The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-03-15
Hayes' Inaugural.


begun by Washington, observed by all
my predecessors, and now a time-hon-
Ored custom which marks the COM
lnencement of q new term of the Pres
identiaI office. - -
Gale d to the cuties of the great trust,
/ proceed in compliance with the us
ages to announce some of the leading
principles on the subjects that now
chiefly engage the public attention, by
which it is my desire to befguided< in,
the discharge of these duties. / shall
not undertake to ley down, irreroca-
| bly,, principles or measures of admin
istratiOn, but rather to speak of the
motives that should animate us, and to
/ suggest certain important ends to be
attained in accordance with our lnstI-
tutions, and essential to the welfare of
our country. Al the outset of the dis
cussiOn which preceded the recent
Presidential election it seemed to me
fitting that should fully make known
my sentiments in regard to several OF
the important questions which then
appeared to demand the consideration
OF the country. Following the exam. /.
pie, and in part adopting the language
of one of my predecessors, wish now,
when every motive for misapprefien-
sion 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 senti-
ments declared in accepting the nomi-
nation for the Presidency will be the
standard of my conduct in the path
before me, charged, as 1 now am, with
the grave and difficult task of carrying
them out in the practical adnlinistra-
ton of the Government, 80 far as it
depends, under the constitution and
and laws, on the Chief Executive of
the nation.
The permanent pacifcat,on of the
/ country upon such principles and by
such measures as will secure the conn
I plete protection of all the citizens in
the free enjoyment of all their consti.
tutional rights. ia now the ore subject
in our public affairs which all Thought
full and patriotic citizens regard AS OF
supreme Importance. Many ofthe ca
lamatOus effects Of the tremendous rev
olution which has. passed over the
Southern States still remain. Theim
measurable benefit which will surely
follow, sooner or later, the hearty and
generous acceptance of the Legitimate
results of of that revolution have not
vet been realized. Difficult and emf
barrassing questions meet us at the
threshold of this subject. The people
fOf these States are still impoverished,
and the inestimable blessing of wise, ,
honest and peacerul local self-govern-
ment is not fully enjoyed. Whatever
difference OF opinion may exist IA 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 He
cessity, required by all the varied in
terests, public aud private, of these
States. But it must not be forgotten
that only local government which
n cOgnizes and maintains iHyiolate 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 perpleXities which
exist in these States. 1t must he a
government which decides the inter-
ests of both races carefully and equal
ly. 1t must be a government which
submits jeyfully and heartily to the
constitution and laws of the States
themselves, accepting and obeying
faithfully the whole constitution as it
is, Resting upon this sure and sub
tial foundation, the superstructure OF
beneficent local government can be
built up, and not otherwise.
In furtherance of such obedience to
the letter and the spiritfo the consti-
tuition and in behalf of all that its at
tainment implies, all sO-called party
interests lose their apparent impOr-
tance, and party lines may well be per-
mitted to fall into insignificance. The
question we have to consider for the
immediate welfare ofsthOse States OF
the Union is the question of govern
mt Ut or no government; of social or
der and all the peaceful Industries and
the heppiness that belong to it, or a
| return ~ baI barism. 1t is aquestiOn
in which every citizen of the nation
is deeply interested, and with respect
t. which we ought not to be, in a par
tisan sense, either Republicans or
Democrat. fs,-....,,f fs...,
But, fellow-citizens anil fellow men,
to whom the interests Of the common
country and common humanity are
dear, the sweeping revolution OF the
entire labor system of a large portion
of our country, aid the advance of four
millions of people from a condition OF
servitude to that of citizenship, upon
an equal footing with their former
masters, could not occur without pre-
s-ntiig problems of the gravest mo-
ment. ito be dealt with by the emanci-
pated race, 10y their former masters,
and by the General Governments, the
author of the act of emancipation.
That it was wise, just and proyiden-
tial act, fraught with good for all con-
cerned, is now generally conceded
Throughout the country. That NOR
al obligation rests upon the National
Government to employ its constitu-
tiOnal power and influence to establish
the rights of the people it has emanci-
pated, and to protect them in the en-
jOynnent of those rights when they are
'fnrringed or assaiied, is also generally
admitted. The evils which afiiict the
Southern States can only be, removed
and remedied by the united and har-
| mOniOus efforts of both races, actuatetl
by motives of mutual sympathy and
regard, and while in duty bound and
fully determined to protect the rights
Of all by every constitutional means a.
the disposal of my administration /
am sincerely anxious to use every l.-
gitimate influence i'm favor of honest
| and e tilcient local government, .is the
true resource OF those Stat ~ for the
promotion of contentment and pros
perity of their citizens. Tn the effort
sha'l make to accomplish this purpOs :,
| ask the cordial co-operatiOn of ali
who cherish an interest in the welfare
of the country, trusting that party ties
and the prejudice of race will Ia. freely
surrendered in behalf of the great
purposes To lie accomplished in the
important work of the rest ,rltion OF
| the South. o- e- .s...a. %
1t is not the political situation alone
that merits attention, The material
development of that section of the
country has been arrested by the social
and political revolution through which
it has passed, and now needs and de-
serves the cOnsiderate care of the Ma
tiOnal Government within the just linn
its prescribed by the constitution and
wise public economy. But at the basis
of all prosperity for that, as well as for
every other pant of the country, lies the
improvement of the intellectual and
moral condition of the people. Uni
velsal suffrage should rest upon uni
ver>ai education. To this end liberal
and permanent provision should be
made fur the support of free schools by
the St .te governments, and, if need be,
he supplemented by legitimate aid