Speeches of Benjamin Harrison, Twenty-third President of the United StatesHarrison, Benjamin
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Speeches of Benjamin Harrison, Twenty-third President of the United States
Harrison, Benjamin
Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901; Speeches, addresses, etc., American; United States -- Politics and government
All work in the mines and stores was suspended for the day, and the
visit of the Chief Magistrate was celebrated with a grand parade and
demonstration directed by Chief Burgess John Argyle, aided by the G. A.
R. veterans. The President was received by the following committee of
prominent citizens: W. Irvin Shaw, Esq., of the Clearfield County Bar;
W. C. Langsford, Alex. Monteith, John F. Farrell, Geo. P. Jones, Joseph
Delehunt, Harry Roach, Ad. Hanson, S. T. Henderson, R. R. Fleming, and
E. J. Duffy. The veterans of Wm. H. Kinkead Post acted as a guard of
honor to the President during the parade.
A notable incident of the demonstration was the reception by the
children of the parochial school. After the parade the formal reception
of the distinguished visitors took place in the presence of the great
assemblage. John F. Farrell presided, and introduced Chairman W. I.
Shaw, who delivered an eloquent address of welcome on behalf of the
citizens.
President Harrison responded as follows:
_My Fellow-citizens_--I beg to assure you that I very highly
appreciate your cordial welcome. I did not need the assurance of
him who has spoken in your name that we are welcome in this home of
profit and industry. As I have passed along the streets, and as I
now look into your eyes, I have read welcome in every face. I do not
regard this greeting as personal. How can it be, since you look into
my face as I into yours for the first time? I assume that in this
demonstration you are evidencing your loyalty and fidelity to the
Government of which we are all citizens.
You welcome me as one who, for the time being by your choice, is
charged with the execution of the law. It is a great thing to be a
citizen of this country, and the privilege has its corresponding
obligations. This Government can never be wrecked by the treason or
fault of those who for the time are placed in public position so
long as the people are true to the principles of the Government and
to the flag. [Applause.] Set your love upon the flag and that which
it represents. Be ready, if occasion should call, to defend it, as
my brave comrades did in the time of its greatest peril. Honor it
in peace, cherish your loyal institutions, civil and educational;
maintain social order in your community, let every one have respect
for the rights and privileges of others while asserting his own.
These are the springs of our national and social life. If these
springs are kept pure and strong the great river they form will ever
flow on in purity and majesty. If local interests are carefully
preserved the general good is secured, and all our people, each in his
own place--the place where he labors, the place where he lives, the
roof under which his family is sheltered--will continue to enjoy the
benison of liberty in the fear of God.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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