The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1911-10-28

friendless;
l would be giving, and forget the gift;
l would be humble, for l know my
Weakness
l would look Upland laugh-and love
and lift"
My friends, l assure you that this
occasion is one of the happiest periods
OF my life among you, and l hope l
may ever maintain the place that this
large and representative gathering,
coupled with the encomiums extend
ed, warrant me in believing l have in
your esteem. There are very few per-
sons who do not care for the good
opinion OF their fellow men, and I as
sure you | am not in the minority
class.
For the past quarter of century,
despite all counter infuences-and
they have been not a few-I have
maintained THE APPEAL, it never
having missed an issue in all that
time. THE APPEAL may not have
been; and, may not be now, all that
some Of you have thought it should
be; and, in fact, it never was all |
might, could, should or would have
had it. No man has ever yet con-
Quoted newspaper, or anything else,
for that matter, that completely suit
ed everybody-and never will. l
might have done better, though, if I
had had the proper moral and finan
cial support of the people in whose in
terest it has ever labored, for there
are several thousands of dollars justly
and legally due the paper, which some
OF the people who receive it as regu-
larly as it is issued seem never to
think of paying. Why they do not
treat their obligations to THE AP-
PEAL as they do, or should do, other
legal obligations I never could under
stand.
One Of the things l have always
prided myself upon is, that l am not
like the bird that befouls it's own
nest, and have made it a rule to not
tell all of the shortcomings, foibles,
faults and frailties of the people of
Minnesota; so l would not even let
the world know through the columns
of the paper that you were not prop
erly supporting it. And, l will not
further mar this delightful occasion
by upbraidings other than to say each
one of you knows for himself whether
VI uoL Hc 10 guilty DIS SCI lOl I'll Ill IllS
Indictment.
I am very proud that, directly or in
directly, l have been the means of
bringing together this very large au.
dience, and I hope each one present
will fully enjoy this occasion, and
when you depart for your homes you
may feel that it was we'll to have been
here.
I know not how long I will be per-
mitted by the Ruler Of the Universe
to cucumber His footstool, but I shall
in the future, as in the past, endeavOr
to merit the good will of the people of
this commonwealth by doing as have
always dOne-the best I can.
when I am dead, if men can say
He helped the world upon it's way.
With all his faults of word and deed,
Mankind did have some little need
OF what he gave"-then in my grave
No greater honor shall crave.
If they can say-if they but can
"He did his best, he played the man
His ways were straight; his soul was
clean;
His failings not unkind nor mean;
He loved his fellow men, and tried
TO help them"-I'll be satisfied.
But when I'm gone, if even one
Can weep because my life is done,
and feel the world is something bare
Because I am no longed there;
Call me a knave, my life misspent-
No mater. I shall be content.
And, now, my friends one and all