-A^j::ER-jin!mER^SBEEcu. ^ i8; 



ik'ould have saved Cain. I think I can say, and say Xvith pride, that we have 

 some legislatures that bring higher prices than any in the world. 



I I refer with effusion to our railway system, which consents to let us live, 

 tjhough it might do the opposite, being our owners. It only destroyed three 

 thousand and seventy lives last year, by collisions, and twenty-seven thousand 

 two hundred and sixty by running over heedless and unnecessary people at 

 crossings. The companies seriously regretted the killing of these thirty thou- 

 sand people, and went so far as to pay for some of them-^voluntarily, of course, 

 for the meanest of us would not claim that we possess a court treacherous 

 enough to enforce a law against a railwSiy company. But thank Heaven the 

 railway companies are generally disposed to do the right and kindly thing with- 

 out compulsion. I know of an instance which greatly touched me at the time. 

 After an accident the company sent home the remains of a dear distant old rela- 

 tive of mine in a basket, with the remark, " Please state what figure you hold him 

 a^ — and return the basket." Now there couldn't be anything friendlier than that. 



■ But I must not stand here and brag all night. However, you won't mind a 

 brody bragging a little about his country on the fourth of July. It is a fair anjd 

 Ipgitimate time to fly the eagle. I will say only one more word of brag — and a 

 hopeful one. It is this. We have a form of government which gives each man 

 a fair chance and no favor. With us no individual is born with a right to look 

 down upon his neighbor and hold him in contempt. Let sucW:of'us as are ndt 

 dukes find our consolp,tion in that. And we may find hope for the future in the 

 fact that as unhappy as is the condition of our political morality to-day, Eng- 

 land has risen up out of a far fouler since the days when Charles I. ennobled 

 cjourtezans and all political place was a matter of bargain and sale. There is 



' ' i ~ ' 



llope for us yet. * | . 



-T ) ' ' , 



' * At least the above is ihe speech which I was going Ko ja^y^, but our minister, Gen. Schencjc, 

 presided, and after the blessing, got up and made a great long inconceivably dull harangue, artd 

 wound up by saying that inasmuch as speech-making did not seem to exhilarate the guests much, 

 all further oratory would be dispensed with, during the evening, and we could just sit and talk pri- 

 vately to our elbow-neighbors and have a good sociable* time. It is known that in consequence of 

 that remark forty-four perfected speeches died in the womb. The depression, the gloom, the 

 solemnity that reigned over the banquet from that time forth will be a lasting memory with' many 

 that were there. By that one thoughtless remark Gen. Schenck lost forty-four of the best friends he 

 had in England. More than one said that night, " And this is the sort of person that is sent to 

 represent us in a great sister empire !" ■ 



