The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-03
INAUGURATION OF THE GOVERN
Or OF THE EMPIRE STATE.
HE RECOGNIZES T1LDEN as THE
PREsIDENT-ELECT
Purifying the Public Service.

ALBANY, N. Y, Jan IA great con-
course of ladies and gentlemen witnessed
the inauguration of Gov. Robinson to- day
Gov Tilden made speech of congratua-
ton. during which he spoke of the aims of
his administration, viz:
To recall the government of the state
to the pure condition of generation ago;
to remove the fungus growths which in
civil times had overspread its administra-
ton and legislation; to tighten the in
tolerable burdens upon the people; to i'm
prove the institutions and laws; to sys-
matically call into the ciYll service.
whether by appointment or election, men
of higher ideals OF official life. of better
training, and more general culture, thus
utilizing class inferior in the arts Of
political competition, but superior in tie
capacities for public usefulness. These
| objects had to be pursued through stormy
conflicts with selfish interests and fixed
| habits. Our support was an unfaltering
trust 10 the people if the prospect Of real
reform could be made visible Our in
spiration was a belieS that nothing worth
saving could be lost if only our work did
not fail. Applause. The scrutiny Of
all candid men may safely be challenged
as to what has been already accomplished.
| Wasteful and corrupt systems destroyed,
state taxation reduced one halt, new
remedies for official malversation enacted,
the management Of public works and
prisons reorganized, and commissions
preliminary to other reforms instituted
These are valuable results. but there are
others even more important. The
standard of official conduct has been ele.
yated, and with it the ideas, motives and
influences which surround official life as
with an atmosphere. The public suspicion
of legislative venality is disappearing and
the lobbies are disbanded. The chief execu-
| tive and administration trusts of the state
have been committed to gentlemen who
are eminent not only for personal probity
but for capacity and high ideas of official
duty. A genuine reform in the civil SER
vice has thus been realized which could
not be the product of any mere system, or
any mere legislation without the effective
co-opeI alton of the men conducting the
actual administration.
The governor elect, in response, said:
Gov. Tilden, thank you for the kind
and encouraging words you have addressed
to me. In receiving from you the
great trust which has rested upon you
during the last two years, fully appre
ciate the admonition of the king Of Israel
Let not him that girdeth on his harnes:
boast himself as he that putteth it off
+ Y ou have had your trial and have received
the grateful approval of the people, no
only of this state, but of the whole union
{ who have called you by an emphatic popu
lar majority to the highest place in tn
union. Long, continued applause. Yol
have arrested grave abuses and wastefn
expenditures, have enforced economy auC
S reduced largely the burdens of taxation
r More than this. you have restored higI
moral tone to the administration of th
government, and have driven from thi
{, capital those who made il house Q
= merchandise. and enriched themselves b
/, buying and selling legislators l trus
that by no act Of mine will they be er
eouraged to return Applause.
Mr. Robinson continued by enumeratin
; the principles laid Gown in Jefferson
first inaugural, and called on his fellow
S citizens to renew their vows of loyalty t
q them.
IS Secretary Bigelow administered the oat
to the new governor.
The oath was then administered
e Lieut. Gov. Dorsheimer, after which Il
new governor was escorted by the la
;. governor 10 the executive chamber. wheI
y he received the congratulations OF va
c assembage,