Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

592 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-18S6.
which no words of contention or dispute were ever heard, and in which none
ever will be, until the human voice attains proportions unknown even to Homer's
giants, — endure the thought of casting over all the shadow of a great national
mart? Do you think of the consequences that would have fallen on this city if
they had not been averted by the President's generous act? Your elections, now
so peaceful, so simple, so friendly, so neighborly, conducted under the guileless
guardianship of our friends, Powers, Hyde, Phillips, and a host of others, who,
like them, have never sampled the arts of politics, nor been brought within the
withering influence of a custom-house ring. Have you thought of the awful
scramble for office that would have ensued? Do you say you could easily settle
those matters among yourselves? Then you reckon without your host. Do you
think the resources of Chicopee are exhausted? [Laughter.] Do you imagine
that the few contributions we have made to office have left us without a supply
of material for public service? Do you forget that Berkshire lies within thirty
miles of your custom-house door? and do you think that she would be so recreant
to the traditions of the county, so false to the teachings of her history, that she
will abridge the limitless sweep of her hungry hand? Fled like the golden sum-
mer cloud would be the repose of this city when Berkshire's highlanders and Chic-
opee's chieftains meet in battle array contending for the patronage of your
custom-house, and I behold poor Springfield, two hundred and fifty years old,
bowing her hoary head, and praying for her ancient l^peace, and serenity, and
silence.
The best recipe I have ever read for casting cannon was to take a great hole
and pour iron all around it. It is satisfactory, because no matter how frequently
you may fail, the hole remains uninjured ; and so you have your hole left (your
beautiful Springfield), although the federal metal has refused to wreathe around
it. What more do you need to make glorious this anniversary? Of far more
importance are the ability, the integrity, and the honor of the municipal rules of
the grand old city, than any federal aggrandizements, or enlargements, or acces-
sories. It is of far graver import to you by whom, and by what principles and
what men your city shall be governed, than who shall be President of the United
States. The conviction of Alderman Jaehne is of more value to the future his-
tory of New York City than the distribution of federal patronage for the next fifty
years. [Applause.] You have no scandal or stain on your municipal life. You
stand here to-day looking back on your faint beginnings, made impressive by the
dust that time has scattered over them, tracing your happy history to the present
time, proud that your inheritance has not been made pathetic by sin, or a sor-
rowing memory by wrong. What better purpose, M-hat higher pride can you
have, than to keep unsullied the estate bequeathed to you?