The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1907-05-11

serious MISTAKE, III lOCdllu6 LII OuE
cities and draining the country of its
power and strength. AS a rule the
individual American is swallowed up
in the great city. and the Italian i'm
migrant is absolutely losing his in
dividuality when he remains in the
great cities; if l had any advice to
give to the Italian, as well as to the
young boy of my own State. l would
advise him to stay In the country. not
that the city does not have its attrac.
tons, but as a rule the individual
identity of the man is absolutely lost
in the city; the laboring men as a
rule become simply machines auto
matically worked under certain rules.
want to see the country prosper, l
want to see the farmer prosper and
want the Italians to engage in
farming and to build up their homes
in the country. where they can raise
up their children, so If they remain
in this country. they will be an honor
to it, and If they return to their
native land. they will be an honor to
their people. l can imagine nothing
that Is more independent to me. that
is to me more attractive. than the
life Of the farmer; he enjoys the
fullest of independence and he is
bound to no one or to anything. The
doctor is a slave to his patient, the
lawyer is slave to his client. the
multi-milliOnaire is slave to his
dcl!ar, but the farmer is an absolute
ly independent man. Under the in
spiration of that moral, physical and
mental power, he grows morally as
Byron said, this is wholly commun-
ion with nature, and not solitude" 1t
gives him courage to rely upon him.
self; he grows mentally stronger all
the time, he takes unto himself, un-
consciously, a part of this govern
ment, realizing these responsible
ties and the responsibility of citizen
ship.
To you, my fellow-citizens, and to
you. my Italian friends, the greatest
opportunities, the greatest indepen-
dence and the greatest knowledge, in
my humble judgment, goes with the
great farmer. l am not hater of
the rich man, I want him to be rich,
I want him to be rich and I rejoice
in his riches; and wish every one
of you here to-day was a millionaire.
And now, Mr.. Consul, l am not in
any manner speaking against the
splendor of your country or the equal
ization of your own Italian people,
but I want to say that when they
come to this country, when they en-
joy its prosperity, when they enjoy
it's splendid citizenship. they never
forget and I should not have them
ever forget sunny Italy. They do, as
you know, drift to the stars and
stripes. Not because of any antagon-
ism have they left it, not because
they have better and more opportuni-
ties to gain wealth and a comfortable
living in this magnificent government
which our fathers erected, they have
it on the principal of |
and that govern |
ment is government that springs |
from the people and the consent of |
he governors. Mr.. Consul, am not, |
Is I have said, speaking in any way |
Upon the prosperity of your country,
)ut am merely speaking of the many |
Advantages enjoyed by your people |
Who have come to our country. This
'epublic may be wrecked, but I do
believe that the graf mass of Ameri-
:an people will preserve this govern
nent; do not believe they will ever
lllow it to die. I believe that the
tar which shines to the honor of this
epublic will remain in the skies for
centuries to come.
While our nation may be severely
'ersecuted, as it was years ago,
'elieve that our country Is going to
'ecome grander and am sure that
is going to grow stronger as the
ears 60 by. I believe that it will
I've and that during its life it will
ecome so great and strong that it
will be a refuge for the people of
very country and the oppressed
rom every land. l do not believe
hat God will ever allow this land of
reedom and prosperity to perish
rom the earth.
Now, Mr.. Consul, permit me again
say that on behalf of our people
re welcome you here, and on the
ehalf OF these Italians we welcome
gu. Do not let them deceive you, i'll
ley wish to, by telling you that the
bodily things on the festal board are
aything unusual or extra for them.
scause it is almost an everyday
eal with them. They are prosper /!
is and we join with them in their
and we thank you for the
stinguished honor of your presence
ere to-day.
The next toast proposed was to t
Our Country, and the toast. I
aster turning to Hon. j. Y. San
ers said: II call upon our
lieutenant Governor, and our
overnor to be, to respond" Mr.. t
anders speech: a
r. POSTMASTER and Gentlemen:
There is no sentiment that l would a
Their respond to than the one pro-
cad In thu onk nk l n