This large gathering of our citizens in Faneuil Hall is for some
purpose: it is significant that the people want something. I do not
understand that it is in any sense to re-affirm their conviction that
their best interests will be served by adding to our public property a
park or parks. That question has been fully discussed and decided by the
people themselves for themselves: they settled that by their, with
remarkable unanimity, voting to accept the act of the legislature,
giving power to the city government to purchase or take land for that
purpose. All classes seem to agree upon the necessity. The entire
medical faculty with one voice say we want it for sanitary reasons, and
have joined in the general petitions. Our capitalists and merchants have
spoken for themselves unmistakably by their petitions to the city
government, bearing more than seven thousand names, and representing, I
am informed, more than two hundred millions of taxable property. An able
Commission, after a year of careful study, and diligent devotion to
their duty, have made their report. The people have examined, discussed,
criticised, and finally approved and accepted it, and now come here in
Faneuil Hall to speak direct to City Hall for its adoption. Mr.
President, our professional men, our merchants and capitalists, have
spoken for themselves by their petitions and voices here to-night. It
remains only for me to speak for the more numerous class of our
fellow-citizens who pay but two dollars poll-tax. Yet they are as good
citizens, have and feel as deep interest in the growth, prosperity, and
progress of our city, as their more fortunate neighbors; and in the name
and behalf of the mechanics, the laborers, the great mass of men that
build our cities, and whose labor contributes so much to our growth and
prosperity, and whose employment is the one thing more than any other
needed to-day to inaugurate the beginning of our old-time prosperity, I
appeal to our city government to complete the work so opportunely and
well begun. It is immediate action we ask for.
There being no difference of opinion as to the necessity and utility of
parks, and their ultimate payment for their full cost, the only open
question is the time to begin. We say that time is now,--now, while
thousands of unwillingly idle hands are waiting for work, and money is
cheap; cheap, because labor is unemployed. We say to you, gentlemen of
the city government, respectfully but earnestly, Act upon this matter
now.
Don't wait till your summer vacation; don't wait till next month; don't
let any personal matter intervene to prevent the performance of this
public duty the people now ask at your hands. The present truly great
debt of our city, the bulk of which has been created in improvements,
made enormously more costly by the failure of city governments in past
times to comprehend the wants of a growing metropolis, admonishes you to
act now, and secure the advantages the present favorable combination of
circumstances offers. We confer on you the power to spend our money for
the public good; and we ask you to act now, because we clearly see that
delay means largely increased cost for what we must have in the near
future.
THE PRESIDENT. The Act under which this Commission was appointed, and
has discharged its duty, was supported, I think, by nearly every member
of the Boston delegation; and I may be allowed a single moment to add a
tribute of respect to that delegation. Boston has been well represented,
with one exception, perhaps, during the last two years, in the State
legislature; and I am very happy to know that you are now to be
addressed by a member of that delegation, who, as I said, supported this
Act when it was passed; who did not always vote with me on every
occasion, but who never voted against his conscience, never supported
any thing dishonest, or unjust, or unfair; and who will stand up, I have
no doubt, to-night, and speak well his mind, as he did on every fit
occasion in the State House, for what he deems just and right, and for
the good of the people: Mr. JOSEPH F. PAUL, whom I am very happy to
introduce to you. [Applause.]