The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-15

Mr.. Cleveland's Address.
Mr.. Clevelands subject was American
Good Citizenship" He said:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen--I am
certain that IL is not necessary TO assure
you of the pleasure ii affords me TO meet
the members of the Commercial Club or
Chicago. You must know. as well as as II
you were told a thousand times, that II is
not in human nature TO be less than de-
lighted by your open-handed hospitality
and hearty greeting. L do not know that
my pleasure is at all diminished by the
fact that / have reached you only after
repeated inability to accept prior invita-
tons, since l am TO understand In most
emphatic wav that my failure TO accept
your hospitality In the past have not
fatigued your courtesy and friendship. In
deed, 1 hope my frankness will be excused
when L say that my complete enjoyment Is
allowed at this moment only by the chills
and qualxes of speech-making. Even in this
predicament / 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
LAS l understand the situation, / am
under bond to keep the peace IL possible.
by eschewing politics in the few words I
shall speak tonight, and i hope may full
fill the conditions of my bond and avoid
conduct IL deal with that old, cid topic,
American Good Citizenship
There is danger that my subject is so
This does not necessarily result from
want of appreciation of the Importance OF
good citizenship. nor from denial Of the
duty resting upon every American TO be a
good citizen. There is, however. abroad in
our land a seif-satisfied and perfunctory
notion that we do all that is required OF
us in this direction when We make profess
sion of our faith in the creed or good citi-
zenship and abstain from the commission
of palpably unpatriotic sins. This belief
is inevitably the parent of sort OF SELF
~ -.
quite well under the direction of those
who make political activity their occupa-
ton. For ourselves, are good, quiet,
respectable and inoffeEsivc citizens, and we
are not politicians. We ought not TO be
badgered and annoyed by the preaching
and exhortations of a restless, trouble
some set of men who continually Hrge upon
us the duty of active and affirmative par
ticipation in public affairs. Why should
we be charged with neglect of political
obligations? We go to the polls on election
day, when not too busy with other things,
and vote the ticket our party managers
have prepared for US. Sometimes when
conditions grow to be so bad politically
that a revival or stirring up becomes neces-
sary a goodly number of US actually devote
considerable time and effort to better the
situation. OF course, we cannot DO this
money-getting and the promotion of great
enterprises. which, as everybody knows,
are the evidences OF a nations prosperity
and influence. great many people and
great deal of time are necessary TO patrieti-
cally care for these things: and somehow
it is more pleasant to promote the countrys
good and at the same time own finan-
cial prospects, in this way, than by habit
ually meddling In political operations.
LIKE SOME CHURCH MEMBERS.
ut seems to me that within our citizen
ship there are many whose disposition
and characteristics very much resemble
those quite often found in the membership
of our churches. In their membership
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 con-
tribute literally to church support. In COM
placent satisfaction. and certain of their
responsibility, they do not care to hear
sermonzing concerning the sinfulness Of
human nature, or the wrath to coroe, and IL
happy they are sometimes aroused by the
truths of vital Christianity, they soon re-
lapse again to their tranquil and easy condi-
"A description of these, found IN the
Holy Writ may fifty apply TO many In the
state, as well as in the church. For IL
any be a nearer Of the word and not doer,
he is like unto a man beholding his natural
face in a glass; for he beholdeth himself
and goetb his way, and straightway forget
teth what manner OF man he was
There is habitual association OF
American civic indifference and listless-
ness which reinforces their malign tenden-
cies and ADDS tremendously to the dangers
that threaten our body polite. This assocf-
ate plays the roll of a smooth, insinuating
confidence operator. Clothed In the garb
of immutable faith I'm the invuinerability
of our national greatness, IL invites our
admiring gaze to the hight of the American
eagle, and assures US that no tempestuous
weather can ever tire his wings Thus
many good and honest men are approached
! through their patriotic trust in our free
| institutions and immense national resources,
| and are insiduously led TO a condition OF
| the uncomfortable thought that any omis-
sion on their part can check American
progress or endanger our countrys con-
tinued development Have we not lived as
| not exhibited growth and achievement
| i'm every direction that discredit all parallels
! i'm history? After the deluge Why then
need we bestir ourselves and why disturb
| ourselves with public affairs?
ssThose OF our citizens who are deluded
by these notions and who allow themselves
| 10 be brought 10 such frame OF mind.
NAV well be reminded OF the good old
| lady who was won't TO fmpressively declare
/ that she had always noticed II she lived
until the first Of March she lived all the
| resi- of the year. liz Is quite likely she
/ built a theory upon this experience which
! induced her with the passing Of each Of
those Hateful days TO defy coughs, colds
/ and consumption. and the attacks OF germs
| and microbes I'm a million forms. However
| This may be so, we know that with no de-
| sign or intention on her part there came q
| first day OF March which passed without
her earthly notice
BALEFUL ENEMIES.
1.-The withdrawal OF wholesome sentiment
and patriotic activity from political action
| on the part OF those who are Indifferent,
20 their duty. or foolhardy in their optim.
ism, open the way for ruthless and unre.
| lenting enemy OF our free Institutions The