Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-23

be within the legitimate and proper limits
OF commercial rivalry-and nowhere else. Ii
we Shall bring to the contest better and
cheaper goods. more care in manufacture
and better effort in the distribution we eX-
pect the fair fruitage of our planting; but
no mare. Would you deny US this? l know
you LITTER than to suspect it. We are in
wiling you to closer commercial relations.
In return to the hand you stretched over to
us the other day, which we so gladly ac-
cepted. we are now stretching a friendly
hand across the north Atlantic, which you
may grasp If you will. You have lust sent
a commission of experts to Germany to
make thorough study of the tariff stua-
ton in Germany, and to thoroughly ac-
quaint the Germans with the American sit
uation. May this step bring great advan-
tages to the commercial and Industrial life
in both our countries.
The British ambassador, Sir Henry Morti-
mer Durand, followed Baron Won Stern
burg in what, he said, would be his last
speech in this country. 1t was his unofficial
farewell. He said:
Sir Mortimer Durand's Farewell.
This being the last time shall address
this chamber or any great American au-
dience as British ambassador, you will per-
haps forgive me if for a moment l go be-
yond the terms of my toast. AS you may
know. I am about to retire from the diplo-
matte service. For some reasons 1 greatly
regret doing SO, and especially do l regret
leaving America, where L have many good
friends. From the day l entered the serv-
ice 1t was my express wish to become am
bassador at Washington. 1 regard this en-
bassy as the most desirable post in the
service. I had inherited from my father a
warm feeling toward Americans, and 1 can
say with all truth that after three years
spent here 1 am leaving the country with
that feeling not only unimpaired but
greatly increased. You have made me thor
oughly at home here. and 1 shall always
think of Americans as the most kindly and
warm-hearted of people.
STILL mans public service must come to
an end some day, and l have had nearly
thirty-four years of it-spent almost con-
tinuously out of my own country. Since 1
sailed for the east in January 1873, have
spent only one complete year in England.
Senator Elkins' Address.
Senator Elkins was the next speaker. He
said in part:
In some quarters, and among those not
well informed and who do not know the
Senate, 1t seems fashionable to talk about
the decadence of the Senate. The deca-
dence of the Senate only follow the
decadence Of the people, and would mark a
backward movement in the social condition.
morals, intelligence and integrity of the
people. So long as the people grow In vir-
tue and in intelligence, live in an advanc-
ing civilization and under free govern
ment, there can be no decadence in high
places. but instead ever-increasing virtue
and a loftier sense of duty in our public
servants.
We are apt to think and say that the
present is not equal to the past in all good
things, in patriotism. ability and purity,
and that our greatest men belong to the
past: but when the time comes the present
always find some one to take the place Of
the greatest that has fallen. The present
always has this satisfaction-it will soon
become the past to those who come after us.
We have giants among us, but they do not
Ia thnp r,nr do
always know them.
The full measure and stature of Lincoln
and Grant were not known by those who
knew them best, and are not fully known
yet The hour produces the man. Great
men come forth when great things are to
be done. This Is the experience in the
business affairs Of this great city. in bank
ing, rairoading, law and other callings.