Governor Francis, Mr. Mayor, and Fellow-citizens—It is very grateful and very healthful to be so cordially received by you this morning. The office which I have been called upon to administer is very great in dignity, but it is very full of care and heavy responsibility. The man who with conscientious regard and a proper appreciation of the great trust seeks to administer it for the public good will find himself daily beset with perplexities and doubts, and daily besieged by those who differ with him as to the public administration. But it is a great comfort to know that we have an intelligent, thoughtful, and, at the same time, a very kind people, who judge benevolently and kindly the acts of those public servants of whose good disposition to do right they are not left in doubt. And it is very pleasant to know—and I do not need these eloquent words of assurance to have already impressed upon me—the great lesson that there are more things in which we agree and have common interests than in which we differ. But our differences of opinion as to public administration are all brought together in a genuine patriotism and love of country. [Applause]. It gives me pleasure to witness since my last visit to St. Louis evidence of that steady and uninterrupted growth which this great commercial centre has made since its birth as an Indian trading-post on the Mississippi. No year has been without its added evidences of progress, development, accumulation of wealth, and increase in population. You have now passed any period of doubt or uncertainty, and the career of St. Louis is assured. You have grown like the oak, annually adding a ring to the prosperity and wealth and commercial importance of your great city. You have struck the roots of your influence broad and deep into the nourishing earth of this great fertile land in which you have lived; and the branches—the high branches of your enterprise—are reaching toward the sunlight that shines upon them. You are situated upon the Mississippi River, giving you water communication with the sea, a communication which this Government has undertaken to improve and secure, and which I believe will be made secure by appropriate legislation. [Applause.] Nor do I know any reason why these great lines of railway stretching from St. Louis to the Southwest may not yet touch great ports of commerce, deep harbors, until they shall become trunk lines. We have come to regard only these lines of railway communication to eastern seaboards as trunk lines. I do not know why. Indeed, I believe that in the future, when we shall have seized again, as we will seize if we are true to ourselves, our own fair part of commerce upon the sea, and when we shall have again our appropriate share of South American trade [cheers], that these railroads from St. Louis, touching deep harbors on the gulf, and communicating there with lines of steamships, shall touch the ports of South America and bring their tribute to you. You shall in all these things find a special interest, but an interest that will be shared, as all great interests are, by the Nation and people, of which you are a loyal and enterprising part. And now, my friends, again let me thank you, and all those who have spoken in your behalf, for these friendly words. These great industries of commerce and manufactures here are entwined in friendly helpfulness. As they are diversified your prosperity is increased; but under them all, as the only secure rock upon which they can rest, is social order and obedience to the law. Let it never be forgotten anywhere that commerce builds only upon social order. Be watchful and careful of every instrumentality or suggestion which puts itself against the law. Where the law is wrong make it right. [Cries of "Good!" and cheering.] Let that be the one rule of conduct in the public relations of every American citizen. And now, my friends, again let me say thank you and good-by.
At the conclusion of the reception on 'Change the President, escorted by the Committee of Reception, visited the Fair Grounds and attended a banquet in his honor at the Jockey Club House. In the evening the distinguished guests visited the Exposition, where a tremendous crowd gathered. As the President entered Music Hall, Gilmore's famous band struck up "Hail to the Chief." The great audience stood and called repeatedly for a speech. The President arose in his box and bowed several times; but there was no denying their demands, and Governor Francis finally introduced his excellency, who said:
Ladies and Gentlemen—I have sometimes thought that the life of the President of the United States is like that of the policeman in the opera—not a happy one. So many cares strew his path, so many people's welfare is to be considered, that wiser heads than mine may well be puzzled. The attention of this mighty audience to-night has been distracted from the concert by my entrance, not withstanding the fact that it has a leader more a master of his art than any other on the continent. I did not, nor do I desire to make a speech to-night. But as I have always declared myself in favor of the rule of the majority, I feel compelled to do so.
From early morn till late this evening the day has been one of unalloyed pleasure to me. Every possible courtesy has been shown our party, and we have gathered, I assure you, a most high opinion of your people and your city. This building is in every way a credit to St. Louis, the metropolis of the Southwest, and its exhibits do credit to the merchants and manufacturers represented. I am glad to see that the higher arts go hand-in-hand with mechanics. Art, music, poetry, and song should not be separated from the homes of the poor, and such an institution as this cannot fail to instil all that is good into the hearts of every one. Before I close let me tell you all how grateful and how complimented I feel at my hearty reception in your midst. I shall always recall this day with happy remembrance. Now, won't you crown the great courtesies of the day by allowing me to end my speech? [Applause.]
[ANDERSON, INDIANA, OCTOBER 13.]
President Harrison passed the Sabbath quietly at his Indianapolis residence, and early Monday morning, accompanied by Secretary Tracy and Marshal Ransdell, started for Washington.
The first stop was at Pendleton, where the President shook hands with quite a crowd. Anderson, the county seat of Madison County, was reached at 7:10, and a large concourse of people greeted the travellers. The President was received by Hon. Winfield T. Durbin, Chas. T. Doxey, W. A. Kittinger, John F. McClure, Caleb Brown, Jacob Koehler, Francis Watkins, A. A. Small, and other leading citizens. Mayor Terhune, in a patriotic address, presented the Chief Executive.
After acknowledging the cordial greeting, the President spoke of the rapid industrial development of that section consequent upon the discovery and development of natural gas, and predicted a fine future for the county. Concluding, he said: