The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-15
Feels Bound to Keep the Peace
by Eschewing Politics.
&c GOD CITIZENSHIP
Is the Subject of the Former
Presidents Address.
Says That Every Citizen Should
Be a Politician.

Chicago, Oct 15.-Former President
Cleveland was the principal speaker
last night at the annual banquet of the
Commercial club in the auditorium
hotel.
The subject discussed by Mr.. Cleve-
land was American Good Citizenship
and he dweIt at length on the neces-
sity of every citizen doing his part to
make political action what it should
be- This is the first time in eight years
that Mr. Cleveland has visited Chicago,
and he received an enthusiastic greet
ing when he appeared at the speakers
table. His speech in full follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen:-I
am certain that it is not necessary
to assure you of the pleasure it affords
me to meet the members of the Com
mercial club Of Chicago. You must
know, as wei as if you were told a
thousand times, that it is not in hu-
man nature to be less than delighted by
your open-handed hospitality and
hearty greeting. / do not know that my
pleasure is al all diminished by the fact
that ! have reached you only after re-
peated inability to accept prior invita-
lions, since ! am to understand in
most emphatic way that my failures to
accept your hospitality in the past have
not fatigued your courtesy and friend
snip IuQeeG, nope my fTankneSS VIII
be excused when 1 say that my COM
plete enjoyment is allowed at this mo-
ment only by the chilis and quakes of
speech making. Even in this Dredica-
ment, find comfort in the thought that
the ordeal will soon be over; and / have
reached a sort of peaceful composure
by steeling myself against my own en-
barrassment and your disappointment
As 1 understand my situation I am
under bonds to keep the peace if posi-
IN z,r,1f
words shall speak tonight; and 1 hope
l may fulfill the condition of my bond
and avoid disturbing those most sus-
picious of my conduct # l deal with the
old, old topis, American Good Citizen
ship"
There is danger that my subject is So
familiar and so trite, as to lack inter
est. This does not necessarily result
from want of appreciation of the i'm
pOrtance of good citizenship, nor from
denial of the duty resting upon every
American to be 4 good citizen. There is,
however, abroad in our land a Self-sat-
iSfied and perfunctorY notion that we do
all that is required of us in this direc-
ton when we make profession of our
faith in the creed of good citizenship
and abstain from the commission of
palpably unpatriotie sins. This belief IS
inevitably the parent OF a sort of self
righteous. zcontentment, which leads us
on quite we'll under the direction Of
occupation. For ourselves, we are good,
quiet, respectable and inoffensive citi-
zens; and we are not politicians. We
ought not to be badgered and annoyed
by the preaching and eXhOrtationS of
restless troublesome set of men. who
continually urge upon us the duty of
active and affirmative participation in
public affairs. Why should we be charg-
ed with neglect of political obligations
We go to the polls on election day, when
tOn hI1GU with other things and vote
the ticket our party managers have pre-
pared for US. Some times when cOndi-
lions grow to be so bad politically, that
a revival or stirring up becomes neces-
sary. goodly number of US actually
devote considerable time and effort to
better the situation. or course we cam
not do this always, beca use we must not
neglect money-gettiDg and the promo
tion of great enterprises, which, as eV-
erybOdy knows, are the evidences of
nations prosperity and influence. A
great many people and a great deal of
lime are necessary to periodically care
for these things; and somehow it IS
more pleasant to promote the cOuntry's
good and at the same time our own fin
ancial prospects. in this way, than by
habitually meddling in political opera
tions.
Fl seems to me that within our citizen
ship there are many whose disposition
and characteristics very much resemble
those quite often found in the member
ship of our churches. In this member
ship there is a considerable proportion
composed of those. who, having made
profession of their faith and joined the
church. appear to think their duty done
when they live honestly, attend worship
regularly and contribute literally to
church support. In complacenJ satisfac-
ton, and certain of their respecta bility,
they do not care to hear sermonizing
concerning the sinfulness of human ma
ture, or the wrath to come; and if hap
iy they are sometimes reused by the
truths of vital Christianity, they soon
relapse again to their tranquil and easy
condition of listlessness.
A description of these. found in the
Holy Writ. may fifty apply to many in
the state, as well as in the churcn:
For if any be a nearer of the word
and not a doer. he is like unto man
beholding his natural face in a glass;
for he beholdeth himself and goeth his
way. and straightway forgotten what
manner of man he waS''
There is an habitual associate of
American civic indifference and listless-
ness which reinforces their malign ten
denotes and adds tremendously to the
dangers that threaten our body polite.
This associate plays the roll of a
smooth, insinuating confidence operator.