River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-03-08
President. Hayes Inaugural.
Delivered in Washington March S, 1877

sembled to repeat the public ceremo-
NAL begun by Washington and observ-
ed by all my predecessors, and now a
time-honored custom which marks the
commencement of q new term of the
Presidential office. Called to the du-
ties of the great trust l proceed, in
compliance with usage, to announce
some of the leading principles on the
subjects which now chiefly engage
public attention, by which it is my de-
sire to be guided in the discharge of
those duties. shall not undertake to
lay down irrevocably the principles or
measures of administration, but rather
to speak of the motives which should
animate us, and TO suggest certain i'm
portant ends to be attained, in accord
ance with our institutions and essen
tial to the welfare of our country.
At the outset of the discussions
which preceded the Presidential cleo
ton, it seemed to me fitting that
should fully make known my senti-
ments in regard to several of the i'm
portant questions which then appeared
to demand the consideration of the
country. Following the example and
in part adopting the language of one of
my predecessors, / wish now, 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 1t, 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, charg-
ed rs | now am with the grave and diff
cult task of carrying them out in the
practical administration of govern
ment, 80 far as depends, under the con-
stitution and laws, on the chief execu-
tive of the nation.
The permanent pacification of the
country upon such principles and by
such measures as will secure complete
protection of all its citizens, the free en-.
joyment of all their constitutional
rights, is now the one subject in our
public affairs which all thoughtful
and patriotic citizens regard as
of supreme Importance. Many
of the calamitous effects OF
the tremendous revolution which
has passed over the Southern States
still remain. The Unreasonable ben.
elits which will surely follow, sooner
or later, the hearty and generous ac'
ceptance of the legitimate results OF
that revolution have not been realized.
Difficult and embarrassing questions
meet us at the threshold of this sub.
iect. The people of these States are
still impoverished and the inestimable
blessings of wise, honest and peaceful
local self government are not fully en-
loved. Whatever differences of opin.
ion may exist as to the cause of this
condition of things, the fact is clear
that in the progress Of events the time
has come when such government is an
imperative necessity, required by all
the varied interests, public and private.
of these States. But it must not be
forgotten that only local government
which recognizes and maintains in
violate the rights of all, is true self
government. With respect to the two
distinct races, whose peculiar relations
to each other have brought upon us
the deplorable complications and per
plexities which exist in these States, II
must be government which decides
the interests of both races carefully
and equally. 1t must be government
which submits loyalty and heartily to
the constitution and laws-the laws oil
the nation and the laws of the States
themselves-accepting and obeying
faithfully the whole constitution as II
is. Resting upon this sure and sub
stantial foundation, the superstruc'
ture of benefcent governments can be
built, and not otherwise.
In furtherance of such obedience to
the letter and the spirit of the constl'
tuition and in behalf of its attainment,
implies that all so-called party inter
ests lose their apparent Importance,
and party lines may well be permitted
to fall into insignificance. The ques'
ton we have 10 consider for the imme'
date welfare of those States of the
Union is the question of government
or no government, of social order and
all peaceful industries and the happi'
ness that belongs to it, or return to
barbarism. 1t is question in which
every citizen OF the nation Is deeply
interested, and with respect to which
we ought not to be, in a partisan sense,
either Republicans or Democrats, but
fel!ow-citiZens and fellow-men, to
whom the interests of the common
country and common humanity are
dear.
The sweeping revolution of the en-
tire labor system of large portion OF
our country and the advance OF fouI
million people from condition of serv'
itude to that of citizenship upon an
equal footing with their former mas
tiers, could not occur without present
ing problems of the gravest moment
to be dealt with, by the emancipated
race, by their former M sters, and by
the general government, the author OF
the act of emancipation. That it was
wise, just and provideDtial act,
fraught with good for al concerned,
Is now generally conceded throughout
the country. That moral obligation
rests upon the national government to
employ its constitutional power and in.
fluence to establish the rights of the
people it has emancipated, and to pro-
tect them in the enjoyments of their
rights, when they are infringed or as
sailed, is also generally admitted.
The evils which afflict the Southern
States can only be removed or remedl-
ed by the united and harmonious eff
forts of both races, actuated by mo-
tives of mutual sympathy and regard
and, while in duty bound and fully de-
termined to protect the rights of all,
by every constitutional means at the
disposal of my administration, | am
sincerely anxious TO use every legiu
mate influence in favor of honest and
efficient local government, as the true
resource of those States.for the pro-
motion of the contentment and pros
petty of the citizens. In the effort |
shall make to accomplish this purpose
ask the cordial cooperation of all who
cherish an interest in the welfare of
country-trusting that party ties and
the prejudice of race will be freely