The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-08-13
SPEECHOF HON.
ELIHU ROOT
At Philadelphia, March, 1915
IL -
A Plain, Thoughtful Citizen
At Philadelphia, March, 1915

night, where my cooler judgment re-
fuses to go in agreement, and where
/ know that dispassionate stranger
would withhold his approval. Such
things as have been said within the
past hour are, however, inexpressibly
grateful to me, because they reveal
the wealth of friendship and the par
tial judgment of affection.
did not know until few min
utes ago of the purpose of The Union
League to bestow this great honor
upon me, in the gift of the medal of
the league. accept it with gratitude
and deep appreciation which will con-
tinue during all of my remaining life.
We confer no titles of nobility in this
republic, but We do what is better;
from the promptings of patriotic
hearts we repay in double measure
to overlooking, every debt which we
think we owe to public servant who
has commended himself to our pudg-
ment as Americans. No title could
be worth so much as your Judgment;
no office could be worth so much as
your approval And it comes to me
with all the more weight because l
have a sentiment for Philadelphia
and it's people, and for this club, that
has continued through all my active
life. A throng of associations COM
pels me as I come into this old club
house to remember the good men,
the strong men and the noble hearts
that I knew in days past who are
here no more. When | remember
how great a part this organization
has played in the strength and cour-
age of this great land Of justice and
liberty; when I remember how much
! owe and my children and children
children will owe to you, to feel that
you are thanking me seems almost
too much to believe.
I had been thinking, as came
over in the train this afternoon, OF
my associations with Philadelphia
and l found strangely enough, that
of all the dear friends have known
here, my mind went back constantly
to Mckinley I recall how, Is years
ago, I came here upon telegram
to meet him, to talk about the con.
dition of things in Spain. | remem'
Der how he said, There in danger
of war: there must not be war with
Spain; there shall not be war with
Spain. It must be and 1t shall be
be prevented at all hazards" Then
/ thought of how little any one man
can do. The tendencies of the mighty
eighty millions of people moved on
along the path of their destiny, and
even that great and skillful man with
all the power of his high office could
not prevent it. A nd I remember
how, couple of years after, one OF
my first journeys as member of his
cabinet was to come here to this club
to be with him in one of thise great
receptions for which you are SO
famous. And that led to reflection,
not upon specific differences between
President Mckinley and this admin
istration. between the legislation or
the policies of that time and this,
but to reflection upon what in the
retrospect acn be seen to have been
a great nationwide movement along
the path of the nations unconscious
purpose.
When we elected Mckinley in 1895
and again in 1900, it was the bust
ness men of the United States who
controlled the election. It was the
general, the almost universal awak-
ening of judgment on the part of
men *who carried on the great pro-
duction and commerce and transpor-
tation and finance in the business of
this mighty and prosperous country,
which elected Mckinley and inaugu-
rated and maintained the policies of
his administration.
How great has been the change.
The sceptre has passed from the bust
ness man. The distinguishing char
acteristic of recent years has been
the conduct of the government of the
county by men who have but little
concern with the business of the
country, by men who distrust the
man of bushes, who suspect the man
of business Measures relating to
the great business and the small and
multitudinous business oithe country
have been framed and put into effect
under influences which have rejected
the voice of those whom they most
Immediately affect. The railroad
mans testimony of what legislation
there should be affecting railroads
has been rejected. because he was a
party in interest. The bankers testi-
mony about finance has been rejected
because testimony about finance has
heen rejected because he vas party