Part 33

The magnificent and cordial demonstration which you have made in our honor to-day will always remain a bright and pleasant picture in my memory. [Great cheers.] I am glad to have been able to rest my eyes upon the city of Galveston. I am glad to have been able to traverse this harbor and to look upon that work which a liberal and united Government has inaugurated for your benefit and for the benefit of the Northwest. [Great and prolonged cheers.] I have always believed that it was one of the undisputed functions of the general Government to make these great waterways which penetrate our country and these harbors into which our shipping must come to receive the tribute of rail and river safe and easy of access.

This ministering care should extend to our whole country, and I am glad that, adopting a policy with reference to the harbor work, here at least, which I insisted upon in a public message [great and prolonged cheering], the appropriation has been made adequate to a diligent and prompt completion of the work. [Great cheering.] In the past the Government has undertaken too many things at once, and its annual appropriations have been so inadequate that the work of the engineers was much retarded and often seriously damaged in the interval of waiting for fresh appropriations.

It is a better policy, when a work has once been determined to be of national significance, that the appropriation should be sufficient to bring it speedily and without loss to a conclusion. [Great cheering.] I am glad that the scheme of the engineer for giving deep water to Galveston is thus to be prosecuted.

I have said some of our South Atlantic and Gulf ports occupy a most favorable position for the new commerce toward which we are reaching out our hands, and which is reaching out its hands to us. [Great cheering.] I am an economist in the sense that I would not waste one dollar of public money, but I am not an economist in the sense that I would leave incomplete or suffer to lag any great work highly promotive of the true interests of our people. [Great cheering.]

We are great enough and rich enough to reach forward to grander conceptions than have entered the minds of some of our statesmen in the past. If you are content, I am not, that the nations of Europe shall absorb nearly the entire commerce of these near sister republics that lie south of us. It is naturally in large measure ours--ours by neighborhood, ours by nearness of access, ours by that sympathy that binds a hemisphere without a king. [Cheers.]

The inauguration of the Three Americas Congress, or more properly the American Conference, the happy conduct of that meeting, the wise and comprehensive measures which were suggested by it, with the fraternal and kindly spirit that was manifested by our southern neighbors, has stimulated a desire in them and in our people for a larger intercourse of commerce and of friendship. The provisions of the bill passed at the last session looking to a reciprocity of trade not only met with my official approval when I signed the bill, but with my zealous promotion before the bill was reported. [Great and prolonged cheering.]

Its provision concerning reciprocity is that we have placed upon our free list sugar, tea, coffee and hides, and have said to those nations from whom we receive these great staples: Give us free access to your ports for an equivalent amount of our produce in exchange, or we will reimpose duties upon the articles named. The law leaves it wholly to the Executive to negotiate these arrangements. It does not need that they shall take the form of a treaty.

They need not be submitted for the concurrence of the Senate. It only needs that we, having made our offer, shall receive their offer in return; and when they shall have made up an acceptable schedule of articles produced by us that shall have free access to their ports, a proclamation by the President closes the whole business. [Cheers.] Already one treaty with that youngest of the South American republics, the great republic of Brazil, has been negotiated and proclaimed. I think, without disclosing an Executive secret, I may tell you that the arrangement with Brazil is not likely to abide in lonesomeness much longer [great and prolonged cheering]; that others are to follow, and that as a result of these trade arrangements the products of the United States--our meats, our breadstuffs, and certain lines of manufactured goods--are to find free or favored access to the ports of many of these South and Central American States. All the States will share in these benefits. We have had some analysis of the manifests of some of our steamers now sailing to South American ports, and in a single steamer it was found that twenty-five States contributed to the cargo.

But we shall need something more. We shall need American steamships to carry American goods to these ports. [Great cheering.] The last Congress passed a bill appropriating about $1,500,000, and authorized the Postmaster-General to contract with steamship companies for a period not exceeding ten years for the carrying of the United States mail. The foreign mail service is the only mail service out of which the Government has been making a net profit. We do not make a profit out of our land service.

There is an annual deficiency which my good friend the Postmaster-General has been trying very hard to reduce or wipe out. The theory of our mail service is that it is for the people, that we are not to make a profit out of it, that we are to give them as cheap postage as is possible. We are, many of us, looking forward to a time when we shall have one-cent postage in this country. [Cheers.] We have been so close and penurious in dealing with our ships in the carrying of foreign mails that we have actually made revenues out of that business, not having spent for it what we have received from it. Now we propose to change that policy and to make more liberal contracts with American lines carrying American mail. [Cheers.]

Some one may say we ought not to go into this business, that it is subsidy. But, my friend, every other great nation of the world has been doing it and is doing it to-day. Great Britain and France have built up their great steamship lines by Government aid, and it seems to me our attitude with reference to that is aptly portrayed by an illustration I mentioned the other day. In olden times no wholesale merchant sent out travelling men to solicit custom, but he stood in his own store and waited for his customers. But presently some enterprising merchant began to send out men with their samples to seek the trade, to save the country buyer the cost of the trip to New York or Philadelphia, until finally that practice has become universal, and these active, intelligent travelling men are scurrying this country over, pushing and soliciting in their several lines of business. Now imagine some conservative merchant in New York saying to himself: "All this is wrong; the trade ought to come to me." If he should refuse to adopt these modern methods what would be the result? He must adopt the new methods or go out of business. We have been refusing to adopt the universal method of our competitors in commerce to stimulate their shipping interest and have gone out of the business. [Laughter and cheers.] Encouraged by what your spokesman has said to-night, I venture to declare that I am in favor of going into business again, and when it is re-established I hope Galveston will be in the partnership. [Great cheers.]

It has been the careful study of the Postmaster-General in preparing to execute the law to which I have referred to see how much increase in routes and ships we could secure by it. We have said to the few existing American lines: You must not treat this appropriation as a plate of soup, to be divided and consumed. You must give us new lines, new ships, increased trips, and new ports of call. Already the steamship lines are looking over the routes to see what they can do, with a view of increasing their tonnage and establishing new lines.

The Postmaster-General has invited the attention and suggestion of all the boards of trade of all our seaboard cities. Undoubtedly you have received such a letter. This appropriation is for one year; what the future is to be must depend upon the deliberate judgment of the people. If during my term of office they shall strike down a law that I believe to be beneficial or destroy its energy by withholding appropriations, I shall bow to their will, but I shall feel great disappointment if we do not make an era for the revival of American commerce. I do much want that the time shall come when our citizens living in temporary exile in foreign ports shall now and then see steaming into these distant ports a fine modern man-of-war, flying the United States flag [cheers], with the best modern guns on her deck, and a brave American crew in her forecastle. [Cheers.] I want, also, that in these ports, so long unfamiliar with the American flag, there shall again be found our steamships and our sailing vessels flying the flag that we all love, and carrying from our shores the products that these men of toil have brought to them to exchange for the products of other climes.

I think we should add to all this, and happily it is likely to be accomplished by individual efforts, the early completion of the Nicaragua Canal. [Cheers.] The Pacific coast should no longer be found by sea only by the passage of the Horn. The short route should be opened, and it will be, and then with this wondrous stirring among the people of all our States, this awakening to new business plans and more careful and economical work, there will come great prosperity to all our people. Texas will spin more of the cotton that she raises.

The great States of the South will be in discontent with the old condition that made them simply agricultural States, and will rouse themselves to compete with the older manufacturing States of the North and East. [Cheers.] The vision I have, all the thoughts I have of this matter embrace all the States and all my countrymen. I do not think of it as a question of party; I think of it as a great American question. [Cheers.] By the invitation of the address which was made to me I have freely spoken my mind to you on these topics. I hope I have done so with no offence or impropriety. [Cries of "No, no!" and cheers.]

I would not on an occasion so full of general good feeling as this obtrude anything that should induce division or dissent. For all who do dissent I have the most respectful tolerance. The views I hold are the result of some thought and investigation, and as they are questions of public concern I confidently submit them to the arbitrament of brave and enlightened American suffrage. [Applause and cheers.]

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, APRIL 20.

The President and his party passed their first Sunday at Galveston, leaving the Island City at midnight and arriving at San Antonio at 11:15 Monday morning. A special committee, consisting of Hon. C. W. Ogden, Chairman; Col. C. M. Terrell, S. M. Johnson, J. S. McNamara, Mrs. Ogden, Mrs. Johnson, and Miss Eleanor Sullivan, escorted the party from Galveston. The _Alamo City_ was profusely decorated in honor of the visit, and a great throng greeted the President's arrival. He was received by the Hon. Bryan Callaghan, Mayor of the city, at the head of the following committee of leading citizens: Gen. David S. Stanley, U. S. A.; Col. J. P. Martin, Col. W. B. Wright, Col. H. B. Andrews, Maj. C. C. Cresson, Hon. W. W. King, L. M. Gregory, B. F. Yoakum, C. W. Ogden, H. D. Kampmann, J. S. Alexander, W. J. B. Patterson, A. W. Houston, Reagan Houston, Richard Wooley, Jr., R. H. Russell, N. Mackey, George Dullnig, J. V. Dignowity, J. S. Thornton, F. Groos, H. P. Drought, D. Sullivan, Charles Hugo, Rev. Dr. Giddings, C. K. Breneman, W. H. Weiss, Frank Grice, Alex. Joske, Henry Elmendorf, Robert Driscoll, Paul Wagner, J. Ronse, J. E. Pancoast, Adolph Wagner, George H. Kalteyer, Charles J. Langholz, C. B. Mullaly, R. H. McCracken, A. G. Cooper, Dr. G. Graham Watts, Dr. J. P. Ornealus, Dr. Amos Graves, and A. T. Wilson. Mayor McDonald, of Austin, and Hon. L. L. Foster also participated in the reception.

A rainstorm interfered with the parade, and the public reception was held at the Opera House, thousands being unable to enter. Mayor Callaghan made the welcoming address and introduced President Harrison, who spoke as follows:

_Mr. Mayor and Fellow-citizens_--I very much regret that frequent speaking in the open air during the past week and the very heavy atmosphere which we have this morning have somewhat impaired my voice. I am sure you will crown your hospitality and kindness by allowing me to speak to you very briefly. I sympathize with you in the distress which you feel that the day is so unpropitious for any street demonstration, but I have been told by one wise in such matters that this rain is worth $5,000,000 to Western Texas. That being the case, it greatly moderates our regret. It has come to be a popular habit of attributing to the President whatever weather may happen on any demonstration in which he takes a part. I suppose I may claim credit this morning for this beneficial rain. [Applause.] I generously assure you that if it is worth as much money as my friend has estimated I shall not take more than half that sum. [Laughter.] In visiting for a little while this historic city, I had anticipated great pleasure in looking upon the remains of an earlier occupancy of this territory in which you now dwell. Our glance this morning must be brief and imperfect, but the history has been written and the traditions of these martyrdoms which occurred here for liberty are fresh in your minds and are still an inspiring story to be repeated to your children.

I remember in my early boyhood to have heard in our family thrilling descriptions of the experiences of an uncle, whose name I bear, in some of those campaigns for freedom in Texas in which he took a part, so that the story to me goes back to those dim early recollections of childhood. I am glad to stand where those recollections are revived and freshened, for they were events of momentous importance to this country, to this State, and to the whole Union. I rejoice that you have here so great a commonwealth. The stipulations under which Texas came into the Union of the States, and which provided that that great Territory might be subdivided into five States, seem not to attract much attention in Texas now.

Indeed, as far as I can judge, no man would be able successfully to appeal to the suffrages of any hamlet in Texas upon the issue that the State should be divided at all. [Cheers.] The great industrial capacities which you have, the beneficent climate that spreads over much of your vast territory, the great variety of productions which your soil and climate render possible, give a promise for the future of a prominence among the great States of the Union that seems to me can scarcely fail to bring Texas to the front rank. [Cheers.] You are only now beginning to plough this vast stretch of land. You are only now beginning to diversify those interests, to emancipate yourselves by producing at home in your fields all of those products which are necessary to comfortable existence.

I hope you will soon add, indeed, you are now largely adding, to this diversity of agricultural pursuits a diversity of mechanical pursuits. The advantages which you have to transmute the great production of the field into the manufactured product are very great. There can be certainly no reason why a very large part of the million bales of cotton which you produce should not be spun in Texas. [Cheers.] I hope your people will more and more turn their thoughts to this matter, for just in proportion as a community or State suitably divides its energies among various industries, so does it retain the wealth it produces and increase its population. [Applause.]

A great Englishman, visiting this country some time ago, in speaking of the impressions which were made upon his mind, said he was constantly asked as he travelled through the country whether he was not amazed at its territorial extent. He said while this, of course, was a notable incident of travel, he wondered that we did not forget all our bigness of territory in a contemplation of the great spectacle we presented as a free people in organized and peaceful community. He regarded this side of our country and her institutions as much more important than its material development or its territorial extent, and he was right in that judgment.

My fellow-citizens, the pride of America, that which should attract the admiration and has attracted the imagination of many people upon the face of the earth, is our system of government. [Applause.] I am glad to know, and to have expressed my satisfaction before, that here in this State of Texas you are giving attention to education; that you have been able to erect a school fund, the interest upon which promises a most magnificent endowment for your common schools. These schools are the pride and safety of your State. They gather into them upon a common level with us, and I hope with you, the children of the rich and poor. In the State in which I dwell everybody's children attend the common schools.

This lesson of equality, the perfect system which has been developed by this method of instruction, is training a valued class of citizens to take up the responsibilities of government when we shall lay them down. [Applause.] I hope every one of your communities, even your scattered rural communities, will pursue this good work. I am sure this hope is shared by my honored host, Governor Hogg, who sits beside me [applause], and who, in the discharge of his public duties, can influence the progress of this great measure. No material greatness, no wealth, no accumulation of splendor, is to be compared with those humble and homely virtues which have generally characterized our American homes.

The safety of the State, the good order of the community--all that is good--the capacity, indeed, to produce material wealth, is dependent upon intelligence and social order. [Applause.] Wealth and commerce are timid creatures; they must be assured that the nest will be safe before they build. So it is always in those communities where the most perfect order is maintained, where intelligence is protected, where the Church of God and the institutions of religion are revered and respected, that we find the largest development in material wealth. [Applause.]

Thanking you for your cordial greeting, thanking all your people, and especially the Governor of your State, for courtesies which have been unfailing, for a cordiality and friendliness that has not found any stint or repression in the fact that we are of different political opinions [great cheering], I beg to thank you for this special manifestation of respect, and to ask you to excuse me from further speech. I shall follow such arrangements as your committee have made, and shall be glad if in those arrangements there is some provision by which I may meet as many of you as possible individually. [Prolonged cheering.]

DEL RIO, TEXAS, APRIL 21.

The chief incident of the long run from San Antonio to El Paso was the enthusiastic reception tendered the President by the residents of the thriving frontier town of Del Rio, county seat of Val Verde County. The town was handsomely decorated, and the following Reception Committee welcomed the President and party: Judge W. K. Jones, C. S. Brodbent, Zeno Fielder, J. A. Price, H. D. Bonnett, E. L. Dignowity, Paul Flato, Clyde Woods, Thomas Cunningham, W. C. Easterling, J. C. Clarkson, E. G. Nicholson, C. G. Leighton, and R. J. Felder.

Rev. Dr. H. S. Thrall, the veteran historian of Texas, delivered the address of welcome. The President, responding, said:

_My Friends_--I had supposed when we left San Antonio that we were not to be stopped very often between that point and El Paso with such assemblages of our fellow-citizens. We had settled down to an easy way of living on the train, and I had supposed that speech-making would not be taken up until to-morrow. I thank you most cordially for this friendly evidence of your interest, and I assure you that all of these matters to which your spokesman has alluded are having the most careful consideration of the authorities at Washington. The Secretary of Agriculture, who is with me on the train, has been diligent in an effort to open European markets for American meats, and he has succeeded so far that our exportation has very largely increased in the last year. It is our hope that these restrictions may still further be removed, and that American meat products may have a still larger market in Europe than they have had for very many years past. The inspections now provided by law certainly must remove every reasonable objection to the use of American meats; for we shall demonstrate to them that they are perfectly wholesome and pure. I want to say, from the time of my induction into office until this hour I have had before me constantly the need of the American farmer of a larger market for his products. [Cries of "Good! good!" and cheers.] Whatever we can do to accomplish that will be done. I want to thank the public-school children for this address which they have placed in my hands. What a blessed thing it is that the public school system is found with the pioneer! It follows the buffalo very closely. I am glad to find that your children are being trained in intelligence and in those moral restraints which shall make them good citizens. I thank you for your kindly presence.

EL PASO, TEXAS, APRIL 21.

The enterprising city of El Paso was reached at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning, and the President was tendered a veritable ovation. The reception at this point partook of an international aspect. President Diaz of Mexico was represented in the person of Governor Carrillo, Chief Executive of the State of Chihuahua, accompanied by a brilliant staff of 20 officers. The War Department of the Mexican Government was represented by Gen. José Maria Ranjel, Chief of the Second Military Zone, accompanied by his staff, a company of artillery, and the Eleventh Battalion Band of 45 instruments. From the City of Mexico came Col. Ricardo Villanueva and Col. Ygnacio J. Monroy, representing the Federal Government, while the neighboring city of Juarez was represented by Colonel Ross, commander of the garrison, Señor Mejia, Señor Urtetiga, and many other prominent citizens. The city of El Paso was represented by Mayor Richard Caples and the members of the City Council. The Citizens' Committee of Reception comprised W. S. Hills, Chairman; E. B. Bronson, M. B. Davis, S. W. Russell, W. F. Payne, Frank P. Clark, C. F. Slack, Geo. L. Stewart, H. S. Beattie, Judge Allen Blacker, A. Solomon, W. B. Merrick, A. Berla, Louis Papin, Geo. E. Bovee, James A. Smith, Hon. S. W. T. Lanham, A. J. Eaton, Z. T. White, W. S. McCutcheon, A. M. Loomis, H. C. Myles, Ben Schuster, A. J. Sampson, D. W. Reckhart, and J. F. Satterthwaite.