The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-15
GOOD CITIZENSHIP
CLEVELAND'S THEME
Made an Address in Chicago and Received Warm
Reception

Chicago, Oct. l.-"Give to our people
something that will concentrate their
common affection and solicitous care
and let that be their country's good;
give them a purpose that stimulates
them to unite in lofty endeavor-and
let that purpose be demonstration
of the efficiency and the beneficence of
our popular rule
This was the solution offered by
former President Grover Cleveland as
a remedy for corrupt politics. in a
speech before the members OF the Com
mercial Club at their annual banquet
given at the Auditorium Hotel to-
night. The subject discussed by Mr.
Cleveland was, American Good Citi-
zenship," and he dwelt at length on
the necessity 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 re-
ception by the 200 banqueters when he
appeared at the speakers stand. His
speech, in part, follows:
LAS 1 understand my situation, am
under bonds to keep the peace if pos
sible,, by eschewing politics in the few
words l shall speak tonight; and
hope / may fulfill the condition of my
bond and avoid disturbing those most
suspicious of my conduct If | deal
with that old, old topic, American
Good Citizenship.
There is danger that my subject
A,-sf 10 nnl
interest. This does not necessarily re-
suit from a want of appreciation of
the Importance of good citizenship, nor
from a denial of the duty resting upon
every American to be good citizen.
There is, however, abroad in our land
a self satisfied and perfunctory notion
that we do all that is required OF US
in this direction when we make pro-
fession of our faith in the creed of
good citizenship and abstant from the
commission of palpably unpatriotic
sins. This belief is inevitably the par
ent of a sort of self-righteous content
ment, which leads us on quite We'll
under the direction of those who make
political activity their occupation. For
ourselves, we are good, quiet, respec-
table and inoffensiVe citizens; and we
are not politicians. We ought not to
be badgered and annoyed by the
preaching and exhortations of a rest
less. Troublesome set of men, who
continually urge upon us the duty
of active and affirmative participation
in public affairs Why should we be
charged with neglect of political OBJ
legations? We go to the polls on cleo
ton 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 revival
or stirring up becomes necessary.
goodly number of us actually devote
considerable time and effort to better
the situation. OF course we cannot do
this always, because we must not neg
lect money getting and the promo
ton of great enterprises, which, as
everybody knows, are the evidences of
a nations prosperity and influence.
A great many people and a great deal
of time is necessary to periodically
care for these things; and somehow
it is more pleasant to promte the coun-
trys good and at the same time our
own financial prospects, in this way,
than by habitually meddling in politi-
cal operations.
at seems to me that within our citi-
zenship there are many whose DISPOSE
ton and characteristics very much re-
semble those quite often found in the
membership of our churches. In this
membership there is 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 complacent satisfaction, and GER
tain of their responsibility, they do not
care to hear sermonizing concerning
the sinfulness of human nature, or the
wrath to come: and If haply 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 we'll as in the church:
For il any be a nearer of the word
and not a doer. he is like unto a 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.
'sThere is an habitual associate of
American civic indifference and list
lessness, which reinforces their malign
tendencies and adds tremendously to
the dangers that threaten our body
politic. This associate plays the roll
of n smooth, insinuating, confidence
operator. Clothed in the garb OF inn
mutable faith in the invulnerabilitv of
our national greatness it invites our
adniring gaze to the fight Of the
American eagle, and assures us that
no tempestuous weather can ever tire
his wing. Thus many good and hon
est men are approached through their
patriotic trust in our free institutions
and immense national resources, and
are insidiously led to a condition OF
mind which will not permit them to
harbor the uncomfortable thougnt tnat
any omission on their part can check
AntNI ..--....-a l.....l. r,r,,olat LIaI-a