The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-03-13
Grants, Inaugural.

II GE8 0GNne . AnAuS AI<sAe
General Grant entered upon his sec
ond Presidential term on Tuesday, tn
4th inst. After the eioath had been nd
Iiministered by the Chief Justice, tn
President delivered, or read. the fol
lowing .eoiqI W9l ind 5aa
INAUGURAL ADDRESS:
I FELLOW CrrizESs: Under Provi
dence Ihave been called second tim,
I to act as Executive over this great ma
ton. 1t has been my endeaVor in th'
past to maintain all the laws, aud, 81
far as in my power, to act for the bes
interests OF the whole people. NJ
best efforts will be given in the sam,
direction in the future, aided, trust
by my four years experience ia the of
fee. y ilsf ~ - ~ '7 81
/ When my first term of Office a.
Chief cxecnfiver begun the country
had not recovered from the effects o
q great Internal revolution, and thre,
of The former States of the Union haC
not been restored to their federal re
lafions: 1t seemed to me wise fha
no, new question should be raised 81
long as that condition of affairs exist
ed. Therefore the past four years, sc
far as / could control events, have
been consumed in the effort to re
store harmony,isthc public credit
commerce, and all arts of peace anC
progress.
IL is my firm conviction that the
civilized world is tending towards
republicanism-or "a government by
the people through, their chosen rep
resentatives-and that our own great
Republic is destined to be the guiding
star to all others. Under our repub-
lie ws supportlan army less than that
of any European power ofIany stand
ing, and navy less than that of Ell
ther or at least i've of them. There
could ba no extension of territory on
this fcontinent which would call for
an increase of this force, but rather
might such extension enable us to di-
ininishtit. tilo2 io'-i1'.-'.- 2. 4e
Il The theory ofgovernment changes
with general progfess.l Now that the
telegraph is made available. for COM
municating thought, together with
rapid trausit by steam, all parts of the
made contiguous for all
purposes of the eigovernmentand COM
Inunication between the extreme linn
its of the country is made easier than
it was Throughout the old thirteen
States at the beginning OF our nation
al existence ss----
~ The effects, of the late civil strife
have been to free the slave and make
him citizen, vet he is not possessed
OF the civil rights which citizenship
should carry. Now this is wrong
and should be corrected; to this corl
rection l stand corilnIitteds SO far as
executive influence can avail oi ioa
Social equality is not "a subject to
be iegislated upon, nor shall / ask that
be done to advance the So
cial staus ofthe eolored man except to
give him 3 tair chance TO toldevelope
what good there is in him. Give. HIM
access to schools. and when he trav-
els. let him feel assured that his con-
duct will regulate the treatment and
fare he will receive.B mods sT0m
ID The States lately at war with the
General Government, are now happi-
ly rehabilItated, and no Executive
control is exercised in any other State
under like circumstances. b3iE2n9
"a In the first year OF the present adj
ministratien, the proposition came up
for the admission of Santo Domingo
as territory of the Union. 1t was
not a Question ofmy seeking, but wes
q petition from the people of Santo
Domingo and which entertained. l
believe now, as did then, that it was
for the best interests of this country,
for the people of Santo Domingo and
all CONSERVED, that the proposition
should be received favorably. 1t was
however, regarded contrarily, and
therefore the subject was never bro't
up again by me. 7t 'ih5-'4s'
In future, while I hold my present
office, the subject of acquisition of ter
ritory must have the support of the
people before 1 will recommend any
looking to such acquisi-
tion.l l say here, however, that [ do
not share in the apprehension held by
many as TO the danger of govern-
ments becoming weakened and de-
by reason of their extension
of territory. Commerce, education
and rapid transit of thought and mat
ters by telegraph and steam have
all this. Rather disbelieve
that our great Maker is preparing the
world in his own good time to be-
come one nation, speaking one Ian
guage, and when armies and navies
will be no longer needed.
My efforts in the future will be di-
fected to the restoration of good feel
ing between the different sections of
our common country; to the restora-
ion of our currency 10 fixed value
as compared with the worlds stand
1Srd of values of gold, and if possible
10 par, and with il to the construction
Of cheap routes of transit throughout
he land, to the end that the products
Of all sections may find a market and
cave a living remuneration 10 the
TO the maintenance of
relations with all our neigh
1ors and with distant nations !; to the
of our commerce and |
he carrying trade apon the ocean /;
% the encouragement of such manu-
industries as can be econ
,mically pursued in this country TO |
he end that the exports of home pro-
lucts and Industries may pay for our
IMPORTS the only sure method of re-
urning TO and pei manently main |
aiming specie basis; TO the eleva-
ion of labor, and by human course |
o bring the Aborigines OF the coun-
ry under the benign influence of ed
lcation and civilization. 1t is either
his or war OF determination. Wars |
If determination engaged in by peo-
Die pursuing commerce and all indus
rial pursuits are expensive, even
lgainst the weakest people, and are
and wicked. Our su-
of strength and advantages
If civilization should make us lenient
owards the Indians, and the wrong
Inflicted upon him should be taken
nto account, and the balance placed
O his credit. The moral view of the
question should be considered, and
he question asked. Cannot the Indi-
N be made useful aud productive
of society by proper teach
ny and treatment?" Where the ef-
ort is made in good faith we shall
tand before the civilized nations OF
l. 80, g.