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
_My Fellow-citizens_--There is nothing in which the American people
are harder upon their public servants than in the insatiable demand
they make for public speech. I began talking before breakfast this
morning, and have been kept almost continuously at it through the
day, with scarcely time for lunch; and yet, as long as the smallest
residuum of strength or voice is left I cannot fail to recognize these
hearty greetings and to say some appreciative word in return. I do
very much thank you, and I do very deeply feel the cordial enthusiasm
with which you have received me. It is very pleasant to know that
as American citizens we love our Government and its institutions,
and are all ready to pay appropriate respect to any public officer
who endeavors in such light as he has to do his public duty. This
homage is not withheld by one's political opponents, and it is
pleasant to know that in all things that affect the integrity and
honor and perpetuity of our Government we rise above party ties and
considerations. The interests of this Government are lodged with you.
There is not much that a President can do to shape its policy. He is
charged under the Constitution with the duty of making suggestions to
Congress, but, after all, legislation originates with the Congress of
the United States, and the policy of our laws is directed by it. The
President may veto, but he cannot frame a bill. Therefore it is of
great interest to you, and to all our people, that you should choose
such men to represent you in the Congress of the United States as
will faithfully promote those policies to which you have given your
intelligent adhesion. This country of ours is secure, and social
order is maintained, because the great masses of our people live in
contentment and some good measure of comfort. God forbid that we
should ever reach the condition which has been reached by some other
countries, where all that is before many of their population is the
question of bare subsistence, where it is simply "how shall I find
bread for to-day?" No hopes of accumulation; no hope of comfort; no
hope of education, or higher things for the children that are to come
after them. God be blessed that that is not our condition in America!
Here is a chance to every man; here fair wages for fair work, with
education for the masses, with no classes or distinctions to keep down
the ambitious young. We have a happy lot. Let us not grumble if now
and then things are not prosperous as they might be. Let us think of
the average, and if this year's crop is not as full as we could wish,
we have already in these green fields the promise of a better one to
come. Let us not doubt that we are now--as I have seen the evidence of
it in a very extended trip through the West--entering upon an up grade
in all departments of business. [Cheers.] Everywhere I went, in the
great city of St.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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