The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1877-03-29
PRESIDENT HAYES.
Els Inaugural Address,

nv pre- eSSSSDIS ANU UOW d tluic HOHOloo
crstom, which marks the commencement
of new term to the presidential Office
Called to the duties of this great trust,
proceed, in compliance with usages, to
annouHce some of the leading principles
on the subject that now chiefly engages
public attention, by which it is my desire
to be guided in the discharge of these
duties. ] shall -ot undertake to lay
Gown irrevoceoly principles or measures
of atlminia.r8Eion, but rather to speak OF
matte-e which should animate us to sug-
gest certain important ends to be at.
tanned in accordance with our institu-
tons and essential to the welfare Of our
country. At the outset OF the discus.
sions which preceded the recent presi-
dental election it seemed to me fitting
that ] sheuld fully make known my sen
timents in regard to several of the most
important questions which then appeared
to demand the consideration of the cOun-
try. Following the example, and in some
part, adopting the language of one of my
predecessors, ! wish ROW, when every
motive for misrepresentation has passed
away, to repeat what was said before the
election, trusting that my countrymen
will candidly weigh and understand it,
and that they will feel assured that the
sentiments declared in accepting the
nomination for the presidency will be
the standard Of my conduct in the path
before me, charged as ] am now, with
the grave and difficult task of carrying
them out in the practical administration
of the government, SO far as depends, TN
der the constitution and laws, on the chief
executive of the nation. The permanent
pacifcation of the country upon sWch
principles and by s@ch measures as will
secure the complete protection of all its
citizens in the free enjoyment of all their
constitutional rights is the one subject
in our public affairs which ali thought
full and patriotic citizens regard as of
supreme importance. Many of the ca
lamitous effects of the tremendous repo-
luton which has passed over the south
ern states still remain. The immeasura-
bic benefits which will surely follow,
sooner or later, the hearty and generous
of the legitimate results of
that revolution have not yet been real
lied. Difficult and embarrassing ques-
tions meet us at the threshold OF this
subject. The people of these states are
still Impoverished, and the ineotimaole
blessing of wise, honest and peaceful
local self-govcrnment is not fully en-
ioyed. Whatever difference of opinion
may exist as to the cause of this con-
diti0n of things, the fact is clear that
in the progress of events the time has
come when such government is an i'm
" hx oil ho
varied interests, pitbllc and private, of
these states, but 1t must not be forgotten
that only local government which rec
)gnized and maintained inviolate the |
tights of all, is d true self-government,
with respect TO the two distinct races
whose peculiar relations to each other |
having brought upon us deplorable COM
'lications and perplexities which exist
n these states; it must be government
vho decides the interest of both races
;areiully and equally; it must he a gov
which submits Loyalty and
heartily to the constitution and laws
he laws of the nation and the laws of
he states misunderstanding and
'beying faithfully the whole constitution
Is it is. Resting upon this sure and sub
tantial foundation the superstructure of
'eneficent local governments can be
'uilt up, and not otherwise, in further
nee OF such obedience to the letter and
he spirit of the constitution, and in be-
lalf of all that its attainment implies.
All sO.called party interest, lose their APP
'arent Importance, and party lines may
veil be permitted to fall into insigniG-
ance. The question we have TO con-
lder for the immediate welfare of these
tates OF the union is the question Of
overnment or no government, OF social
rider and all the peaceful industries and
he happiness chat belong to it. or a re-
urn to barbarlsm. 1t is question in
'hichevery citizen Of the nation is deeply
Interested, and with respect to which we
ught not to be, in partisan sense,
lther republicans or democrats, but
'ilow-citizens and fellow men, to whom
ne interests of the common country and
humanity are dear. The sweep {
x revolution of the entire labor system
large portion oil our country, and the
ivance of four millions of people from
condition of servitude to that of citi-
,nship upon an equal footing with their {
'rmer masters, could not occur without
resenting problems of the gravest mo-
ent, to be dealt with by an emancipated
lce, by their former masters and by the c
eneral government, the author of the
It OF emancipation. That it was wise. 4
'st and providential act, fraught with q
,od for all concerned, is now gem !
ally conceded throughout she whole | {
'nntry, and that moral obligation
ats upon the national government to /
nploy it's constitutional power and in I
lence TO establish the rights of peoSle t
has emancipated; to protect them in 4
'e enjoyment of those rights when they =
g infringed or assailed is also generally i