fact, I think I
had better let them go, and allow you to judge for yourselves after I
have said what I propose to say. I may say, in the first place, that
this is my first appearance upon this stand as a speaker; and, when
called upon to speak after such gentlemen as you have listened to
to-night, I trust you will make all due allowance for any mistakes that
I may make. But I claim the right as a citizen of Boston, as a
tax-payer of Boston, to express my opinion upon this subject, as upon
all others in which I take an interest. The necessity of parks has been
made apparent to every gentleman here by those who are better qualified
than I am to do so. I believe that there is no man here who does not
believe that we are to have parks. I have not heard from such; and I do
not believe that there is such a man, unless it is one who does not
expect to enjoy them himself, and is unwilling that posterity should.

Taking it for granted that that question is settled, the only question
which seems to be before the people is, whether this is the proper time;
and I propose to address myself to the consideration of that question. I
propose to speak of it as of a private enterprise, and as an individual
business-man. It has been explained to you in regard to the condition of
the labor-market, and I think that I may say fairly and squarely that
labor of the character to be used about parks has not been so cheap for
twenty years. Money is cheap; labor is required; parks are wanted; and
it is better to keep the men at work, and retain them in the city, than
to sustain them and their families at the public cost. It is not like
sending out of the country to import something for which we must pay our
money. All the money is to be paid to our own citizens; and, unless some
show of enterprise is made, we shall lose business-men from this city.
They will not stay here, and do nothing, unless the city government
makes some show of enterprise. I have had some experience myself in the
city government, having been a member of it, whether that is an honor or
not; though I hold that the honor or dishonor of any society depends
upon one's own conduct. There is always some doubt about making a move
in the city government; and, in a matter like the park question, such a
meeting as this will be a great encouragement to action. The public
feeling on this question is so great, that the parks must be
established. The project has been fought no harder than t