Now, my fellow-citizens, we have this year a most abundant, yes, extraordinary, grain crop. All of the great staples have been yielded to the labor of the farmer in a larger measure than ever before. A leading agricultural paper estimated that the produce of our farms will be worth $1,000,000,000 more this year than ever before, and it happens that just with this great surplus in our barns we find a scarcity in all the countries of Europe. Russia has recently prohibited the export of rye, because she needs her crop to feed her own people. The demands in France and in England and Germany will absorb every bushel of the great surplus we shall have after our people are fed, and, whatever complaints there may have been in the past, I believe this year will spread a smile of gladness over the entire agricultural population of our country.
This is our opportunity, and I cannot see how it shall be possible but that these exports of grain, now reaching the limit of the capacity of our railroads and of our ships, shall soon bring back to us the lost gold we sent to Europe and more that we did not lose. I was told by an officer of the West Shore road to-day that that road alone was carrying 100,000 bushels of wheat every day into New York, and that it scarcely stopped an hour in the elevator, but was run immediately into the bottom of a steam vessel that was to carry it abroad. [Cheers.]
This is only an illustration of what is going on. As the result of it our people must be greatly enriched. Where there has been complaint, where there has been poverty, there must come this year plenty, for the gardens have loaded the table, the orchards cannot bear the burdens that hang upon their reddening limbs, and the granaries are not equal to the product of our fields. We ought, then, this day to be a happy people. We ought to be grateful for these conditions and careful everywhere to add to them the virtue of patience, frugality, love of order, and, to crown all, a great patriotism and devotion to the Constitution and the law—always our rule of conduct as citizens. [Cheers.]
My fellow-citizens, it is very difficult to speak in this heavy atmosphere. I beg, therefore, that you will allow me to thank you for your friendly demonstration, and bid you good-night.
[TROY, NEW YORK, AUGUST 18.]
When the special train reached Troy in the evening an immense throng greeted the President. It was the noisiest demonstration of the day. General Harrison shook hands with hundreds, many of them working men just from the shops. The following prominent Trojans composed the Committee of Reception and escorted the party from Albany: Gen. Joseph B. Carr, Charles W. Tillinghast, William Kemp, Thomas Dickson, F. N. Mann, William H. Hollister Jr., Col. Lee Chamberlin, John I. Thompson, Col. Arthur MacArthur, D. S. Hasbrouck, Samuel Morris, James H. Potts, J. F. Bridgeman, C. L. Fuller, T. J. O'Sullivan, Cornelius Hannan, Henry McMillen, H. M. Reynolds, George H. Mead, Dr. C. B. Herrick, and William Kemp, Jr. The veterans of Willard Post G. A. R., under Commander Leet, participated in the reception.
Ex-Mayor Wm. Kemp made the address of welcome in the unavoidable absence of Mayor Whelan. Midst great enthusiasm and cheers General Carr introduced the President, who spoke as follows:
My Friends—I attempted a little while ago to speak in Albany in this damp atmosphere, and find my voice is so much roughened by the effort that I can hardly hope to make myself heard by you. I am glad to have the opportunity to pause some moments in the city of Troy, to look into the faces of its industrious and thrifty population. I have long known of your city as a city of industry—as a great manufacturing city—sending out its products to all the land, and by the skill of its workmen and the integrity of its merchants finding everywhere a market for wares kept up to the standard. [Applause.]
The President was here interrupted by the blowing of steam-whistles, and continued, smiling: