The Holland Society of New York - Yearbook (New York, NY)

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I M M I - fl M i7 A A N i iqq s mm MM , A X j 'Q V .,. +I A x ADDRESS GF EX-PRESIDENT CLEVE- LAND. Ladzbs amd Gevzzflemefz : I HE cordial welcome you extend to me is exceedingly grateful and comforting, for it gives me a grain of satisfaction in the ordeal that confronts me. I am convinced that the art of making an after-dinner speech with- out distress is for me a sealed book g and as the years pass I am only saved from complete wretch- edness in my efforts in that direction by the kind- ness and toleration of those who are good enough to listen to me. I cannot resent the charge that I am apt to preach a sermon on occasions of this kind, for I am afraid this accusation is justified. It has been my lot to be much onthe sober side of life, and to feel the pressure of great responsibilities. Besides, I believe it sometimes happens that an ex- cess of light-hearted gayety creates a condition of popular thought and impulse that may profitably be steadied by sedate suggestions and the expression of conservative sentiment-even though it may be called sermonizing. At any rate, I am quite willing to take an humble place among the sermonizers in this time of headlong national heedlessness, and to invoke the cultivation and saving grace of Du-tch conservatism. This is the kind of conservatism 33

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I I I I I I I I I I 1 I I I I I I L A I 'I 1 I I s I I I I I I I 1 S A W

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34 that counts the cost, but for the sake of principle and freedom will disregard the cost 5 that lays Out a Voyage by chart and compass and follows chart and compass to the end 5 that loves the liberty and na- tional happiness Which rest upon tried and sure foun. dationsg that teaches reverence for national traditions and encourages the people's satisfaction with their country's mission. lt is the kind of con. servatism in which our Constitution had its birth and which has thus far been the source of our na. tion's safety and strength-the conservatism of jug. tice, of honor, of honesty, of industry, of frugality and of contented homes. In this assemblage of those who know so well the meaning of these things, the question is suggested whether, in present conditions, this conservatism characterizes the conduct or guides the sentiment of our people. There can be but one answer to this question. Conservatism has in a great degree been jauntily cast aside, or condemned as opposed to our country's welfare and glory. 'A strange voyage has been entered upon, Without count of cost and without chart or compass. The tried and sure foundations of our liberty and national happi- ness have been discredited, Reverence for our national traditions has been relaxed, and satisfaction with our country's mission has been undermined. The restraints .and limitations of our Constitution have become galling and irksome under they temp- tations of national greed and aggrandizement. Our old love of peace, honor, and justice has been weak- ened, and frugality and contentment are not now traits inseparable from American character. War, even with the world's advanced civilization, may still be sometimes necessary and justifiablei 7 ! lv ' 4 We in lllithfii fha' fix etlfllaw 111036 tip' d I . nfl' ivhosef' . vet - in gilllolez 'vale me 1ublic2UdEZ5 altef I1 of ireservtno d betfw ni lorlnuiitewhich, if 5 iriaifllflw' ' dl ,, reH10l 'ng ari0Wald5 . Thus unIflC5' L1eiW0,C0 , g ,gating nations at . md IU Jath of PW liar, Will! lhe bolt ad ampttould be louofd more general MQPU0' olsettling intem8U003l fl gint advance towank i throughout the world l lnation in the Smale d tlanfveyears have pa! English-speakingchampiq aiesnlloperatinginpank pines and the other in Sq ltrpeace and arbitmjm i.slgfee M isamoslnsigtes a Sd 'da attempt inS ous U I I outh Af,-,Q ltrllgtofsimihr ' . I asimilarvmmlein ll? le gxpressio 5 0 n f teaccusrgmelzistzl UIQ . w. xxx .X V Q-,M , ., '41