The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-08
Brisbane Answered Harvey.

Of the London Times, Mr.. Arthur
Brisbane responded to a toast. This
versatile fashioner of the popular ed
itorial had sat quietly for some time
listening to a corporation lawyer who
advised his hearers to beware of the
man who expresses sympathy for the
poor" and to Colonel George Harvey,
who stated few words of the evils
Of socialism and the blessings of
wealth. When Mr.. Brisbane was in
troduced he proceeded in his short,
snappy sentences to give his hearers
as straight talk as they ever listened
to In their lives. He evidently felt
II his duty at the Norcliffe dinner
to tell his self-satisfed and success
ful audience that the great common
people. of which he is the self-ap-
pointed spokesman, really, exists,
Mr.. Brisbane said In part: ..t
This is fine gathering Of power
ful men,, big fortunes. and great rep
utations. I want to say something
for the men that never had a million
dollars. never got on the payroll of
millionaire.
II don't want Northcliffe to go
back to England believing that man
without million in this country
might as we'll hide under the table
or Jump of. the dock.
THE real American nation, its real
resources. its real ability. are hidden
among those unknown seventy-nine
millions that never go to belmont.
co.'s; most of whom know as little
about terrapin as about birds nest
soup.
"Mr. Harvey says very truly, "The
great reward must go to the man of
great ability" True. But what is
the great reward. and what do you
call great ability?
If I scatter money in the street
and a thousand eager men dive to get
It I am holding up one kind of a re-
ward and call forth one kind OF
ability.
But II the child is in danger Of its
life. and a man risks his life to save
1t. that situation calls out different
kind OF ability. and reveals a man
who asks for a higher reward than
cash.
I'VE are paying too much attention
here to the men that scramble for
pennies. for dollars and for millions.
They are able. strong men, but they
are not the American nation. nor the
best men In It.
Colonel Harvey says that If you
take ten thousand men out OF this
country-the ablest ten thousand
the country will fall TO pieces. Hc
might as we'll say that If you take ten
apples Off .-ths--tree~wilI with
er and fail. Not bit Of It. You
men with money and power are the
pretty shiny apples on the tree. The
sunlight. the warmth, the praise. are
for you. but you are only the pass
irg fruit. The real tree Is the thick
trunk. The real power is with those
In the roots hidden In the SOIL
"And In this nation the real now
er. the root Of the nation, is the mass
of people--too often. like the trees
roots. hidden below in the dark and
colo. But from those roots, from the
PEOPLE. comes all the real power.
"And when this nation. and you
prosperous men face a perilous siru-
alton. as you have done in the past
and YOU will do in the future, you will
and the man to help you and to save
YOU. not at this table. not at Del
D:onico's.
There was trouble before the civil
war. serious trouble. Did the people
caIl upon a rich corporation lawyer
or great banker? No. They ask.
ed little country lawyer, with moth
Ing but good name, and a hearr to
save the country.
When that man, Lincoln, needed
hclp In his great work, to whom did
lie look? Did he find the man in
Vail street? No. Wall street was
nitc busy. as usual, picking up bar
.alnS in bonds
General Grant was there among
he roots of the people. out of sigh.
unknown. He did not have a mil
on dollars, and Dclmonico's prices
we're beyond his reach. But he had
Tie great ability, and when the na-
chn was ready To offer him what is
really the great reward-honor and
Glory - he was ready.
1T will always be so; the force is
- the pGCIlc. The strength Of ~