Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-01-24
The Governors Inaugural.
The Dissecting X nife In the
Hands Of u Democratic News
paper.
Cincinnati ENQUIRER,

Cincinnati Enquirer.
We print this morning the Insugu-
raj address Of Governor r. M. Bishop.
1t follows swift upon the heels of the
message of Gov. Young, and, as our
Democratic Executive properly re-
marks, there was little need of his In
augural. The Governor plunges at
once into the "present financial dis
tress of the country" That is to say,
be doesn't exactly plunge into it, for it
will be noticed that he treats 1t rather
gingerly. He will not be embarrassed
hereafter by any expressions of Opin
ion upon the financial question con.
tained in this inaugural. The remedy
he recommends for the relief of the fl
nancial distress 10 the thirty-eight
States is Economical living living" in
Ohio. A large majority Of the people
of the State have already been driven
to the use of this prescri ption, and still
there is business distress in the land.
The Governors treatment of the Fl.
nancial question, it must be confessed,
is not so profound or statesmanlike as
would become q State document in
which the question has legitimate
place. The Governor next speaks of
the labor question in an equally nom
cOmmittal style. He evidently doesn't
desire, in the very beginning of his ad-
ministration, to ALLEVIATE the affection
of any body. These questions are ques-
tiOns of great delicacy, and the Cover
nor handles them delicately. He be-
lieves that if his recipe for the finan.
cial ills of the nation is adopted, very
- L.
question will be required. He still
thinks that economy is the panacea,
and, somehow, we cannot but think
that the laboring classes OF Ohio, ma.
king virtue Ct necessity, have al
ready reduced economy 70 an exact
science. But the Governor does no
harm in speaking of this subject. He
is in favor of labor and in favor Of cap.
ital, and doesn't like to have them
quarrel, and what more should Gov
ernor say In an inaugural address?
He asks that the condition of the
Public Works be thoroughly investi-
gated, as Gov. Young had done before
him, and, like his predecessor, volun-
teers the opinion chat the lessees have
"virtually repu, liated their contract
with the State" The question as to
which party had "repudiated the con-
tract" is pending In Court, and the
courts are not supposed to need Guber-
material aid in finding decision. But
it is always pleasant and refreshing to
get an opinion from Governor Bishop.
The Governor "points with pride" to
our public institutions, and here his
universal remedy economy is prop
erly suggested. He recommends that
another reformatory State Prison be
built, for people who are pretty bad
but are not old and hopelessly wicked.
He asks that the Ohio river receive
some attention. He suggests that the
registration law should be repealed or
amended. He calls notice to three
public grievances-unequal and unjust
taxation, q dilitOry and clumsy iudici-
ary system, and a confused and ex-
trsvagant system of municipal gov
ernment. He speaks properly of these
subjects, and wisely requests attention
to the evils.
1t is someN hat amusing to find him
recommending the Southern railroad,
of which he Is Trustee, as the thing
which will solve the Southern prob
lem, which has been for several years
the veXatiOn OF our National politics.
This may not have occurred to even
the President or the ablest statesman
in the National Capital. 1: is hap
py thought. 1t may be worth some
thing to Cincinnati In the completion
of the road.
The Governor mentions appropri.
ately one destderdt,tns to secure which
will be one of the most difficult tasks
of the General Assembly. 1t will not
be easy to provide against the evils
that appear In our municipal govern.
ments without conflicting with our
theory of self-govern ment, the bottom
OF our system. AS the cities increase
and multiply this peril increases. The
Governor urges the importance Of 3
short session, thanks the people Of the
State for elevating him to his high po-
sition-s not unbecoming thing to do
and invokes the guidance of Provi-
dence In his Administration.
~-e--o-
t.,