Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-09

inaugural Address of Governor Cox.
Whatever else may be said of the In
angural Address of our new Chief Magis-
ability. In dignity, in directness, in con-
densation, in modesty, in scholarly finish,
and in logical strength, it contrasts most
favorably with the recent Message of its
author s immediate predecessor. Nor is its
conscientious sincerity less apparent than
its force and scumen. General Cox has
brought to the composition of - inaug-
ural the same versatile abili. !, the same
scholarly culture, the same careful and
scrupulous labor, which has characterized
all his public life, whether as soldier or
as a statesman.
In the discussion of topics which affect
us as a State alone, the new Governor, with
modesty very becoming TO Chief Mag
istrate who is Just assuming the duties of
his position, refrains from any special
recommendations, and contents himself
with general remarks and suggestions, in
the propriety of which all will agree. 1t
would have been better had the Governor
been as reticent in reference to national
politics, OF, rather, it would have been bet
ter if he had confined himself entirely to the
discussion of State affairs and omitted, as
inappropriate to his Office and TO the oc-
casion, the extended discussion of nation
al questions which occupies the first half OF
his address. The custom into which our
Governors have fallen of ventilating their
personal ideas and opinions upon subjects
\ belonging. exclusively to national politics
| is a most pernicious one. During the war
the close relation which existed between
the State and national administrations, and
the supreme duty of patriotism which
overtopped and dwsrfed all other issues
made this custom tolersble if not justifa
Bile; but with the cessation of the war al
necessity and excuse for it pass away. Oul
Governors would discharge their dutie'
better, and would be more unanimously
sustained in that discharge of their duties
if they gave their exclusive attention t.
them, instead of introducing into theil
official documents matters with which they
have no official relations.
The Governor has devoted half of hi
inaugural address to the enunciation o
certain general principles of republican
government leaving their specific apPli
cation to the logical ability of his hearers
and readers. Our quarrel with these prin
ciples is not that they are false, but tina
thew are not the ones which the American
people now needs to hear or be impressed
with. The rights of minorities-the dan
gers of military government-the claim
of the conquered-are all excellent sub
iects for essayists and theorists, but the.
are already sufficiently comprshended b
the nation and its executive. The drift O
popular sentiment is all in favor of givin
even to rebel minorities the amples
privileges consistent with our nations
safety. Our great peril does not lie in tn
possibility that we may deal with unju'
severity by the white Southern traitor
5 but rather in the probability that we ma
9 fail to do even scaDty justice by blac
Southern loyalists. And it is just here tbs
Governor Cox fails and disappoints u
1--WE might expect that one who has, wit
such boldness and originality, gone baC
of laws and constitutions to the principle
of republican government, would ha'
perceived how anti-republican is Il
exclusion from all franchises of Ell
, tire races or classes. We shoul
! hope that the man who can pies
. so earnestly for the ''rights" of cOnquert
btraitors might have something to say f
,s the claims Of black freemen and citizen
\ he who champions so ably the right
% minorities to representation ought to pc
81 ceive that black minorities as well as viii
3 ones can claim the benefits of the prime
g ple. But We look in vain, in the who
document, for sny recognition Of our du
= TO the colored citizens Of the South, or
i the danger that we shall forget that dut
Ian the Governors sympathies are expep