Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-03-15
INAUGURAL.
President Hayes Finally tnducted
into Ofiee-An Immense Crowd In
Attendance--A Fine Display and
Brilliant Assemblage at the Capitol
The InauouraI Address i'm Fun.

The Inauguration OF President hayes
was accomplished at the Nation
al Capitol on the 5th. The procession
was an imposing one. The ride from
the White House to the Capitol was an
ovation, the assembled multitude cheering
in the most enthusiastic manner, and the
President responding by frequently lift
ing his hat and bowling. The inaugural
address was delivered from the eastern
front of the Capitol building in the pres
ence of an immense cOncOurse of people.
A space of ground 1 1000 feet long by 300
wide was thoroughly packed. The fol-
lowing is the Presidents inaugural:
FELLOW CITIZENS: We have assembled TO
repeat the public ceremonial begun by Wash
ington, observed by all my predecessors, aud
now time-honored custom, which marks
the commencement of a new term in the
Presidential office. Called to the duties of
this great trust, l proceed, in compliance
with usage, to announce some OF the leading
principles on the subjects that now chiefly
engage public attention, by which il is my
desire to be guided in the discharge Of those
duties. / shall not undertake to lay down
irrevocably principles or measures of Adj
mini7tration, but rather TO speak of the mo-
tives which should animate us, and to sug-
gest certain important ends to be attainedin
accordance with our institutions and essen
tial to the welfare of our country.
HIS LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.
AT tn outset of the discussions which pre-
ceded the recent Presidential election, it
seemed to me fitting that l 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 example, and
In part adopting the language of one of my
predecessors, wish now, when every mo-
tive for Misrepresentation has passed away,
TO repeat what was said before the election,
trnSflnO that
weigh and understand 1t, and that they will
feel assured that the sentiments declared in
accepting my nomination for the Presidency
will be the standard of my conduct in the
path before me. Charged as | now am with
the grave and difficult task of carrying them
out in the practical administration of the
Government, SO far as depends under the
Constitution and laws on the Chief Execu-
tive of the Nation, the permanent pacifca-
ton of the country upon such principles
and by such measures as will secure the
complete protection of all its cit Zens inzthe
free enjoyment 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.
THE SOUTH.
Many of the calamitous effects of the tre
mendous revolution which has passed over
the Southern States still remain. The i'm
measurable benefits which will surely fol-
low, sooner or later, the hearty and gener-
"
that revolution have not yet been realized
Difficult and embarrassing questions meet
us at the threshold Of this subject. he PEG
pie of these States are still impoverished,
and the inestimable blessing of wise, honest
and peaceful local self-gOyerument is not
fully enjoyed Whatever difference of opin-
ion may exist as to the cause of this condi-
ton Of things, the fact is clear that, in the
progress of events, the time has come when
such government is an imperative ncceS ity,
required by all the varied interests, public
and private, of those States; but it must
not be forgotten that only local govern
ment which recognizes and maintains inyio-
late 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, it must
be government which guards the interests
of both races carefully and equally; it must
be government which submits loyalty and
heartily to the Constitution and laws-the
laws of the Matt. and the laws of the
States tn Notwithstanding and obeying
faithfully the whole Con, tituton rs it is.
Resting upon this sure and substa 1tial
foundation, that superstructure of benefi-
cent local governments can be built up, and
not otherwise. In furtherance of such ODE
dicnce to the letter and the spirit of the
Constitution, and in behalf of all that its
attainment implies, all sO-callcd parry inter
csts lose their apparent importance, and
party lines may well be permitted to fall
into insignifcance.
The question we have to consider for the
Immediate welfare of those States of the
Union is the question of government or no
governmental social order and all the
peaceful industries and the happiness that
belong to 1t, or a return to barbarism.
1t i a 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
fellow-citizens and fellow-men, to whom the
interests of a common country and a COM
mon humanity are dear.
The sweeping revolution of the entire
labor system of a large portion of our coun-
try and the advance of 4, 100000 people from
a condition of servitude to that of citizen
ship, upon an equal footing with their
former masters, could not occur without
presenting problems of the gravest moment,
to be dealt with by the emancipated race, by
their former masters, and by the General
Government, the author of the Act of Eman-
cipation. That twas wise, just and provi-
Dental act, fraught with good for all con-
cerned, IS now generally conceded through
out the country. That moral obligation
rests upon the National Government to en-
ploy Its Constitutional power and influence
to establish the rights of the people whom
it has emancipated, and to protec them in
the enjoyment of those rights, when they are
infringed or assailed, is also generally admit
ted.
The evils which aff1ict the Southern States
can only be removed or remedied by the
united and harmonious efforts of both races,
actuated 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 at the dis
posal of my Administration, am sincerely
anxious to use every legitimate influence in
favor of honest and efficient local govern
ment, as the true resource of those States
the promotion tmpDf
prosperity of their citizens. In the effort
shall make to accomplish this purpose, ask
the cordial cooperation of all who cherish
an interest in the welfare of the country,
trusting that party ties andprejudice of race
will be freely surrendered in behalf of the
great purpose to be accomplished in the i'm
portant work of the restoration of the
South.
1t is not the political situation alone that
merits attent on. The material develop
ment of that section of the country has
been arrested by the social and political rev.
olution through which it has passed, and
now needs and deserves the considerate care
of the National Government within the lust
limits prescribed by the Constitution and
wise public economy. But at the basis of all
prosperity, for that as well as for every o her
part OF the country, lies the Improvement of
the intellectual and moral condition of the
people. Universal suffrage shouldrest upon
universal education. To this end liberal
and permanent provision should be made
for the support of free schools by State Gov
ernments, and, If need be, supplemented by
legitimate aid from the National authority.
Let me assure my eountrymen of the
Southern States that it is my earnest desire
to regard and promote their truest interests
the interests of the white and of the col
ored people, both and equally-aud put forth
my best efforts in behalf of civil policy
which will forever wipe out in our political
affairs the color line and the distinction be-