Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1846-12-15
GOV. FRENCHs INAUGURAL AnaaESs.
SPRINGFIELD, December 8, 1916.
Fetlotr Citizens Of The Senate,
1,d TTo,,ce of RenreSez1t,

first time, previous to assuming the resi-
possibility of my official dnties. cannot
permit the occasion to asswthout making
known TO the people of this State fhedeepl
sense Of gratitude that feel for this mark
ed expression of their confidence and L
know of no way in which can more fully
express the sense of the obligation under
which I feel myself placed. Than by the
ready manifestation of an earnest desire
10 discharge all the duties which may be
imposed upon me by the constitution and
laws Of the State, with careful regard
to the wants, wishes and Interests of the
people.
During the past season, an ever kind
and watchful Providence has crowned the
labOrs of industry with all needfnl bless
ings preserved all the great interests of
State; and securedt to the people general.
~, the unimpaired continuance of social,
civil, and religious liberty.
These priceless blessings, so far supe.
rior to those enjoyed by the great MAORI
ty of mankind, demand of us tho profound.
est gratitude to the Great Giver of them
all. While favored with a rich profusioD
for all our temporal wants, we have cause,
also, to rejoice in the rapidly reviying
prosperity of the country generally, and
comparative relief from the financial EN-.
barrassments, which for long time pres
eed so heavily upon the hopes and enc rgies
OF the people. Blinded and misled by
false and deceptive view of the trna state
OF things; encouraged on ard blythe gilt
ter of a delusive prosperity we were in
cautiously drawn into measures, seriously
involving the hopes and expectations of
individuals, and the interests ofthe STATE.
1t is unnecessary to enter infinitely into
the causes which led to our present State
embarrassment, as they have been often
repeated. and are Familiarity known to all.
FROM the general features, exhaustless
fertility Of soil, peculiar adaptation and
natural resources of our State, it seems
clear, that, for long time to come, the
agricultural will continue to be the pre-
dominant interest. The current of bust
ness and the habits of our people. as we'll
as sound enlightened public policy, rem.
der the maxim, that "few laws are requir-
ed to answer all the purposes of good gov.
eminent" peculiarly applicable to our
condition. These laws ought to be plain
and simple, interfering as little as posi-
bic with the free, voluntary employment
OF capital and labor. Perhaps one of the
most striking features in our American
forms of Government, is seen in the fact,
that large portion of the delegated pow.
ers are designed to operate in kind of
negative character, to be employed rather
IN restraining the action of those whose
interests or inciinations would lead them
to disturb the general community Of rights
which are free alike to all, than to direct
or control the various kinds and relations
of business and industry. Ifthere is any
thing which distinguishes the nature and
character of our Institutions from those
of any other nation, it may be found in
that freedom from restraint accorded to
every man, 10 pursue whatever calling his
inclination or interest may dictate, provid
ee he encroach not upon the rights of 9th
ers. If it be true that but few general
laws are needed to answer the wants and
Interests of free people, il is also true,
that frequent changes in our public statu-
ties may become serious grievance
ton of extreme cases, it is usually far
more prudentto wait patiently the opera
ton of a law, until its results can be fully
known, than to change it for another
whose effect upon the general interest can
neither be estimated nor foreseen. 1t is
believed that the too common ambition for
change of laws, peculiar to new States,
for every seeming imperfection or incon-
venience, may be more laudabl employed
in removing real defects in existing la IS,
than By frequent radical changes in the
old, or an accumulation Of new laws. To
frame judicious system of laws, founded
upon the principles of free government,
and in exact harmony with it,wisely adapt
ed to the wants, interests and necessities
of the people, embracing all their most
important rights and duties, but not so ex-
tensively minute as to become irksome,
inquisitorial or oppressive, is ali object
much to be desired, though seldom realiz.
ed. Il is impossible to shut our eyes to
errors which are spread out upon the page
ofour Legislative history; or the difficulty,
as regards some of them, of seeking out
and applying the proper remedy. In all
our endeavors to effect this object, and
without which little permanent good can
he expected to follow, harmony and con.
cert Of action are Indispensable. What.
ever is done, ought to be done with united
cOppsels,
shall not enter into any elaborate sta,
tistical detail Of the present financial con
dilion Of our public affairs. This comes
more properly from my predecessor. I'ha
she State IS daeply in debt, is well known
and i should also be known, that there
exists among the people an earnest desire
that some method may be adopted undei
which i may be discharged. We have