The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-23
Orator Of Day at Chicago Ami
TersaTy Celebration
CROWDS HEAR EX-PRESIOEAT
Americans Too Prone to Lose Sight of
Holidays Significance-July Fourth
ReveI of Noise-Addresse
at Banquet at Night.

at Banquet at Night.
Chicago, February 22-Ex- President
Grover Cleveland was the orator of the
day at the celebration OF the anniversary
of the birth of George Washington,
which is annually held under the auspices
of the Union League club of this city
Mr.. Cleveland addressed an audience
that completely filled the great audi
torium and his grafton was greeted with
many manifestations of approval.
Americans are as a rule, Mr.. Cleveland
declared, too prone to lose sight of the
significance of the proper observance of
the public holidays. The Fourth of July,
he asserted, has degenerated to a revel
of senseless noise and dangerous ex-
plosion which bears in its train far more
OF mishap and accident than lessons of
good citizenship or pride of country.
The republic has, he said. imperative
need of Washington, and his example
and teachings are as important to the
present generation as his labors and
guidance were necessary in his own time
The address of Mr.. Cleveland was as fol-
lows:
Mr. Cleveland said:
THE American people are but little
given to the observance of public hol-
days This statement cannot be disposed
of by the allegation that our national
history is too brief to allow the accumu-
latlon of days deserving civic commemor-
alton. Though 1t is true that our life as
a people. according to the standard meas
urlng the existence of nations. has been
short one, 1t is filled with glorious
achiements; and though it must be con-
ceded that 1t Is not given to us to see in
the magnifying mirage of antiquity, the
exaggerated forms of American heroes,
yet in the bright and normal light shed
upon our beginning and growth, are seen
grand and heroic men who have won i'm
perishabie honor and OH everlasting re-
membrance.
I'VE cannot, therefore, excuse a lack
oe commemorative inclination and Ian
guid interest in recalling the notable in
cidents of our country's past under the
plea of a lack of commemorative mater
ial; nor can we in this way explain on.
neglect adequately to observe days which
have actually been set apart for the
especial manifestation of our loving ap-
probation of the lives and the deeds of
Americans, who in crises of our birth and
development have sublmely wrought and
nobly endured
Exclusive Absorption.
If we are inclined to look for other
excuses, one may occur to us which,
though by no means satisfying, may ap-
pear to gain somewhat fanciful plaus-
ibility by reason of its reference to the
law of heredity. 1t rests upon the the
ory that those who secured for Amerl-
can nationality its first foothold, and
watched over its weak infancy, were SO
engrossed with the persistent and uu-
escapable labors that pressed upon them,
and their hopes and aspirations led them
so constantly to thoughts OF the future
that retrospection nearly became with
them an extinct faculty. and that this
1t may have happened that exclusive alb
sorption In things pertaining TO the pres
ent and future. became so embedded in
their natures as to constitute a trait OF
character descendible to their posterity
even to the present generation.
There is another reason which might
be advanced In mitigation of our lack OF
commemorative enthusiasm which is so
related to our pride of Americanlsm,
that IL we could be certain of it's suf-
ficiency we would gladly accept it as
conclusive. 1t has to do with the un-
derlying qualities and motives of our
free institutions. Those institutions had
their birth and nurture In unselffisn
patriotism and unreserved conservation:
and by decree of fate beyond recall or
change their perpetuity and benefcence
are conditioned on the constant devotion
end single-hearted loyalty of those to
whom their blessings are vouchsafed
But after all. why should we attempt
to delude ourselves? | am confident that
voice your convictions when I say that
no play Of ingenuity and no amount OF
special pleading can frame an absolutely
creditable excuse for our remissness in
appropriate holiday observance.
July Revels.
The commemoration of the day on which
American independence was born has
been allowed to lose much OF it's signih-
cance as n reminder of proVidenual IA
vor and the inhexible patriotism of the
fathers of the republic. and has nearly
degenerated to a revel of senseless noise
and dangerous explosion, leaving in its
train far more of misbap and accident
than lessons Of good citizenship or pride
of country. The observance Of Thanks
giving Day is kept alive through 1t an
nual designation by federal and state au-
thority. But II is worth our while to
inquire whether its original meaning, as
day of united praise and gratitude to
God for the blessings bestowed upon us as
a people and as individuals is not smoth-
cred In feasting and social indulgence.
We in common with Christian nations
everywhere celtDThlB iHIlSll1dS now
much less as day of commemorating
the birth of the Redeemer OF mankind
than as n day of hilarity and the inter-
change of gifts?
I will not without decided protest be
accused of antagonizing or deprecating
light hearted mirth and jolity
Advocates Enjoyment.
ION the contrary / am an earnest ad-
vocate of every kind of sane. decent social
enjoyment, and all sorts of recration. But
nevertheless I feel that the allowance Of
an incongruous possession by them of our
commemorative days is evidence OF q cer-
tain condition, and Is symtomatc of a
popular tendency which are by no means
reassuring.
"On this day the Union League club of
Chicago should especially rejoice In the
consciousness of patriotic accompaniment;
and on this day OF all others every one
of its members should regard his MEM
bership as a badge of honor. Whatever
else the organization may have done it
has justified its exfNence and earned
the applause OF those wfr-2e love of coun-
try is still unclouded by the work 1t has
done for the deliverance of Washngton's
birthday from neglect or indolent re-
membrance.
.In furtherance of the high endeavor Of