New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-18
MIR REID TO OUR GUESTS"

The Chamber is necessarily a non-partisan
bOCy. There are Democrats here and RepubH-
cans; there are Civil Service reformers and other
sorts Of reformers; there are also the men who
sit on the fence and throw stones impartialIy
at both sides, and probably there are Prohibi-
toHlsts-Jhough one may wonder from appear
ances before us tonight whether DelmonIco has
yet found them out.
II is a characteristic too, Of our form Of
government and OF our people. from which the
Chamber has not wholly escaped, 70 develop
multitude Of varying opinions on almost any
given subject, and at almost any given time.
Perhaps I may venture 10 add. for the benefit OF
newcomers among US. that the fewer there
who support any particular view, the more shrill
and ear-piercing is likely to be their voice
But there are several things on which the
members Of this Chamber are absolutely agreed
Here are They all mean that relations
10 the beautiful islands and TO the people the
other side Of the globe. suddenly left our
hands by the fortune Of war, shall bring to those
people good and not harm. They all mean, like
wise. that these relations shall be made useful
and not harmful 10 ourselves.
This Chamber contains and represents the mer-
chants who conduct trade in one Of the greatest
trade centres OF the world. 1t has always had
among its honored members men identified with
trade in the further East. The older among
viii recall in particular one conspicuous associ-
ate VINO lalu the lounuatloh or MS fortune N
Manila. before he returned 10 become president
and reoTganZer Of the Illinois Central Railroad
Others early taught US the possibilities OF trade
with China, others gave the first commercial
greeting to Japan. The members of this Cham
Der are not blind now TO the enormous stir in
had there 10 be insignificant in comparison with
what Is about TO open They comprehend the
part the Pacific Ocean is to play III the CONNER
cial interchanges Of the twentieth century. and
you can find among them mourning because
th.. flag OF their country dots the whole way
across that ocean and is firmly planted on either
side. They would not be the merchants of New
York would not possess the sagaclty and enter
prise that have made this port and city what
they are. If they did not look forward with COM
mon and equal confidence TO New-York as the
financial centre of the world and TO American
commercial supremacy the Pacific.
Even on these points outside this Chamber
tur guests viii hear many contradictory voices
They win learn after while that in a land Of
so much freedom speech becomes very huld and
runs everyw here but they Will learn also that
IN the end II finds its level They Will come 70
distrlist mere sentimentalists. This government
wasn't founded by such men. or preserved by
them. and is not now and never has been con-
trolled or conducted by them. The mere senti-
rnentalists have raised protests against every
great advance il has made and every great man
n has produced In our national disputes they
have generally been for the other fellow; N our
great Civil War a considerable number OF them
ouposed Lincoln and wanted TO let the hayward
sisters depart in peace; and they are now prov