Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-12-09
OUR PARTY CREED.

pithSCb VI WV i'NbipNi hAlN
creed in all our literature. Never
were the deathless doctrines of II true
Democracy more inspiringly stated
than in these extracts. There is not
present need that these two inaugurals
do not meet, nor Il present evil that
they do not rebukc, nor present
question that they do not answer.
And yet one Of these great papers
was written seventy-nine years, and
the other seventy-fve years ago
Thomas jefferson wrote for all time !;
for yesterday, today, tomorrow, for
our future and for his. How poor and
barren the chosen exponent of the
Republicans, Alexander Hamilton, in
comparison with this full, prophetic,
and marvellous declaration Of the
Democratic leader and founder
FIRST INAUGURAL, MARCH 4ru, 1901.
about to enter, ow-citizens, on
the exercise of duties which compre-
hend everything dear and valuable to
you, it is proper you should under
stand what | deem the essential prin.
ciples of our government, and, conse-
auently, those which ought to shape
its administration. | will compress
them within the narrowest compass
they will bear, stating the general
principle, but not all its limitations.
Equal and exact justice and honest
friendship with all nations, entangling
alliances with none the support of
the State governments in all their
rights, as the most competent admins
trations for our domestic concerns, and
the surest bulwarks against anti-Re.
publican tendencies the preservation
of the General Government in its
whole constitutional vigor as the sheet
anchor of our peace at home and safe
ty abroad a jealous care Of the rights
Of election by the people mild and
safe corrective Of abuses which are
Topped by the sword of revolution,
where peaceable remedies are unpro-
vided absolute acquiescence i'll the
decisions Of the majority, the vital
principle Of republics from which there
is no appeal but to force, the vital
principle and immediate parent of des-
potism a well-disciplined militia, our
best reliance in peace, and for the first
moments of war, till regulars may re-
lieve them; the supremacy Of the
civil over the military authority
economy in the public expense, that
labor may be lightly burdened ; the
honest payment of our debts, and
sacred preservation of the public faith ;
encouragement of agriculture, and OF
commerce as its handmaid the difiu-
sion of information, and arraignment
of all abuses at the bar Of the public
reason; freedom of religion, freedom
of the press, and freedom of person,
under the protection Of the habeas
corpus; and trial by juries impartially
selected. These principles form the
bright constellation which has gone
before us, and guided our steps through
an age of revolution and reformation.
The wisdom of our sages and blood of
our heroes have been devoted to their
attainment. They should be the creed
of our political faith, the text Of civic
instruction, the touchstone by which
to try the services of those we trust
and should we wander from them in
moments of error or alarm, let us
hasten to retrace our steps, and to re-
gain the road which alone leads to
peace, liberty, and safety"
SECOND INAUGURAL, MARCH 4TH, 1905.
"At home, fellow-citizens, you best
know whether we have done well or
i'll. The suppression of unnecessary
offices, of useless establishments and
expenses, enable us to discontinue our
internal taxes. These, covering our
land with officers, and opening our
doors to their intrusions, had already
begun that process of domiciliary vex'
alton which once entered is scarcely
to be restrained from reaching success
lively every article of property and
produce. If, among these taxes, some
minor ones fell which had not beer
inconvenient, it was because theil
amount would not have paid the off
GERS who collected them, and because
if they had any merit, the State au
thorities might adopt them instead o.
others less approved.
"The remaining revenue, on the
consumption of foreign articles, i,
paid chiefly by those who can afford
TO add foreign luxuries to domestic
comforts. Being collected on our sea
board and frontiers only, and incorpo
rated with the transactions of Oul
mercantile citizens, it may be the
pleasure and the pride of an American
to ask what farmer, what mechanic
what laborer ever sees a tax-gatherel
of the United States The contribu
tions enable us to support the current
expenses of the government; to fulfil