The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-03-14

PRESIDENT HAYES.
Feiiof7 Citizens
We have assembled TO repeat the
public ceremonial, begun bv Wash.
ington, observed by all my predeces-
sors. and now me-honored custom,
; which marks the commencement of q
new term Of the Presidential Office
Called to the duties ofthis great trust,
| proceed, in compliance with usage,
TO announce some of the leading
principles On the subjects that now
chiefly engage he public attention,
by which IL is my desire to be guided
in the discharge of those duties. |
+ shall not undertake TO lay down ir-
rsVocably principles or meas ures of
} administration, but rather to speak of
the motives which should animate us
and TO suggest certain important ends
to be attained in accordance with our
Institutions and essenti4l to the well
fare of our country
At the outset of the discussions
which preceded ther ecent.. Presiden-
tial elections, il seemed to me fitting
that | should fully make known nv
sentiments in regard TO several of the
important questions which then ap-
peared to demand the consideration
of the country. Following the ex-
ample, and in part adopting the Ian
gusge of one Of my predecessors,
wish now. when every Totive tor
misrepresentation has passed away,
to repeat what was said before the
election, trusting that my coun,rymen
viii candidly weigh and understand
it, and that they win fell assured that
the sentiments declared in accepting
the s>cminalion for the Presidency
viii be the standard Of my conduct in
The path before me, charged, as now
am, with the grave and dificnlt task
of carrying them out in the practical
administration of the Government so
far as depends, under the Constitution
aud laws, on the Chief Executive Of
the nation.
PAcIFIcATIoN OF THE COUNTRY.
The permanent paeifcation of the
country upon such principles and by
such measures as will secure the
complete protection of all its citizens
in the free enjoyment OF all their con-
stitufional rights, is now the one sub
lject in our public affairs which all
thoughtful and patriotic citizens re-
gard as of fsupreme Importance. Many
of the caiamitous effects of the tre-
menGous revolution which has pass
ed over The Southern States stiIi re-
main. The imme asursble benefits
which will surely follow, sooner or lat
er, the hearty aud generous acceptance
/ OF the legitimate results D: that revolu-
ton have. not vet been reaiixed. Di-fa
cult and EN- m5arrassiDg questions meet
Us az the threshold OF this subject.
The people of those States are still
Impoverished, and the inestimable
blessing of wise, honest and pescetul
local self-government rs not fully en-.
loved. Whatever difference 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 government is
The imperative necessity required by
all the varied interests, public and
private, of those States. But il must
not be forgotten that only local
government which recognizes and
maintains inyiolale the rights of all is
true sell government With re-
specl to the TWO distinct races whose
peculiar relations to each other have
brought upon Us the deplorable eompli-
cations and perplexities which exist
in those States, il must be q govern
meni which guards the interests Of
both races carefully and equally. L.
must be q government which sub
mits Loyalty and heartily to the Con-
stitution and the laws, the laws of
the nation and the laws OF the States
misunderstanding and obeying
IfaitbfdIiy the whole Constitution as
liz is.
Resting upon this sure snd sub
sien,ial foundation, the superstrnc-
Iture OF bene6cent local governments
can be built up and not otherwise. In
lfurtherance Of such obedience to the
letter aud the spirit of The Consti,u-
ton, and in behalf of all that its at
tsi1ment implies, all socalled party
Interests lose their apparent import
ance, and party lines may well be per-
mitted to fade into iasigni6cance. The
question we have TO consider for the
immediate welfare of those States OF
the Union is the question of govern
Iment or no government, of social or
der and all the peaceful industries and
The happiness that belongs TO it, or q
return 10 bsrbarism. 1t is question
in hieh every citizen of the nation
is deeply interested, and with respect
10 which We ought not to be, N a
partisan sense, either Republicans or
Democrats. bat fellow citizens, and
fellow men, 10 whom the interests Of
8 common country and common
humanity are dear. The sweeping
revelation Of the entire labor system
of large portion of our country, and
The advance Of four millions OF people
from g condition of serEitude TO that
Of citizenship, upon an equal footing
With their former masters, could not
occur without presentiug problems Of
the gravest moment, TO be dealt With
by the ema~cipa,ed race, by their
former masters, and by the General
lGovernmeut, the author Of the act OF
emancipation. That il was a wise.
jast and prorideniiai act, fraught
with good for all concerned, is BOW
gezerally conceded throughout the
country. Tnsr 8 moral obligation
rests upon he National Government
to employ its constitutional power
aud influence to establish the rights
o. the people IL has emsncipated, sud
to protect item in the enjoyment OF
their rights when they are infringed
or assailed, 5 also generally admitted !,