Year: 1875

ton of the company for their own sci,
| fish purposes. / have ever desired


that this company should be made the


means of restoring integrity to com.


meree, of destroying and in future


making impossible gambling aud dis


honest ring speculations, and that its


business should be conducted ON the


basis of freedom from every kind ol
fraud. adulteration, imposition OF


tricks of trade" 1t is also my desire


and hope that it will be the means Of
securing for productive industry its


just reward, aud of causing thousands


now needlessly employed in distribu-
ton to engage in works of production.


am perfectly satisfied that our oper-


ations will lead to a more equal dis


tributiop Of the wealth of nations


among the masses of the people,


and thus bless the many instead
of the few, irto whose hands it


has Of late too rapidly concentra-


ted. believe that it will in time,


prevent strikes and unhappy con-


troyersies between capital and labor,


the employer and employed. believe


that it will so equalize commerce aud


the steady demand for staples, food


and manufacturing products MS to pre-


vent those periodical financial panics


which are at the present time so de-


structivc to public confidence apd SO
suiuous to millions of innocent people.


There never was time in the his


tory either of this country or Great


Britain more opportnne for the sue
cessful Inauguration of this scheme
than. the preseat, and-l-am not
surprised at the almostuniversal favor
with which it has been received.


| indulge in no extravagant language
when say that, as directors in this
company, the destinies of millions are
in your hands, aud that future histo-
rians will record that you were either
unmindful of the Importance of your
position and derelict in the discharge
of great public duty, or that, dis
regarding all minor considerations,
you grasped the subject in a manner
that showed the possessions of broad
intelligence and generous impulses,
aud that you carried out the plan in a
manner worthy of the great trust aad
confidence reposed in you.


That there will be difficulties to
overcome may not for a moment be
doubted, but a mans true greatness is
shown in his ability to meet and over
come them, The weak-minded only
cover at the supposed stone in the
path.


" The wise and prudent conquer diff
fcaltles. while sloth and folly, daring
to attempt them, shiver and shrink at
sight of toll aud danger, and make the
inpossibility they fear.


Having been chosen on account of
the qualities above named, believe
that you will prove yourselves equal to
the task of conducting the business of
the society, and pushing it to sue
cessful issue. The direction is in your
hands. | am but your servant, your
executive officer. ready and waiting to
carry out your instructions, until sue
cess is beyond perandaventure, when
l hope to retire to the walks of private
and professional life. content to leave
to future genera tions to ay how far my
life has been spent in the service of
God and humanity. This movement
has been started for the people. |
trust it will be conducted by the
people, and tend to the elevation
and Advancement of the people.


The second condition insisted on by
me. and conceded by the English board,
was that should never be required to
handle one penny of the funds of the
on either side of the Atlantic.
A moments. reflection will satisfy you
that this condition was eminently ju-
dicious. You must. be too well ac-
quainted with human nature tesuppose
that man identified with great pub
lie movement like this. q movement |
that strikes at the very root of selfish
ness aud fraud, movement that as
sumes to change, not only the charac-
ter, but channels of commerce, a move
ment that sternly demands of the idler
that he should cease to live on the la
bors of others and go to work, move
ment that in les very incipiency re-
Dukes the usurer, condemns the dis
honest spectators, and promises to
take away the occupation Of those who !
have bound twenty-fOur millions Of
our best citizens in chains of com
mercial slavery.


| say you can not suppose that the
advocate and originator of such
scheme will be permitted long to pro-
ceeG without feeling the vials of wrath
poured upon his head. Neither should
you suppose, gentlemen, that the man
lives in whose life, especially if he be
a positive man and much engaged in
public work, some blot may not be !
found, when searched for by the Mi
croscope used by envy, malice and sell
Gshness. If you expect otherwise
respecting the character of your man
aging director, you should undeceive
yourselves at once, for he is but man.
Yet he is willing to step in the front
and receive the blows that may other
wise fall on your heads; but to tighten
the fall and diSinfect the poisoned
wound, you should consent to the con-
dition above referred to. and never ask
him to handle the funds Of the So
ciety.


"The hand that holds another's gold


Is sure to be suspected"


Since the organization of the Ameri-
can board | have followed your in
structions in the matter of making
Louisville the headquarters of the
company. my examination of the city
having satisfied Inc that il was the !
best selection that could be made. L
have also examined some of the rail-
roads and portsin the West and South,
but am not yet prepared to present a
full report and must respectfully ask
further time.


[ have also visited the State of |
Georgia, and in connection with Hon. !
L. j. Smith and Gen. Colquitt have
presented the claims of the society to |
the citizens of that State in twelve
public addresses. The subject has
been everywhere received with favor
have been appointed at |
every meeting, who will canvass each |
section for subscriptions for the capital
of the company. A large amount of
stock was subscribed on the spot,
statement of which will be |
presented by the secretary. l found
two bodies already organinized for tie
purpose of promoting direct trade
the Foreign Direct Trade Union Of
the Patrons of Husbandry aud the
Planters Union. Both bodies are
the propriety Of uniting
with your Mississippi Valley Trading
Company, and have reason to believe
that they would conclude that such
union would enable them to carry out