
represented, making galaxy of men
such as had not been gathered together
In long time.
The notable guests gathered at 65
Liberty street, the imposing marble
pile which is now the center Of New
York's commercial interests. After the
President and the other dignitaries
had been received ceremoniously, Rev.
DR.. Dix offered the dedicatory prayer
President Jesup made the opening
address, reviewing with pride the great
progress made by the United States in
It's commerce and the part played by
the chamber since its inception.
SPEECH OF MIR. CLEVELAND.
Ex-President Cleveland followed
He said:
sit need not surprise US if the popu-
lar estimate of this business organiza-
tion should fail to take into account
all that it has done to promote high
and patriotic purposes not always re-
lated, in narrow sense, to commerce.
No associated body of our citizens felt
more deeply and effectively the throb-
bing of patriotism and devotion to
country when our government was
threatened by armed rebellion; its pro
test and aid was Immediately forth
coming when afterward an insidious
attack was made upon financial in
tegrity through an attempted debase-
ment of our currency; from no quarter
has more earnest and insistent de-
mand been heard for the adjustment of
International disputes by arbitration;
Its espousal of the cause of business
education among our people has been
hearty and practical; it has advocated
enlarged reciprocity of business rela-
tions between nations and the removal
of their yexations hindrances, and last,
but by no means least, it has promptly
and with an open hand relieved dis
tress and allegiated disaster. Such in
oidents as these illustrate the organi-
cation 8 beneficent accomplishments in
the advancement Of civilization and in
furtherance of the improvement of
humanity.
If we justly appreciate what these
things mean we shall realize that com
merce has done an immense service to
humanity by enlarging within its
wide influence the acceptance of the
laws of honest dealing among civilized
communities and by curbing mans
hesetting sins of selfishness and greed.
:" We shall thereupon be led to ap-
prehend the especial benefits in a
moral sense that have accrued to our
own countrymen from the work and ex-
ample of the Chamber of Commerce of
New York and of kindred institutions
scattered throughout our land. They
have brought together vast number
of our citizens and made the American
merchant, who, too great to be mean,
has. by bold enterprise and brave
venture, challenged the admiration of
the world; equally as important as this
in its moral complexion and sieniti-
canoe. they have, by the adoption and
enforcement of rules for their govern
ment, illustrated to q people apt to
chafe under enforced restraint how
usefully they themselves may volun-
tarily restrain and regulate their con
duct, and beyond all, they have di-
Tectly and by example leavened the
mass Of our citizenship with love of
scrupulous honor and largely con
tributed to the preservation OF true
American devotion to fair play.
What / have said must not be un-
derstood as in the least intimating that
commerce should be ran altruistic or
benevolent affair, managed on lines of
amicability ana concession. Such
conception would be ahsurdity at fault
Commerce is born of 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 keeness in securing
business opportunities does not by any
means import unmindfulness of all
else save ruthlessness and ravenous
snatching
AS the pioneer of colonization and
expansion sordidly undertaken in its in
terest, commerce has in other days had
justly laid at its door cruel aggression
and ruthless disregard OF human rights
in regions where, to use the language
Of an apologlst, the welfare of the in
habitants of these possessions is sub
ordinate to the strategic or commercial
purpose for which they are held If
any measure of restitution OF compen
satlon has fallen due from commerce to
humanity on this score, we know that
its full acquittance has been made or
is forthcoming, and we certainly should
have no cause to fear. that like guilty
responsibility will be again incurred.
These exercises recalling SO forcibly
the growth of American commerce in
worldwide influence abroad and in
usefulness and benetioence at home
cannot failto be OF interest TO all our
countrymen: but the citizens of the
greatest of our States and of our i'm
perIal city, with all they have to make
them proud and happy, must especially
congratulate themselves upon the asso-
citation Of their State and city with the
fame and honor which have been
wrought out by the Chamber of Com
lnerce of New York
When Mr.. Cleveland arose to speak
he was greeted with loud cheers from
the assemblage. Several times as he con-
tinued he was interrupted by applause
ROOSEVELT WELCOMES FOREIGNER
At the conclusion of Mr.. Cleveland,s
address Morris X. Jesup, president of
the chamber, announced that President
Roosevelt, although reserving his chief
address for the banquet in the evening,
had consented to say few words
As Mr.. Roosevelt sterped forward to
address the chamber the whole assem-
niags arose ana cheerea. he spoke as
follows:
"As [ am to speak to you this even
ing, | shall now simply say a word of
greeting to you and to your guests. |
have been asked here as the Chief Ex-
ecItive of the nation, and so [ can