The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-01-25

such careful, special, intelligent, unreserved
expression upon the part Of the people, would
enable both the Legislative and Executive
branches OF their Government TO act with
clear appreciation OF their necessities. 1 speak
now for myself alone,but I am at the same time
confident that I express the sentiments Of every
gentleman who is officially related to the State
administration.
We are renewing, in part the personnel Of
our state government, at period Of moment.
ous interest In our national aff4iTs Tho one
great question yet to he solved is. Sha II gov.
eminent by the ballot he maintained ia TINS
county, with equal political rights for all legal
votersi Peuusylvania's attitude ON that ques
tion IS known wherever her name is known.
That she viii insist on the enforcement of tile
authority OF the ma tiOnal constitution in every
State Of the national Union. Is rs certain as
her mountain peaks point toward heaven, and
her rivers oil to the sea. UnCer no clrcum-
stances can she ever reccde from this position.
Strong In herself. strong IN virtue Of the con.
stituuonal relationship TO her sister States she
will be maGnaulmuus, concilhating and pa.
tien5. But justice, in the end must with her,
be paramount Upon this high ground she will
demand that the provisions of a Constitution
made for all shall be confoi med TO by all. This
question goes not oaIy TO her political convic-
tion, to her estimate of the worth OF our civil.
ization, but the consci, ncos Of her population.
Pennsylvania bows In uualterable devotion to
tie grond ideas Of the supremacy, perpetuity
and glory OF the nation.
l have detained you, fellow ciHz ms, beyond
my intention and will, therefore, claim your
indulGence bot moment longer for ersonal
allusion. 1 should be guilty of insncerity II
onFn m, 60
confided to INC, l am incapable Of txpr, ssng
my heartfelt sense fits value or the strength
OF my purpose to prove that it has not Ueen
misplaced so much in brief, to those to whom
directly owe my election. One word to my
fellow citizens who prefer ed and supported my
honorable competitors. 1t is worthy OF free
people that they bear themselves with pro
priety and self control through the contentious
and excitements of general election. 1t is
gratifying to myself and doubtless equally so
to ali who were actively engaged in the late can.
vass that there was SO little manifestation OF
bitterness TIE great debate was conducted
with cOmmendaOlo calmness. as iC was also
with enrnestness. For the kindness and cOmt.
esy eNtened to me by my adversarles have to
say that, Il they had voted for me ftOm the same
sense Of duty whloh gave their ballots TO my
opponents, could not be more firmly resolved
than am to be tmpa rtial and faithful in dis.
charging the Obligations 1 owe to tnem as Chef
Executive Of the Commonwealth My political
views and convictions ought and will unques-
tionably influence and shape some Of my official
recommend ,tions, but in protecting Jle legal
rights Of the citizen. no parry distinction can
for one moment be recognized
In conclusion, fellow. citizens, permit me to
remind you Of the individual responsibility of
each citizen for the aggregate wel.being OF the
community. Each of us owes the hignest
measure of fidelity to the justice, the power.
and the right embodied in the State. Under
the peace and prOteclIon 1t secures, all our
traffic is prosecu ted and oil our prosperity is
shielded Under it the social principle is allow.
ed scope to found asylums lodges, semnaries
and churches 8, and to y eifect the Commonwealth
self There can be no right citizenship with
out an intelligent understanding of the pnnci.
pies which the Government organizes ana of
thd ideas which IL represents. Each citizen
should be able, on his own information, and not
depending on any interested jobber or meddler
to tell when there is a departure from rectitude
where wrong tendency sets in, where peril
confrOnts VA
1t is q cardinal principle under lying tle pOllt-
cal creeds of all selt-governlng people which
affiims each citizen TO be as July responsible
for the welfare of the Stale as he is for his own
personal safety and happiness. Private ciuzen
and Magistrate are equally under the funda
mental law of the Republic.
AS You have Oounu me by an oath to obey the
laws OF the Commonwealth. so have l in turn,
the correlagive right to hear the voice of ti.Ou-
sands of freGmen of Pennsylvania Dledging
themselves to obey the laws which they them
se.ves have made. No strength Of sOldicry, no
wealth Of farms 9nd factories, Of ilrOads and
canals, no pertecston OF governmrntal mechan-
ism, can save falthless people from perishing.
A rare incident in the history of this
State occurred Tuesday, Owing to the
Inauguration being delayed until 1.20
P. NJ, the State was without a Govern
or one hour and twenty minutes, Hart
ranft's term having expired at noon.